ESTES is helping train leaders in French-speaking Africa

The ESTES School of Evangelical Theology (ESTES) was founded in Chad in 1989. The school began in borrowed classrooms and grew as churches and other supporters pooled resources together to purchase the land now used for the campus.

Nearly 80 percent of Chad’s 10 million people live in poverty. AIDS and corruption are major challenges facing African society as well. ESTES addresses these issues through related curriculum, biblical training for church leaders, pastoral seminars/conferences, practical training at local churches for students and their local church visitation program. The school reaches out to street children and has developed curriculum for women, children, pastors, teachers and social workers.

Despite many obstacles and the influence of other faiths, the Church in Chad is growing. One of the crucial needs for this growth is leadership. The school of 170 graduates works closely with OC partner school, Bangui Evangelical School of Theology (BEST) in Central African Republic, to further students’ education. As the only institution at the Bachelor degree level in the whole country, the school is having a big impact on the Church. Students from many denominations receive the same training, working as agents of peace and strengthening their unity in the field.

Bachelor of Theology student Dagkréo Dansia says, “God is teaching me a lot through these courses…this will help me to improve and to initiate things that I could not before due to lack of knowledge.”