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Seeds of Hope in Bloom: St. Paul’s Inter-Cultural Immigrant Community of Faith

With the help of a Seeds of Hope grant, St. Paul’s has fostered a growing diverse, intercultural community!

St. Paul’s United Church (Thunder Bay, ON) has witnessed remarkable growth over the last few years. “The context and the texture of the church [have] changed because, in the history of St. Paul’s, there were no people of colour coming to church,” explains Rev. Desire Tiriwepi, “But since these intercultural services started, we have seen an influx of people coming in.”

A Diverse Community in Thunder Bay

In 2023, St. Paul’s received a Seed of Hope grant from the Foundation for their initiative St. Paul’s Inter-Cultural Immigrant Community of Faith. “Ever since the funding, we have been able to organize prayers, meet together, and come together as a diverse community of Thunder Bay,” shares Rev. Desire. There has been an increase in the number of people attending services, particularly people of colour.

“We have people, of course, from Africa—not just from one nation, but from many different nations of Africa itself. We have people from South America, from Jamaica… It’s fostering an atmosphere of community, and we really thank the Foundation for helping us in that,” shares Blessing, the church’s Musical Director.  Rev. Desire emphasizes how this growing diversity has enriched their services and their community

Building Belonging and Community

With the support of the Foundation, the intercultural community has been able to gather in meaningful ways. From sharing food together to wearing uniforms for performances, having access to instruments, and even going on picnics as a group, these experiences have helped build a deep sense of community. “We are blessed to be part of this group because we have a sense of belonging and community and we have learned a lot,” shares Pamela, a member of the African Praise Choir.  While youth participation has been one aspect of the program’s success, the choir has expanded beyond that. Blessing, the Musical Director, emphasizes, “We have not only been able to encourage youth participation in this program, but we’ve also been able to invite a wide array of people from various walks of life.”

The Foundation has helped us invite people into our culture—the way that we sing, the way that we perform, the way that we dance

Singing and Dancing

The African Praise Choir has become a beloved part of the Thunder Bay community. They have been invited to perform at several events in the city, including Canada Day celebrations, Black History Month functions, and the Folklore Festival. Known for their vibrant performances, this intergenerational choir brings together people of all ages. And as one choir member shares, “We have women who come together with their kids to sing,” shares another member of the African Praise Choir.

Beyond singing, they have also become known for their dance performances. “The Foundation has helped us invite people into our culture—the way that we sing, the way that we perform, the way that we dance,” Blessing shares. Rev. Desire proudly reflects, “We have made a footprint in the city of Thunder Bay.” The work at St. Paul’s continues to grow, fostering a truly diverse and welcoming environment for everyone in the community.

Plant Your Own Seeds of Hope… and Watch Them Bloom!

The United Church of Canada Foundation offers a variety of grant opportunities for organizations and individuals to bring life to the mission and values of the United Church. The Seeds of Hope granting program awards approximately one million dollars every year is support of innovative United Church projects. Our spring granting round is open now! How will a funding boost from Seeds of Hope help your project take flight? Learn more and apply now: unitedchurchfoundation.ca/grants/seeds-of-hope.
 
We are always available if you need help completing your application. Should you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

Grants from the Foundation, representing the generosity of many United Church people, help make this work possible! To make a financial gift to support this good work, please click here. Thank you!

During Black History Month, we’re showcasing Black Canadians and people of African descent who are strengthening the church’s intercultural ministry as well as highlighting opportunities to engage with this work.