Eastern Townships
Estrie Pittsburgh
History: This beautiful region of small towns, sparkling lakes, and wooded valleys nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains was originally known as the "Eastern Townships" when it was first settled by British Loyalists fleeing the United States during and after the American War of Independence. These first settlers and their descendents left an indelible mark on the region. Many towns bear British names and historic buildings have a distinctive New England style.
Population: Today, French Canadians make up 94% of the region's population. The two largest cities of the region are Sherbrooke (about 100,000) and Granby (45,000).
Ministry: The region has a number of strong French Fellowship Baptist Churches. There are autonomous churches in Asbestos, Granby (2), Sherbrooke (2), Plessisville, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce and Victoriaville.

There are also mission works supported with the help of the Fellowship French Mission. Simon and Guylaine Bélanger started a cell-based church in Cowansville in February 2003 as the daughter work of Église Baptiste Évangélique de la Haute Yamaska (Granby). The Granby church is training a number of leaders and planning to start other daughter churches with a cell-based model in the region. Jean-Pierre and Julie Gagné are preparing to launch such a work in Saint-Césaire in 2006, while Sylvain and Carmen Belval are organizing a church in Saint-Liboire in 2007.

French Missions is also providing support for missionaries Michel and Annette Houle planting a church in Bury as a daughter work of the Eau Vive Church in Sherbrooke.

Please pray for:

  1. The church in Cowansville under the leadership of Simon and Guylaine Bélanger.
  2. New church planters Jean-Pierre and Julie Gagné at Saint-Césaire and Sylvain and Carmen Belval at Saint-Liboire.
  3. The ongoing work of Michel and Annette Houle planting a church in Bury.
  4. The two churches in Granby: Église Évangélique Baptiste de la Haute Yamaska and Église Missionnaire Baptiste de l'Espoir.
  5. The two churches in the Sherbrooke area: Église Évangélique Baptiste L'Eau Vive and Église Baptiste Évangélique de Sherbrooke at Rock Forest.
  6. The growth of the autonomous churches in the region: Asbestos, Plessisville, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce and Victoriaville.