Association of Baptist Churches of Chad
Encyclopedia
The Association of Baptist Churches of Chad is an organization serving the Baptist
churches in the state of Chad
in Equatorial Africa.
The General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America, Inc. (org. October 15, 1920 in Elyria, Ohio) sent six missionaries to French Equatorial Africa
in the fall of 1920, and they reached Africa
in January 1921. Baptist work in Chad (then still a part of French Equatorial Africa) began in 1925. Paul Metzler entered this area from the work already begun further south in what is now the Central African Republic
. In 1960, both Chad and the Republic of Central Africa became independent states. In 1963 Baptist Mid-Missions (the name adopted by the General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America in 1953) separated the two fields of labor, and the Association of Baptist Churches was formed.
By the early 1970s, Baptist churches in Chad numbered in the hundreds. But in 1973, these churches suffered a severe setback. The government attempted to enforce tribal initiation rites. The Baptists resisted. Churches were closed, believers were persecuted, 13 Chadian pastors were executed, and missionaries were expelled from the country. Medical personnel were allowed to stay. But when the government formed their Evangelical Church, the mission refused to cooperate and the government closed the mission's medical center. The remaining medical missionaries left the country at that time. In 1975 the ruling regime was overthrown and the churches reopened within a few weeks. In 1976 the medical center was opened again. In 1995 the Association of Baptist Churches had 150 churches with about 20,000 members. Baptist Mid-Missions still maintains a few missionaries in Chad. The Koumra Medical Center, started by Baptist Mid-Missions but now run by nationals, operates to train doctors, nurses, and medical workers.
Though unrelated to the Association of Baptist Churches, the Southern Baptist Convention
added Chad as a mission field in 1993. The predominant religion of Chad is Islam
(about 55%), which is strongest in the north, while animism
dominates much of the tribal religion of the south.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches in the state of Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
in Equatorial Africa.
The General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America, Inc. (org. October 15, 1920 in Elyria, Ohio) sent six missionaries to French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa
French Equatorial Africa or the AEF was the federation of French colonial possessions in Middle Africa, extending northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara Desert.-History:...
in the fall of 1920, and they reached Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in January 1921. Baptist work in Chad (then still a part of French Equatorial Africa) began in 1925. Paul Metzler entered this area from the work already begun further south in what is now the Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
. In 1960, both Chad and the Republic of Central Africa became independent states. In 1963 Baptist Mid-Missions (the name adopted by the General Council of Cooperating Baptists of North America in 1953) separated the two fields of labor, and the Association of Baptist Churches was formed.
By the early 1970s, Baptist churches in Chad numbered in the hundreds. But in 1973, these churches suffered a severe setback. The government attempted to enforce tribal initiation rites. The Baptists resisted. Churches were closed, believers were persecuted, 13 Chadian pastors were executed, and missionaries were expelled from the country. Medical personnel were allowed to stay. But when the government formed their Evangelical Church, the mission refused to cooperate and the government closed the mission's medical center. The remaining medical missionaries left the country at that time. In 1975 the ruling regime was overthrown and the churches reopened within a few weeks. In 1976 the medical center was opened again. In 1995 the Association of Baptist Churches had 150 churches with about 20,000 members. Baptist Mid-Missions still maintains a few missionaries in Chad. The Koumra Medical Center, started by Baptist Mid-Missions but now run by nationals, operates to train doctors, nurses, and medical workers.
Though unrelated to the Association of Baptist Churches, the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
added Chad as a mission field in 1993. The predominant religion of Chad is Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
(about 55%), which is strongest in the north, while animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
dominates much of the tribal religion of the south.