In September 2026, TEAM missionaries gathered together to celebrate 100 years of TEAM missionary work in Chad, Africa!
A Centennial Reunion
Over 30 people were gathered in the small conference room at a retreat center near Lake Michigan in September. Photos from the country of Chad were displayed around the room. Artwork and pottery from there graced every table. A massive cardboard timeline stood at the back of the room, covered in notes outlining the work that the Lord has done in Chad over the last century.
The event? A celebration of TEAM’s centennial of missionary work in Chad. The guests? Current and former TEAM missionaries.
A Look Back at Missionary Work in Chad
Early missionaries came into Chad under the banner of Sudan United Mission (SUM, which later merged with TEAM in Chad). Many of the missionaries spent a year or two in France for language learning before they traveled to Africa. Bert Wilkenson arrived in 1926, and Victor and Florence Veary arrived the following year. Over the next decades, many more TEAM missionaries arrived in Chad.
The early missionaries focused on building up local churches. By the late 1940s, there were over 12,000 believers in Chad, as well as 36 established churches, and nearly 100 church plants. Today, those early churches have grown to more than 3,000 churches with over 300,000 believers across the country.
Over the years, the missionaries work expanded. Bible Schools were planted, youth ministries were established, medical clinics were founded, and Bible translations were begun. More recently, valuable infrastructure was built.
But the work wasn’t without its hardships. Some TEAM missionaries saw their life work destroyed, others were harassed, one was kidnapped, and others faced threats on their lives. But through it all, the Lord remained faithful to His people. TEAM missionary work in Chad continues to grow and flourish to this day, despite the many obstacles that it has faced over the years.
A Focus on the Missionaries
As the Chad celebration continued, there was time for laughter, games, worship and fellowship. Stories were told and memories shared. There were former missionaries there who hadn’t seen each other in decades, but the closeness was evident. They referred to each other as “aunt” and “uncle” and felt more like a family than colleagues. As the weekend came to a close, several of the workers had a chance to share about the work that they did, when they served in Chad, and what they enjoyed from the weekend celebration.
Janet arrived in Chad in in 1985, after two years of language school in France. She served in Chad until 2021. In her work, she focused on leadership training for women, teaching in Bible schools, conferences, and small groups. For Janet, her favorite part of the reunion in Michigan was the people. She shared, “I think the biggest thing I enjoyed is just being with people, seeing people that I hadn’t seen in ages that I ministered with, or meeting people that I didn’t know.”
Another missionary who shared is Eric. He and his family arrived in Chad in 2011, focusing on community health work and building relationships with their neighbors. Eric said, “One of the things that has been really encouraging and faith building has just been to see the rich history of TEAM Chad, seeing the struggles that people have gone through in order to bring the Gospel.” He continued, “The faithfulness of the people is an encouragement and it’s a huge inspiration. And it’s just good to be amongst people who are partnering in the Gospel in a place that’s very unique and provides lots of opportunity for us for those common experiences and binds us together for the name of Christ.”
“The faithfulness of the people is an encouragement and it’s a huge inspiration.” – Eric, TEAM Chad missionary
The newest missionary in the room was Katelyn. She arrived in Chad just a few years ago; besides spending time learning the language and culture, she has also started a Bible study for young women alongside a local Chadian woman. Katelyn commented, “I really enjoyed hearing stories from these missionaries that led such amazing lives in really, really difficult circumstances and it was amazing to consider how God has worked over 100 years in the country of Chad and that His plan has not been stopped.”
Mary arrived in Chad in 1994 and served there until 2024. Her ministry focus was on Bible teaching in villages all around the country, showing the Jesus film, and encouraging individuals and churches to walk with God. “It’s been so good to be with everyone together to remember and to affirm publicly and unanimously that God is in control, that His timing and His ways are perfect,” Mary shared.
The Bigger Story
Each missionary in the room had a story, a story of how they played a small part in the greater story that God is writing through TEAM in the country of Chad. Through their work, and the work of countless others, the Gospel is being shared in a place where the Lord’s name has not yet been made known. But missionary work in Chad isn’t done yet. As Katelyn shared, “…today we’re looking back on 100 years of God working and there’s thousands and thousands of Christians in Chad and churches. God has been faithful and it’s amazing and it gives us courage to go because the other half of Chad is still not reached.”
You, too, can be a part of God’s ongoing work in Chad, Africa. Today, consider giving to support missionaries, churches, and ministries throughout the region.
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