CANADA: Scriptures and Scriptural Support for the Diaspora Church
Diaspora Churches in Canada
The word diaspora, originally Greek, means to scatter. In the Canadian context, diasporas are immigrant communities that share a unique culture and language. Defined and delineated by worship and liturgy in their native language, there are hundreds of diaspora churches in Canada. They face many challenges in retaining and nurturing people in their culture and faith.
To grow in faith and hope, it’s important for diaspora churches to have access to the Word of God in their heart languages. Identifying their needs and empowering diaspora churches with Scripture is integral to CBS’s mission of helping people hear God speak.
1 IN 4
Almost one in four people in Canada are born outside Canada.
2X
Punjabi speakers in Canada doubled over the last five years.
600K
After English and French, with over 600,000 speakers, Mandarin is the third largest spoken language in Canada.
200
More than 200 languages from around the world are spoken in Canada.
Scriptural Support for the Diaspora Church
In up to 100 languages, CBS provides either the whole Bible or parts of it. Some of the major languages in which CBS currently provides Bible resources are Chinese, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Punjabi, Spanish, Tigrigna, Korean, Farsi and Ukrainian. Alongside printed resources, many older diaspora believers find comfort in audio Bibles and large print Bibles in their language.
“Yeshu Mandli received both the English and Hindi Bibles, which are distributed to people with impaired vision. Marjorie received the English Bible, which she uses in addition to the Bible in her own language. In the relative isolation of the senior residence, the Mega Voice Bible plays in the background, bringing her peace and comfort. As dementia sets in, Mrs. M has been moved to a special unit.
Dementia causes extreme anxiety and can be difficult to manage. In a sense, the body is there, but the mind seldom is. God’s Word, previously memorized, now becomes the stabilizer and listening to it is the rock needed in such inner turmoil. Uncle G. received a Hindi version and shared it with his Hindu neighbour. Later, the neighbour was grateful to receive his own copy and plays it in the background every morning.”
~ Pastor David Benjamin | Lead Pastor, Yeshu Mandli Church in Calgary
Bible-based healing from trauma and life-controlling issues
Caring for the Wounded Heart | Caring for the Wounded Heart is a Bible-based trauma healing program available in multiple languages.
Overcomers | The Overcomers program helps people struggling with life-controlling issues. Diasporic communities with significant refugee populations can help people discover freedom and hope.
Equipping diaspora churches to nurture faith across generations
Passing faith on to the next generation is a challenge facing the diaspora church. Generational cultural differences often create tensions and challenges. Led by diaspora ministry experts, CBS-hosted seminars are a safe space to discuss challenges and celebrate the opportunities before the diaspora churches. It is hoped that through these seminars we will be able to encourage a deeper engagement with Scripture across the generations.
“At the outset, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for organizing such a timely and much-needed seminar for diaspora community churches. It was truly a privilege to be part of it. I was deeply blessed and inspired by Dr. Andrew’s testimony and the wisdom he shared. Having the opportunity to engage with him and ask questions that spoke directly to our church’s current season of transition was incredibly valuable. His insights brought much-needed clarity and direction as we prayerfully discern our next steps. Another highlight for me was being in fellowship with believers from different language groups. Stepping outside our usual community circle was refreshing and enriching—it reminded me of the beautiful diversity of the body of Christ. Thank you once again for the meaningful work that the Canadian Bible Society is doing to strengthen and support churches like ours. Your efforts are truly making a difference.”
~ Pastor Joshua Stephens
“As a second generation Canadian, the seminar put into words my life experience of balancing my bicultural identity in a Christian context. It addressed the inevitable gaps between generations. Much of what I heard resonated with my own experience: family dynamics, identity crisis, the role of faith, etc.
Having grown up in the church and hoping to continue to work in the church, I found this seminar very helpful for those who are currently unaware of these dynamics. I appreciate the work to reconcile the Church experience for all Canadians (1st and 2nd generation) and look forward to the next seminar because it is a place where I feel seen and heard.”
~ Samantha McLauren, first seminar attendee and panelist at the seminar in March 2023.
“The first second-generation seminar was a phenomenal event. Groups and panel discussions to narrow the sociocultural gaps between generations were insightful. The take-home was plentiful; however, the essential principle of inviting generations to love (agape) and serve one another in Christ Jesus resonates.”
~ Pastor David Heng on his experience at the first diaspora seminar in Calgary
Diaspora Preaching Seminars
Equipping diaspora pastors to preach with clarity, depth, and Biblical confidence
Despite having limited access to formal training or support, many diaspora pastors continue to serve faithfully. To help meet this need, the Canadian Bible Society has launched a series of preaching seminars to strengthen and encourage those serving in diverse church settings across Canada. Led by experienced ministry leaders, the seminars offer full-time and bi-vocational pastors a space to deepen their engagement with Scripture and grow in confidence as preachers of God’s Word. Blending Biblical insight with practical tools, these gatherings provide valuable training, shared learning, and spiritual renewal. Through continued investment in these workshops, our hope is to walk alongside diaspora leaders as they proclaim God’s Word and nurture vibrant, Scripture-rooted communities.
“I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful seminar organized by CBS, and I must say it was truly impactful. The sessions were a perfect blend of Biblical depth and practical application, equipping participants with fresh perspectives for delivering meaningful Advent messages.
I’m grateful to Dr. Andrew Stirling and Fr. Matthew Francis; their deep knowledge, engaging presentation style, and practical insights made the experience both engaging and deeply spiritual. Their thoughtful exploration of Advent themes and valuable tips for crafting sermons that truly resonate with congregations were invaluable.
I particularly appreciated how they presented the “Advent Preaching” and provided a simple application with a wonderful balance. Thank you, Dr. Andrew and Fr. Matthew, for the well-organized and inspiring sessions. I left feeling motivated and equipped to apply what I learned!
Finally, I appreciate Majd Alajji for organizing the seminar.”
~ Pastor Yonatan Hiruy
Diaspora Resources
Bibles In Your Heart language
Bibles in Arabic, Punjabi, Tagalog, Chinese, Spanish & more.
Diaspora churches are bringing the Gospel to diverse communities across Canada. CBS partners with diaspora pastors across Canada, providing Scriptural resources in their heart languages and training through seminars. We recently sat down with pastors from diverse communities to hear about their ministry challenges, opportunities, and prayer needs. Watch these videos to discover the vibrant work of Canadian diaspora churches and learn how you can support and pray for them.
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