This ethnographic research is concerned with the role of Pentecostalism in mediating immigrants' experiences of fear and violence in and of the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. The interplay between religions, in particular Pentecostalism, for the immigrant in the context of urban violence has not had much attention especially in Johannesburg. The study brings into contact two arguably separate concepts of violence and religion in presenting the complexity of everyday life for the urban immigrant. The two churches which the research will focus on, are based in Johannesburg's suburb of Turffontein and Rosettenville. The two sites are dominated by black African immigrants and are host many immigrant-run Pentecostal churches. Participant observation, in-depth interviews, life-histories will form part of the methods that will assist in exploring the interplay between Pentecostalism and urban violence for the immigrant.