Population:
16.88 million
Evangelical population:
7.57%
People groups:
141
Unreached people groups:
78
Chad
With great ethnic and linguistic diversity, this country in north-central Africa is home to more than 100 languages and dialects, though Arabic and French are the official languages.
It is also religiously diverse. More than 57 percent of the population is Muslim, and 48 percent of those are Sunni, 21 percent Shia, 23 percent “just Muslim,” and 4 percent Ahmadi. More than a quarter of the population is described as Christian, and a small proportion of the country’s people practice the ancestor or nature god worship of animism.
Muslims are found mainly in northern and eastern Chad, while animists and Christians live primarily in the southern areas. The country’s constitution defines the country as secular and guarantees religious freedom.
In a country where 80 percent of the people live below the poverty line, many people cannot afford education for their children, opening the way for local missionaries to provide schooling. Native ministries seek funding to open schools and provide financial support and tutoring for students at existing schools.
Local missionaries also disciple children toward the end of bringing the gospel to their parents and other relatives, as well as training them to make an impact on their co-workers and communities as adults. Church-planters proclaiming Christ to unreached peoples need assistance for Bibles, transportation, monthly support, and land for training centers and schools, as well as help for Christians persecuted for their faith.
Refugees from conflict in surrounding countries are streaming in, and local missionaries are bringing them critical aid along with the message of Christ’s salvation. Native ministries are also providing medical care to people facing daunting health problems and water wells as a means of preventing many illnesses with clean water for cooking, drinking and washing. Several income-generating projects are also in the works in the fight against poverty.
Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook, Wikipedia
How to Pray for Chad
- Pray that growing Islamist movements would not thwart or dampen efforts to expand God’s kingdom.
- Pray God’s will would be done in saved souls, transformed lives, restored dignity and bright-shining communities.
- Pray that churches would be strong and unified to bring glory to God’s name.
More stories from Chad
Help Care for Orphans and the Poor in Chad
Impoverished orphans and children whose parents are too poor to care for them have recovered their lives through a native ministry’s orphanage, which provides them schooling, three meals a day and health care. Another native ministry assists 100 poor, abandoned or orphaned children with education, food and medical care, in many cases also providing maize or rice for their families.
Send the Life-Changing Gospel in Chad
The son of a Muslim woman who came to faith in Christ sought to attack those who led her to the Lord – until the Savior was revealed to him as well, and he received the gift of eternal life. Native Christian workers visiting homes have planted a church in one area that has gained favor with Muslim neighbors.
Help Build the Kingdom in Chad
Praying for the Holy Spirit to act on the Word sown in hearts and minds, native workers gave thanks for their co-labor with the Lord last year, when 473 people put their faith in Christ and 39 home churches sprouted. The last three months of the year were fruitful as 61 people accepted God’s grace and 16 churches were planted.
Help Send Gospel Hope in Chad
A girl whose father died told native Christian workers caring for her that she was in deep despair before learning about Christ. “Christ set the example by accepting to die for us,” she said. “I regained my sanity when I gave my life to Christ; today I radiate joy because I have Christ.”
Help Bring Word of Life Everlasting in Chad
People in predominantly Muslim areas are more open to the gospel as local missionaries improve their lives with clean water, health care and education, but in some areas they brace themselves against hearing the gospel after receiving such expressions of Christ’s love.