In a province with almost nine million inhabitants, less than 3% would say they follow Jesus. Can you believe that? On Sunday mornings, Protestant Evangelical churches barely see 1% of the population, while only about 6% of Catholics make it to Mass regularly. Imagine living in one of the 700+ communities in Quebec with no Evangelical Church around - that's nearly 1.8 million people!

The decline of religious institutions is evident with the drastic reduction of Catholic churches from over 2,700 in 2003 to only about 700 by 2024. Many now sit empty or have been repurposed as secular establishments. Since the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s/70s, there has been a gradual disengagement from traditional religious institutions among Quebecers with a notable shift towards secularism or laïcité. The shift is underscored by the passing of bills such as Bill 21, which bars public service workers from displaying religious symbols during their duties.

The French-speaking population extends beyond Quebec, with Ontario's Francophone community comprising 5% of the province's populace. Cities like Sudbury and Timmins boasts significant French-speaking populations, reflecting the broader cultural landscape. Additionally, the Maritimes host around 300,000 Acadian Francophones, primarily concentrated in New Brunswick, where a handful of Evangelical French churches strive to serve their spiritual needs.

Despite all these challenges, there's an incredible opportunity for us to make a difference. Quebec and Francophone Canada is ripe for the transformative power of the gospel. Our prayer is for young adults, adults, and church leaders from all corners of Canada will respond to the missional needs and opportunities and for doors to be open for the gospel message of Jesus' love to shine brightly in Quebec and beyond.

QUEBEC SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIPS
Are you interested in a cross-cultural (and uniquely Canadian) experience that will have a deep and lasting impact on you and your team? Join us in "la belle province!"
For more information, contact us a mission.quebec@paoc.org.

FIT4M - FRENCH INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR MINISTRY PROGRAM
FIT4M is a one year bursary-funded program. These bursaries cover tuition and basic living expenses during the program. Participants will spend part of their time in classes learning the French language, and participants will then also be introduced to Francophone ministry by being incorporated into a local church setting as an active staff member of their host church.
For more information on the FIT4M program, check out our website: fit4m.ca or contact us at cckrahn@paoc.org.