Chad

Chad is a landlocked country just south of and including part of the Sahara Desert with an estimated population of 8 million. Economically and politically, Chad is among the poorest nations in the world and has a history of internal strife.

The people of Chad face frequent shortages of food and difficulty in finding water during the dry season, which lasts from November through April. Social concerns include the difficulty of getting an education and finding a job other than subsistence farming. Diseases, especially malaria, are frequent; and for many outside of the cities, treatment is hard to find or beyond their means.

Our LB Church in Chad is composed of people from 15 different ethnic groups of animistic backgrounds, who function well together in a Synod of over 700 congregations.

Our CLB/LBIM plan is to place missionary teams to plant culturally relevant, indigenous and reproducing churches among at least five of these unreached people groups. In the next five to seven years, we are praying the Lord of the harvest to send out people of various skills and gifts to accomplish this task. We are pleased that God has called several families to be a part of this vision for ministry among the people of Chad. We are partnering with our sister Chadian LB Church to form multinational teams.

Missionaries

Steve and Janice
Alex, Payton, Gracey, Emma, Keturah, Liddy, Ethan, Tawnee, Esther, Hudson, Samuel

Steve and Janice manage the Welcome Center, which serves as a transition point for missionaries as well as a place for rest and restoration.  This is a critical support role for our ministry focus to unreached people groups.  They are on home assignment this year.  Steve and Janice have been with LBIM since July 2007.

Birthdays

• Steve, March 23
• Janice, April 2
• Alex, October 13, 1991
• Payton, June 7, 1993
• Gracey, March 23, 1995
• Emma, Feb. 24, 1997
• Keturah, Feb. 24, 1997
• Liddy, October 5, 1999
• Ethan, Sept. 9, 2002
• Tawnee, July 28, 2004
• Esther, June 19, 2006
• Hudson, August 6, 2008
• Samuel, Sept. 22, 2010

Marcos and Kirsten
Lucas, Hans, Betsy, Katie

Marcos and Kirsten are responsible for our guest house/conference center until August 2011.  The Welcome Center hosts both missionaries and local church members for retreats, short stays and conferences.  Our goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ and facilitate the work of His Church in Chad.  Marcos and Kirsten have been with LBIM since 2001.

Birthdays

• Marcos, November 8
• Kirsten, September 1
• Lucas, December 26, 1997
• Hans, January 28, 1999
• Betsy, March 29, 2006
• Katie, April 13, 2007

Jonathan and Zam-Zam
Esther

Jonathan and Zam-Zam are LBIM missionaries and are seconded (given) to serve through another organization. Their primary ministry is in relationship building and in translation ministry together with their team. Zam-Zam is director of a neighborhood Christian school.

Birthdays

• Jonathan, August 8
• Zam-Zam, June 3
• Esther, January 10, 2004

Dan and Rachel
Gabe, Sylvia, Tevi, Claire

Dan and Rachel have ministered among unreached people of Chad.  Their ministry includes evangelism and agro-forestry development.  Currently, the family is in France studying the French language in preparation for an expanded partnership ministry in Chad.  Dan and Rachel have been with LBIM since 2002.

Birthdays

• Dan, July 20
• Rachel, November 25
• Gabe, September 21, 1997
• Sylvia, May 6, 2000
• Tevi, May 18, 2002
• Claire, April 19, 2010

Paul and Teresa
Patience, Mercy, Philip, Matthias, Titus, Micah

Having served in mission for several years in Chad, Paul and Teresa and their six youngest children presently reside in France.  There they will finish theological studies in view of a new assignment in Africa.  They have been with LBIM since 1997.

Birthdays

• Paul, January 13
• Teresa, April 19
• Patience, August 20, 1992
• Mercy, March 25, 1994
• Philip, January 7, 1996
• Matthias, February 5, 1998
• Titus, May 10, 2000
• Micah, September 12, 2003