Paper short abstract:

Christianity is key to many communities in sub-Saharan Africa and their diasporas. During the Covid-19 lockdowns African communities in Australia engaged with their churches in diverse ways. Our findings suggest that churches became even more significant to communities during the pandemic.

Paper long abstract:

Christianity is key to many communities in sub-Saharan Africa. As migrants from the African continent arrive in Australia, the usual roles of religion (i.e., connecting to the spiritual world and strengthening community) become even more pronounced. In addition, churches in the diaspora become support institutions for settlement and alleviating nostalgia. They offer a site where migrants meet and exchange tips on accommodation, jobs and life in the host country, while at the same time migrants can feel at home connecting with fellow compatriots. For the African diaspora, church pastors and elders arriving from the homeland are more trustworthy than the government settlement apparatus (social workers, migration officials, job agencies, etc.). However, as covid-19 struck, these life support institutions closed down and services were moved online. Here we show how modes of arrival and legal status in Australia meant that the African diaspora in Australia engaged with churches in diverse ways. Migrants and international students were able to connect with their church communities and watch services online and even expanded their engagement by watching services in the homeland and elsewhere. By contrast, many refugees, particularly the older generations, had difficulty accessing the online services as they lacked the necessary skills and devices. Pastors needed to use off-line strategies to keep them involved in the community. Overall, our findings suggest that churches and their communities became more significant as churches closed during the pandemic.