Born in Chad, Africa, David grew up in a family and community that adhered to a mixture of religions. They held a deep-rooted belief in traditional African animism—a religious worldview believing that all natural things, including plants and animals, have spirits. Its worship includes multiple gods and ancestral spirits. Before David was born, Islam also became entrenched in his village. David’s father was chosen as village chief, and by Muslim custom, he took four wives. David was the favored firstborn son of his father’s first wife. He faithfully memorized 114 chapters of the Koran and became a zealous Muslim.

God prepares hearts

One day in 1991, while David was visiting his uncle to help with the harvest, two Christians who were going door-to-door approached them and told them about Jesus. David didn’t understand what they were saying. He slipped away to follow the Christians and to hear them explain Jesus at the next house. Intrigued, he followed them again to the next house. The Christians noticed him following them, so they shared the gospel. That day, David decided to trust in Jesus but asked them not to tell anyone because his life would be in danger.

Given a difficult choice

When he returned home, he found excuses not to go to daily prayers with his family. His dad eventually found out that he had become a Christian and gave him the choice: leave Jesus or leave this home. David could not deny Jesus, so he left and went to live with a pastor he had heard about. He became active in that pastor’s church and served as a youth leader until 2004 when he got the opportunity to go to Bible school.

Following after God

After graduating, he served as a pastor for 14 years. Then God opened a door for him to further his education at the FIBAT Seminary in nearby Central African Republic. This seminary, founded in 2011 through a missionary/national partnership, offers graduate-level degrees. Although the seminary is now African-led, BMM missionary John Dannenberg continues teaching there.

A family changed for God

God has done a life-changing work in David’s life and in his family. Years ago, his mother left his dad and came to live with David. She and David’s younger brother put their trust in Jesus. Eventually, his father told David that he now knew David was following the true God because—out of all his children—only he and his younger brother had stayed out of trouble. He chose to come and live with David, and one day during family devotions, his father accepted Christ as his Savior and reunited with his wife.

David said that the FIBAT seminary has helped him tremendously to better understand the Bible. Now in his senior year, he hopes to return to Chad to continue sharing the gospel with Muslims there.