Sherbrooke, Quebec
by Chris Hilmer
In 1649, a 33-year old Frenchman named Antoine Rouillard left St. Cosme-en-Vair, a small village in North Central France. His destination, like that of thousands of other Frenchmen and women in the 1700’s, was New France, the area known to us today as the province of Québec in eastern Canada. Antoine was a master carpenter and he worked hard constructing homes and barns for the many newly arriving settlers. Several years after coming to Québec he married, and before his death in 1666, he and his wife had eight sons. By 1722, his descendents numbered 63. Having been born into a very traditional Roman Catholic society, it is highly unlikely that Antoine Rouillard or his family ever had an opportunity to hear and believe the Gospel.
For three centuries little changed in Québec. Even after France lost its New World empire to England in 1763, Québec remained rural, French, and almost exclusively Catholic—a stronghold against the influence of the Bible and the revivals that made such a difference in the history of the United States. Throughout these years, the Rouillard family continued to grow, with some moving into other regions of Québec, while others, including my maternal grandfather, moved south into the New England States.
Things began to change in the 1940-50’s, as more and more people left farms for the larger cities of Québec to find work. Changes were taking place as well in the cultural and intellectual life of Québec, with open criticism and even rejection of the Catholic church. Some courageous individuals began to preach the Gospel, often suffering great persecution. These changes culminated in what is known as the “Quiet Revolution” of the 1960’s, leading to a socialist state that ended the control of the church over everyday life in Québec. In the years that followed some progress was made in reaching Québec with the Gospel, but even today it is still unreached with less than one half of one percent of the population described as “evangelical.”
In July of 1999, 350 years after my ancestor Antoine Rouillard arrived in Québec, my family and I moved to the city of Drummondville to help fellow BIMI missionaries Jacques and Carole Brind’Amour plant a church in that city. We began language studies immediately and sought to serve in whatever way possible. Although limited by language, I was able to help with the youth, teach a Bible doctrine course, lead singing, and distribute thousand of tracts. In addition, God gave us several souls, including Annie Cosette (a neighbor) and Nicole St. Germain (one of our language teachers). We are grateful for the experience we received, for the Brind’Amour family, and for the church that continues today in Drummondville.
In the fall of 2001, we were asked to help a group of believers in Sherbrooke, a city one hour south of Drummondville. A group of believers were meeting there and seeking someone to help them full-time. Although we had envisioned serving in another area of Québec, God was clearly leading us to assist in this work. In July of 2002, we moved to Sherbrooke and I became the missionary pastor of Eglise Baptiste du Berger (Shepherd Baptist Church).
Sherbrooke is a city of about 140,000 people, located in southeast Québec just to the north of Vermont and New Hampshire. Sherbrooke is home to several universities and is the manufacturing and distribution center for our region. Although the city is predominately French, there is a small English-speaking minority and an increasing number of immigrants from around the world. This is reflected in our church membership that includes people born in Mexico, Romania, and even China.
Upon our arrival we decided to focus upon several areas: evangelization, missions, and paying off our building loan. We have worked hard in each of these areas and have seen God’s hand of blessing. We are busy with soul-winning and tract distribution. We commonly have 20-25 adults and children for Monday night visitation, and over the past four years we have passed out more than 250,000 tracts and John/Romans throughout our region. Although, we have seen very little direct fruit from this effort, we believe it is our responsibility to evangelize our Jerusalem.
Despite being a small church (40-50 on Sunday morning), we have a large vision for worldwide missions. We currently support fourteen missionary families. We have also sought to involve ourselves in ways other than simply giving. Recently we assembled 50,000 French language John/Romans destined for the Ivory Coast, and in June we took our first ever mission trip to help one of our missionaries in New York City. Seventeen of our people took part and God did a great work in hearts. This focus has resulted in a growing burden for missions and many of our people are open to God calling them into His harvest field.
Finally, God has blessed us in another important area—a building. Most people in Québec view the “Baptists” as just another cult, like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. A permanent meeting place helps to build credibility in the community as well as helps the church itself. Our building is a former Masonic lodge, which we were able to purchase for a good price and pay off in August 2005. The resulting lack of indebtedness will prove beneficial when the people eventually call a national pastor.
As on every mission field, the key to success is reaching, winning, and training nationals. It is our converts and those whom we train that will accomplish far more amongst their own people than we can ever accomplish. This has always been our goal. We are grateful to see our members active in teaching and preaching the Word of God, in music, and in other areas of service. Our Monday evening Bible institute had eight students last year and we expect more this winter. We are praying God will use our people greatly in Sherbrooke, in Québec, and throughout the world.
What is God saying to you? Québec has a great need for missionaries; no field in North America is less evangelized. Patience and faithfulness are absolutely necessary, as is a long-term vision. Nothing happens overnight in Québec. While other fields may seem more glamorous or productive, could you imagine one so needy and so near? Maybe God is calling you to labor in French Canada? Or maybe you are interested in a short term mission trip or internship? Whatever your direction might be, would you pray with us that we might see God pour out a spirit of revival upon this long-forgotten and long-neglected land?
In 1649, a 33-year old Frenchman named Antoine Rouillard left St. Cosme-en-Vair, a small village in North Central France. His destination, like that of thousands of other Frenchmen and women in the 1700’s, was New France, the area known to us today as the province of Québec in eastern Canada. Antoine was a master carpenter and he worked hard constructing homes and barns for the many newly arriving settlers. Several years after coming to Québec he married, and before his death in 1666, he and his wife had eight sons. By 1722, his descendents numbered 63. Having been born into a very traditional Roman Catholic society, it is highly unlikely that Antoine Rouillard or his family ever had an opportunity to hear and believe the Gospel.
For three centuries little changed in Québec. Even after France lost its New World empire to England in 1763, Québec remained rural, French, and almost exclusively Catholic—a stronghold against the influence of the Bible and the revivals that made such a difference in the history of the United States. Throughout these years, the Rouillard family continued to grow, with some moving into other regions of Québec, while others, including my maternal grandfather, moved south into the New England States.
Things began to change in the 1940-50’s, as more and more people left farms for the larger cities of Québec to find work. Changes were taking place as well in the cultural and intellectual life of Québec, with open criticism and even rejection of the Catholic church. Some courageous individuals began to preach the Gospel, often suffering great persecution. These changes culminated in what is known as the “Quiet Revolution” of the 1960’s, leading to a socialist state that ended the control of the church over everyday life in Québec. In the years that followed some progress was made in reaching Québec with the Gospel, but even today it is still unreached with less than one half of one percent of the population described as “evangelical.”
In July of 1999, 350 years after my ancestor Antoine Rouillard arrived in Québec, my family and I moved to the city of Drummondville to help fellow BIMI missionaries Jacques and Carole Brind’Amour plant a church in that city. We began language studies immediately and sought to serve in whatever way possible. Although limited by language, I was able to help with the youth, teach a Bible doctrine course, lead singing, and distribute thousand of tracts. In addition, God gave us several souls, including Annie Cosette (a neighbor) and Nicole St. Germain (one of our language teachers). We are grateful for the experience we received, for the Brind’Amour family, and for the church that continues today in Drummondville.
In the fall of 2001, we were asked to help a group of believers in Sherbrooke, a city one hour south of Drummondville. A group of believers were meeting there and seeking someone to help them full-time. Although we had envisioned serving in another area of Québec, God was clearly leading us to assist in this work. In July of 2002, we moved to Sherbrooke and I became the missionary pastor of Eglise Baptiste du Berger (Shepherd Baptist Church).
Sherbrooke is a city of about 140,000 people, located in southeast Québec just to the north of Vermont and New Hampshire. Sherbrooke is home to several universities and is the manufacturing and distribution center for our region. Although the city is predominately French, there is a small English-speaking minority and an increasing number of immigrants from around the world. This is reflected in our church membership that includes people born in Mexico, Romania, and even China.
Upon our arrival we decided to focus upon several areas: evangelization, missions, and paying off our building loan. We have worked hard in each of these areas and have seen God’s hand of blessing. We are busy with soul-winning and tract distribution. We commonly have 20-25 adults and children for Monday night visitation, and over the past four years we have passed out more than 250,000 tracts and John/Romans throughout our region. Although, we have seen very little direct fruit from this effort, we believe it is our responsibility to evangelize our Jerusalem.
Despite being a small church (40-50 on Sunday morning), we have a large vision for worldwide missions. We currently support fourteen missionary families. We have also sought to involve ourselves in ways other than simply giving. Recently we assembled 50,000 French language John/Romans destined for the Ivory Coast, and in June we took our first ever mission trip to help one of our missionaries in New York City. Seventeen of our people took part and God did a great work in hearts. This focus has resulted in a growing burden for missions and many of our people are open to God calling them into His harvest field.
Finally, God has blessed us in another important area—a building. Most people in Québec view the “Baptists” as just another cult, like the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. A permanent meeting place helps to build credibility in the community as well as helps the church itself. Our building is a former Masonic lodge, which we were able to purchase for a good price and pay off in August 2005. The resulting lack of indebtedness will prove beneficial when the people eventually call a national pastor.
As on every mission field, the key to success is reaching, winning, and training nationals. It is our converts and those whom we train that will accomplish far more amongst their own people than we can ever accomplish. This has always been our goal. We are grateful to see our members active in teaching and preaching the Word of God, in music, and in other areas of service. Our Monday evening Bible institute had eight students last year and we expect more this winter. We are praying God will use our people greatly in Sherbrooke, in Québec, and throughout the world.
What is God saying to you? Québec has a great need for missionaries; no field in North America is less evangelized. Patience and faithfulness are absolutely necessary, as is a long-term vision. Nothing happens overnight in Québec. While other fields may seem more glamorous or productive, could you imagine one so needy and so near? Maybe God is calling you to labor in French Canada? Or maybe you are interested in a short term mission trip or internship? Whatever your direction might be, would you pray with us that we might see God pour out a spirit of revival upon this long-forgotten and long-neglected land?
Missionaries of the Day
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jonathon & Mandy Crews - BRAZIL
Joel C & Brooke Daku - KIRIBATI
Paul W & Martha Daku - FIJI ISLANDS
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Jonathon & Mandy Crews - BRAZIL
Joel C & Brooke Daku - KIRIBATI
Paul W & Martha Daku - FIJI ISLANDS
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