Deep and pervasive poverty. Hurting and displaced people. Political corruption and warring factions. These are some of the phrases that come to mind when I think of the Central African Republic. Our Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches have been involved in sharing the gospel with the people of the C.A.R. since the early 1900’s. The efforts were so blessed by God that at one time the C.A.R. was listed as the “most evangelized country in Africa.” Out of the hundreds of churches planted in those early days, one church “produced” a man by the name of Augustin Hibaile. After earning two seminary degrees (one in the C.A.R. and the other at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN), he taught at the Bata Bible Institute and Seminary for almost 20 years. In 2005, he felt called of God to establish a ministry targeting the one problem none were seeking to solve: the corruption that existed at the highest levels of government. Since founding the Center International for the Development of Ethical Leadership in 2005, Dr. Hibaile has conducted seminars for government officials in the C.A.R. and many other African countries. In addition his seminars, he currently meets regularly with the newly elected president of his country for prayer and Bible study.
In 2009, my son-in-law, Ryan Aument and I were privileged to serve alongside of Dr. Hibaile for a two week period. What struck us most was his love for his people. Given his high level of education, he could easily emigrate to a western nation and thus escape the misery of life in the C.A.R. But instead, he has chosen, in his own words, “to live among my people, to serve my people, and to die among my people.” God is honoring his devotion to his call to serve his people as the Lord continues to open doors for Dr. Hibaile and the ministry of CIDEL. Please pray for this dear brother and his wife, Marie-Helene and their family, and his ministry of CIDEL.
Pastor John
P.S. – If you would like more information on Dr. Hibaile and CIDEL, visit the Friends of CIDEL webiste or CIDEL’s Facebook page.
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