FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 1 Faith Perspectives of Mexican Migrant Farm Workers in Canada Las perspectivas de fe de los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes mexicanos en Canada Rafael Vallejo Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the degree of Doctor of Theology (Ph.D.) Supervisor Dr. Charles Van Engen. FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 2 FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS DECLARATION I certify that this thesis is the result of my own research and that it has not been partially or totally submitted to another educational institution to obtain an academic degree. Rafael Vallejo January 31, 2018 FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………..7 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................... ………….9 ABBREVIATIONS………………………………………………………………………..13 LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………. 15 LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………….………………………………. 18 CHAPTER 1: MIGRANTS AND MIGRATION, RELIGION AND FAITH…………………………. 19 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 Faith Perspectives of Migrant Workers 1.1.2 Migration and Religion 1.1.3 Global Migration Today 1.1.4 Migration, Globalization and Religion 1.1.5 Migration, Migrants and Christianity 1.2 Background and Significance of The Study 1.3 Objectives of the Study 1.3.1. The Research Question 1.3.2. Specific Objectives 1.3.3. Definition of Terms 1.4 Theoretical Framework 1.4.1. Lived Religion as a Theoretical Framework 1.5 Methodology 1.5.1. Subjects of the Study: Mexican Migrant Farm Workers 1.5.2. Visual Sociology 1.5.3. Post-disciplinary Approaches 1.6 Survey of Related Literature 1.6.1. Migration and Religion 1.6.2. Migration and Globalization 1.6.3. Migration and Religious Identity FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 4 1.6.4. Migration and Integration 1.6.5. Migration and Lived Religion 1.6.6. Migration and Secularization 1.7 Overview of the Dissertation CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY…………………………………….…. 54 2.1 The Interview Process 2.1.1. Location 2.2.2. Participant Selection 2.2.3. Informed Consent and Research Ethics 2.2 The Research Design 2.2.1. Life Stories and Narratives 2.2.2 Critical Theory 2.2.3. Faith Perspectives 2.2.4. Participatory Action Research 2.2.5. Visual sociology 2.2.6. Missiological Research using Social Scientific Frameworks 2.2.6.1. Migration, Economy and Community 2.2.6.2. Emic and Etic Perspectives CHAPTER 3: MIGRANTS AND MIGRATION IN WORLD HISTORY …………………………….73 3.1. Learning from Migration History 3.2. Migrant Groups in World History 3.2.1. Nestorian 3.2.2. Huguenots 3.2.3. Puritans 3.2.4. Acadians 3.2.5. Mennonites 3.2.6. Africans in the Transatlantic Slave Trade 3.3. Analysis, Critique and Conclusion 3.3.1. Analysis of Structure and Agency 3.3.2. Critique of Six Migrant Groups: Cultural Politics 3.3.3. Summary and Conclusion CHAPTER 4: FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 5 MIGRATION IN THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE………………………………………121 4.1 Biblical Studies and Missiological Reflection 4.1.1. Migrant Narratives in the Bible 4.1.2. The Bible as the Story of God 4.1.3. The Biblical Doctrine of Providence 4.2 Four Migrant Narratives 4.2.1. Joseph 4.2.2. Esther 4.2.3. Daniel 4.2.4. Ruth 4.3. Biblical Themes in the Four Migrant Narratives 4.3.1. Blessing and Promise 4.3.2. Danger and Deliverance 4.3.3. Transformation 4.3.4. Exile and Famine 4.3.5. Dreams and Interpretations 4.4 Migrant Narratives and Missiology 4.5 Summary and Conclusions CHAPTER 5: PRESENTATION OF INTERVIEW RESULTS…………………………………………168 5.1 Migrant faith in their own words 5.1.1. Antonio 5.1.2. Alberto 5.1.3. Eduardo 5.1.4. Agustin 5.1.5. Miguel 5.1.6. Diego 5.1.7. Joaquin 5.1.8. Marcos 5.1.9. Lorenzo 5.1.10. Renato 5.1.11. Lazaro 5.1.12 Esteban CHAPTER 6: ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEWS ….,……………………………….……………………..237 6.1 Health FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 6 6.2 Family 6.3 Faith 6.4 Remittances 6.5 Struggle CHAPTER 7 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………………………...265 7.1 Lived Religion and Health 7.1.1. Health and Healing 7.1.2. Health and Energy 7.1.3. Attitudes towards Health 7.1.4. Health and Faith Practices 7.1.5. Health and Family 7.1.6. Attitudes towards Health Workers 7.1.7. Conclusion and Recommendations 7.2 Lived Religion and Family 7.2.1.Church as Family 7.2.2.Separation from the Family 7.3 Lived Religion and Faith Practice 7.3.1.Lo Ordinario 7.3.2.Faith Perspectives and Story 7.3.3.Migrant Workers and El Senor 7.3.4.Faith and the Unseen 7.3.5.Conclusion and Recommendations 7.4 Lived Religion and Remittances 7.4.1.Remittances as Self-Giving 7.4.2.Remittances and Community 7.4.3.Conclusion and Recommendations CHAPTER 8: TOWARDS A MISSIOLOGY OF MIGRATION 8.1 Summary of Key Learnings 8.1.1. History of Migration and Christianity 8.1.2. Migrant Stories in the Biblical Narrative FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 7 8.1.3. Faith Perspectives of Migrant Workers 8.2 Towards a Missiology of Migration 8.2.1. Humanity in the Image of God 8.2.2. Churches’ Witness with Migrants 8.2.3. Migrant Rights as a Missional Challenge 8.2.4. Mission and the challenge of Migration 8.2.5. Communicating the Gospel in a Migrant World 8.2.6. Local Churches and Ministering among Migrants 8.2.7. Migration in a Post Christian World 8.2.8. Gospel and Culture 8.2.9. Mission and the Reign of God 8.2.10. Standing in Solidarity with Migrant Workers 8.2.11. The Struggle for Migrant Rights 8.3 Mission as Resistance and Struggle 8.3.1. Mission and the Justice of God 8.4 A Global Compact on Migration 8.4.1. Church as a community of resistance and struggle 8.4.2. Changing the Story REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………...290 APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………….298 1.1 International Migration Outlook 2017 1.2 Interview Photos FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My first word of thanks goes to the many Mexican migrant farmworkers who gifted me with their trust and their time by offering to be my co-researchers for this project. Your participation is greatly appreciated and this work is dedicated to you, your families and your loved ones back home in Mexico. I offer deep gratitude to my Thesis Supervisor, teacher and mentor, Dr. Charles Van Engen and Dr. Ruben Paredes Alfaro, our Academic Director at PRODOLA along with all my other teachers and colleagues for their support from the first time we met at the Centro Evangélico de Misiología Andino-Amazónica (CEMAA) in Lima, Peru in 2012. Special thanks goes to Dr. Sonia Abarca Mora who in that same place, introduced me to the importance of ontology, epistemology and methodology in my research and teaching. Thanks also goes to Dr. Paul Bergsma and Dr. Jose Pacheco Castillo, members of my Dissertation Committee who added their critique and wisdom as finishing touches leading up to the final version of the dissertation. To Dr. Alberto Roldan for all his work in coordinating the requirements for the credentialing process with South African Theological Seminary (SATS). Finally, I wish to acknowledge the loving contributions of my family: my parents Antonio and Leticia and my sisters, especially Concepcion for her generosity in providing much needed financial support during a very difficult time. To Eva, my wife, best friend and lifetime companion (and editorial assistant), thank you for putting up with me during the intense six months of writing. To my children Paulo, Patricia and Pia, I offer you this work as a humble legacy. To everyone else who in one way or another was part of this journey: abrazos, bendiciones ymil gracias! FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 9 AGRADECIMIENTOS Mi primera palabra de agradecimiento es para los muchos trabajadores agrícolas migrantes mexicanos que me han dado su confianza y su tiempo, ofreciendo ser mis co-investigadores para este proyecto. Su participación es muy apreciada y estadisertaciónse dedica a ellos, sus familias y sus amados en su querida patria. Ofrezco gratitud profunda a mi supervisor de la tesis, professor y mentor, el Dr. Charles Van Engen y el Dr. Rubén Paredes Alfaro nuestro decano del Programa Doctoral Latinoamericano (PRODOLA) junto con los profesores y colegas por su apoyo desde la primera vez que nos encontramos en Centro Evangélico de Misiología Andino-Amazónica (CEMAA) en Lima, Perú en 2012. Un agradecimiento especial a la Dra. Sonia Abarca Mora quien en ese mismo lugar, me presento la importancia de la ontologia, epistemologia y metodología en mi investigación y docencia. Las gracias también a los Drs. Paul Bergsma y José Pacheco Castillo, miembros de mi Comité de la Disertación quienes agregaron su críticas y sabiduría como toques finales que condujeron a la versión final de la disertación. Al Dr. Alberto Roldan por todo su trabajo en la coordinacion de los requisitos para el proceso de titulacion con el South African Theological Seminary (SATS). Finalmente, deseo agardecer las contribuciones cariñosas de mi familia: mis padres Antonio y Leticia y mis hermanas, especialmente Concepción, por su generosidad y apoyo financiero durante este tiempo tan difícil. Para Eva, mi esposa, mejor amiga y compañera de vida ( y asistante editorial), gracias por aguantarme durante los seis meses intensos de la escritura de la tesis doctoral. A mis hijos, Paulo, Patricia y Pia, les ofrezco este trabajo como humilde legado. Para todos los que de una manera u otra fueron parte de este peregrinación: abrazos, bendiciones y ¡mil gracias! ABSTRACT FAITH PERSPECTIVES OF MIGRANT WORKERS 10 The dissertation explores faith perspectives and practices of Mexican migrant farmworkers in Ontario using a social-science approach called “Lived Religion”.