Black Immigrants Bring Theological Conservatism and Missional Energy to American Churches
A new Christianity Today report traces how Black immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America are reshaping congregations across the United States. African immigrants are the fastest-growing Black immigrant group and tend to be theologically conservative, Bible-centered, and focused on evangelism.
Black immigrants are changing the makeup of American churches, bringing with them theological commitments and missional energy that are reshaping congregations from New York to Atlanta.
A Christianity Today report published in April 2026 traces this shift, noting that more than 5 million Black immigrants now live in the United States. That means roughly one in ten Black Americans was born abroad. African immigrants are the fastest-growing segment of this population.
These communities tend to be theologically conservative and Bible-centered. Many are deeply committed to evangelism and church planting. They often avoid the label "evangelical," preferring denominational terms like Pentecostal or descriptors tied to their home countries, such as "Haitian Baptist."
Jessica Janvier, who teaches at Meachum School of Haymanot and works in the Intercultural Studies Department at Columbia International University, wrote the report. She notes that Black Christianity in America has always included people who brought their faith from other countries, whether through enslavement or immigration.
The 1960s Civil Rights Movement led to immigration reforms that opened the door for more arrivals. Churches like Atlanta's 2819 Church, led by Trinidadian-American pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, reflect this growing diversity.
Traditional Black denominations, including the Church of God in Christ and the AME Zion Church, are expected to become more ethnically varied as Black immigrant populations grow. By 2060, an estimated 9.5 million Black immigrants are projected to live in America.
Janvier says these communities unite with African American congregations through shared experiences of racial challenges while maintaining strong theological commitments to justice and the gospel.
