It’s 2’o Clock in the morning – we have long ago left the dry wind of the Sahara desert.  We are speeding through the dark of night and my GPS confirms the fact that we are in dangerous territory.  The nearly full moon lights up the Cameroon jungle far away.  The route is well known for Bok Haram fighters attacking buses.  It might have been the contributing factor why the bus driver is speeding.  No one else is on the road so no one is actually bothered.  After our 7th stop, it is clear that the soldiers guarding the borders so close to their beloved Motherland, treats us different as they enter the bus.  It is not difficult to spot us in the bus – we are the only passengers not in full Arabic attire.  The same meticulous procedure follows:  we are asked to produce our passports and then our country contact would get up boldly and produce a letter with a government seal.  We are suddenly saluted friendly and the bus is sent on the way.

PHOTO: N’djamena – capital city of Chad.

Obidabet is a tall young man and presented himself proudly as our interpreter – he speaks French and English fluently.  He sits next to me.  I lean over and ask:  “Obi …. why are we treated so well?”  Without hesitation he tells me the amazing story of Chad.

PHOTO: Everywhere in Chad – the preferred method of traveling specially if you live in the north where the Sahara Desert meets Chad.

Chad remains plagued by political violence and recurrent attempted coups d’état. Chad is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world; most inhabitants live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers.  In many people’s vocabulary Chad is knows as the country with a dark heart.  It is when you meet the people, the children and share the stories that you truly realize GOD IS HERE TOO!  Obi, as I call him, continues with a smile.  He tells me the story of a Christian in this predominant Muslim country who had a dream one night.  God warned him that the president of the country would be ambushed and killed.  He somehow succeeded in warning the president.  After an attack where the president survived the same Christian was killed to the president’s office.  A decree was called where every Christian who was on a mission from God in Chad would travel freely without being disturbed.

PHOTO: The men that makes church planting happen. Bishop Amane and Pastor Francois.

PHOTO: Church planting training takes 3 years to complete. It is a step by step program built on good training, theological teaching and a lot of practical work in-between. A group of church planting pastors in a practical session with Francois Rauch.

I have seen that favor with my own eyes as we passed  roadblock after roadblock.  The Presidential seal took us safely to the south of the country where we trained unashamed church planters.  They came from every corner of the south in difficult and dangerous circumstances.  Through training and evangelism more than 147 churches were planted in Chad through the Harvesters Church planting model.  I found Pastor Francois who for the last year had traveled more than 1 400 km’s per trip on a 125 cc motorbike to assure that churches are planted and trained …. and loved!!  The bright light of the Gospel is found deep in Chad as a lady grabbed the vision to plant churches and started very successful churches in the main city of N’djamena.   From everywhere we find courageous pastors, who in the midst of danger, has planted successful churches.

As we drive into yet another village littered with mosques I wanted to see how the newly planted churches were influencing the communities.  I didn’t have to look far.  The smiling principle of the school greeted me with a huge smile.  “Look”, he said.  Hundreds of children peeped through the windows – laughing as they say their first very ‘pale’ visitors.  It was a Christian school and started due to a newly planted church who now grew to more than 139 members.

PHOTO: New churches planted influenced this Christian School to teach more than 100 children.

PHOTO: Eager students from Chad Primary School ready to share their joy!

PHOTO: Planning sessions with the local leadership is crucial as churches are planted. 147 Brand new churches was planted in Chad in the last 12 months.

PHOTO: A joyful moment as yet another new church is planted.

PHOTO: A brand new Bible in Arabic ready to bless a hungry believer.

And then suddenly …… I wept.  It was like God spoke to me in the desert sand and said:  “These are my people too.  I have touched dark hearts to my glory and my blessing will be upon My people in Chad too.  Take care of My sheep.”    And that is exactly what we intended to do.  Harvesters committed themselves to train and teach and equip the church of Chad for the next 3 years until they can run with their own church planting program.  The bright light of Christ is shining bright indeed in this troublesome country.