Migrant churches confronting poverty in the Netherlands

In this article the main results are presented of an exploratory research on activities of migrant churches in the Netherlands confronting poverty. Migrant churches form a group of churches in the unchurched Dutch society that is becoming more and more relevant. According to estimations there are about 700.000 Christian migrants and 1100 migrant churches. The findings of this research show that migrant churches play an important role in providing financial and material assistance, advice and information to their members in relation to their integration in the Dutch society, spiritual guidance and practical help. Besides official activities, the informal network that migrant churches provide is of importance. It also became clear that problems of poverty are often connected with the question of participating in Dutch society and the development of an identity, including the spiritual dimension, in the new situation. Therefore reflection on diaconia should pay attention to poverty but also to questions of building up relations and of identity