The new Bishop of North Africa has hit the ground running.
Bishop Anthony has just completed his most exhaustive missionary visit to Chad since his appointment earlier this year. Chad is one of five countries that make up the new Diocese of North Africa. During his tour, he made a first visit to the Mandoul region, in the south of the country, where local Christians have launched a mission among the Sarah people,
The capital of the Mandoul region is Koumra. Here, Bishop Anthony visited his Roman Catholic counterpart, Bishop Samuel Mbairabe Tibingar the Bishop of Koumra. Like Bishop Anthony, he is also bishop of a (Catholic) Diocese that has just been created. Their discussions focused on collaboration in the missionary field among the Sarah people, the sharing of information, experience, and especially the priority of the mission among this people. For Bishop Samuel, education remains the priority here. There is a need for general and technical training structures so that the young people of the region, which is experiencing rural exodus, can become more interested in agriculture and livestock farming. Health also remains a major challenge. Other problems of this region, rich in natural resources with a lot of agricultural potential, include the conflict between breeders and farmers and the lack of roads and employment.
Bishop Anthony also visited the king of Koumra, a highly respected figure. The king gave a 20,000 m² plot of land to the Anglican church to establish itself and carry out social works. The bishop also visited more widely in the region seeing also the 10,000 m² plot of land granted by the Koumra town hall for social works and the construction of a chapel.
During this visit, Bishop Anthony celebrated a Confirmation service in the Anglican cell of Koumra. The three Anglican churches located in the village of Kirbekian, Gonhoro and Danbanga were present with their respective candidates for confirmation. Each village was accompanied by its village chief who had become members of the Anglican Church. The three village chiefs all expressed their need for a school and water drilling.
Before going to Koumra, Bishop Anthony had gone to the north of Chad in the Batha region, in the city of Ati. In this highly Islamized region, the bishop is working to create an evangelical health centre.
The Bishop completed his visit to Chad with a Confirmation service in the city of Moundou, at which the candidates came from Mbikou, and from the villages of Koutou-Beti and Kamgorio as well as the city of Moundou itself. The bishop also visited the governor of the city of N'Djamena, capital of Chad. The discussions focused on the need to grant land in the city of N'Djamena for the construction of an Anglican School complex.
06/08/2024