Churches, places of reference, integration and socialization for the immigrant population

Religiosity is a key aspect in the process of integration for the migrant population of sub-Saharan origin. “A fairly significant relation is seen to exist between these two factors,” says Rafael Cazarin, a sociologist at the UPV/EHU’s Department of Sociology II. “When they go to the churches to participate in services, they have the chance to establish affective bonds with the community and build relationships of trust while sharing certain values and migratory experiences.” In order to analyse the interrelation between religion, churches and pastors in the integration of migrants, Cazarin conducted an ethnographic study on the Evangelical-Pentecostal churches of sub-Saharan origin, particularly looking at Nigerian and Congolese pastors.