Black Immigrants From Africa and Caribbean Are Reshaping Black Church Denominations
A new report from Christianity Today finds that African and Caribbean immigrants are changing the theological and cultural makeup of historically Black denominations. By 2060, the number of Black immigrants in the US is projected to reach 9.5 million.
African and Caribbean immigrants are reshaping historically Black denominations in the United States, bringing new theological traditions and cultural practices that are changing congregations from the inside, according to a new report from Christianity Today.
The report, published in April 2026, found that denominations like the Church of God in Christ and the AME Zion Church are seeing growing numbers of members from Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Haiti. These immigrants often bring missional, Bible-centered traditions that differ from the social gospel emphasis common in many historically Black American churches.
Researchers project that the number of Black immigrants in the United States will reach 9.5 million by 2060, up from about 4.6 million today. That growth will have a significant impact on Black church demographics.
"The Black Church in America is becoming more African and more Caribbean," said one researcher quoted in the report. "That is not a problem. It is an opportunity."
Some tensions have emerged around worship styles, leadership structures, and political engagement. But many church leaders say the influx of immigrants is revitalizing congregations that had been losing members.
The Barna Group is tracking these trends as part of its ongoing "Trends in the Black Church" research project, which covers topics from civic engagement to the impact of gentrification on urban congregations.
