Chad

Chad is a mission field of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is one of the five missions that make up the Central African Union Mission that, in turn, is a part of the West Central Africa Division. Adventist statistics (2024): 42 organized churches; 39 companies; 5,332 church members.¹

Chad is in north-central Africa. Libya borders it to the north, Sudan to the east, Niger to the west, Central African Republic to the south, and Nigeria to the southwest. Chad has a population of 14,927,000 with an area of 1,284,000 square kilometers. The Adventist membership is estimated to be 5,332, with 42 churches.²

Origins of the Adventist Work

The Adventist mission work in Chad was originally overseen by the Central African Union Mission, including Cameroon. In 1965, Chad became part of the Equatorial African Union Mission under the Southern European Division.³ Chad Mission was officially established in 1967 and organized in 1973. It underwent reorganization in 1987.⁴ The primary evangelistic work was carried out by missionaries from abroad, such as Albert Bodenmann.⁵ When the mission was first organized, Albert Bodenmann served as its inaugural president.⁶ In 2013, when Cameroon became a Union, Chad was associated with four other countries to form the new Central African Union of Missions.

Bodenmann and his wife, Katharina, arrived in Koza, Cameroon, in July 1955. Bodenmann was instrumental in building the Koza Adventist Hospital and residences for doctors and nurses. He also oversaw the construction of numerous chapels and wells throughout the region. Additionally, Bodenmann translated and published the quarterly Sabbath school lessons in Fulfulde and created local hymnals using the hectographic process.⁷

On July 5, 1967, the Bodenmann family relocated from Koza to Fort Lamy, now known as N’Djamena, the capital of Chad. The family comprised Albert Bodenmann, the missionary, his wife Katharina, and their three children: Reinhard (12 years old), Edeltraud (10 years old), and Christine (4 years old). Accompanying the Bodenmann family were young Chadian natives who had assisted them in Koza: Sembel Pierre, Ouankissam Paul, and Warabel Gabriel. This move marked a significant transition in their missionary work as they continued their efforts in a new region.⁸

In 1968, Denote Michel, a Chadian native and teacher at Dogba Primary School, was tasked with reaching the intellectual community in Fort Lamy. In 1969, Albert Bodenmann secured land in a residential area previously inhabited by Europeans in Fort Lamy and constructed a missionary house and offices for the mission. The following year, in 1970, a public evangelism campaign was conducted at Garangosso by Denote Michel and Parsanga, leading to the baptism of 20 individuals. By 1971, the community had grown sufficiently to establish one of the first Adventist churches in Chad. In 1972, Ouankissam Paul, a Chadian native who became the first indigenous evangelist, was sent to establish new churches. He successfully founded Adventist communities in Farfara, Gouboussia, and Saiga, further expanding the Adventist presence in the region.⁹

As the mission work progressed, a Swiss missionary named Pastor Sturn was appointed in 1973 to oversee the activities and establish the Bere medical station. In 1974, Armin Krakolinig, an Austrian missionary, arrived in Bere, contributing to the establishment of the Moundou Adventist Church.¹⁰

On November 20, 1975, H. D. Burbank reported that “on November 5th, 1975, the first agreement was reached with the government of Chad, which opened the way for the Seventh-day Adventist World Service to enter the country and begin an agricultural program.”¹¹

The mission’s permanent headquarters was built in 1969 by Bodenmann, who secured land in a residential area of Fort Lamy previously inhabited by Europeans. This one-story building had two apartments and several offices. As of 2019, this building continues to serve as the headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chad.

Church Administrative Unit and Institutions

The Adventist mission work in Chad was initially overseen by the North Cameroon Mission, established in 1931 and had its office in Chad. When the North Cameroon Mission was reorganized in 1967, the Adventist work in Chad was placed under the Equatorial African Union Mission. Chad Mission was officially recognized as a distinct administrative unit in 1974, with Albert Bodenmann as its first president and headquarters in N’Djamena, the capital city. Bodenmann served in Chad until 1983.¹²

Chad Mission has established numerous schools. The first primary school was built in 1980 in Moundou, at a location called Guelkol, by Pastor Mbayo Laurent Nade in the southern part of Chad. Subsequently, many other schools were constructed by various missionaries. The first hospital, Bere Adventist Hospital, was built in 1967. Today, Chad has over eight schools and three hospitals under the mission’s management.

Important Point in Membership

The Adventist Church has significantly impacted the country through its extensive network of institutions. With over eight schools dedicated to providing Christian education, the Church plays a crucial role in advancing educational opportunities for the community. In addition, the three Adventist hospitals offer essential health services and facilities, contributing greatly to the nation’s healthcare system and receiving commendation from the government for their valuable service. The Adventist impact can be seen in the increasing numbers of church members. In 2018, the membership of the Adventist Mission in Chad was estimated to be 2,765.¹³ By 2024, this number had grown to 5,332 members.¹⁴ This significant increase reflects the substantial growth in the Church’s membership over the years. From its humble beginnings as a small group of believers, the mission has expanded considerably, demonstrating a notable trend of growth and development in the country.

The predominantly Muslim culture in Chad presents a unique environment for the Adventist Church’s activities. There remains a pressing need to establish more schools and health facilities to serve the growing population better and address educational and healthcare services gaps. Continued dialogue and cooperation with local communities and authorities are essential to enhance the impact of the Church’s mission in the region.

Sources

General Conference Minutes of Meetings, General Conference of Seventh Day Adventist, November 20, 1975. https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Minutes/Forms/AllFolders.aspx.

Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research. “Chad Mission,” 2024 Annual Statistic Report, New Series, Volume 6. https://adventiststatistics.org/.

Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. Various years. https://www.adventistyearbook.org/.

Notes

1. Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, “Chad Mission,” 2024 Annual Statistic Report, New Series, Volume 6, 19.↩

2. Ibid.↩

3. “Southern European Division,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing House, 1967), 229.↩

4. “Chad Mission,”Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing House, 1973-74), 131.↩

5. Betsaleel Moulngari, interviewed by the author, N’Djamena, Chad, December 6, 2019.↩

6. Ibid.↩

7. Ibid.↩

8. Ibid.↩

9. Ibid.↩

10. Wangkel Jacques, former Chad Mission president, interviewed by the author, N’Djamena, Chad, December 6, 2019.↩

11. “Vote 75-434,” Minutes of Meetings, General Conference of Seventh day Adventist, November 20,1975.↩

12. “Chad Mission, ”1973-74, Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing House, 1973-74), 131.↩

13. See, “Chad Mission,” Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press, 2018).↩

14. Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, “Chad Mission,” 2024 Annual Statistic Report, New Series, Volume 6, 19.↩