Gabon

Field Office Information

C&MA Field Entry in 1934

Field Director:

David Thompson

Mailing Address:

B P 13.021 Gros Bouquet
Libreville, GABON

Phone:

011-241-73-24-39

Email:

fdgabon@gmail.com

Website:

National Church

The Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Gabon: 115 organized churches, 145 unorganized groups, 91 ordained ministers, 11,226 baptized members, and 25,550 inclusive members

Team Initiatives

• Transfer the vision, leadership, and administration of all institutions to the national church.
• Help the national church become a missionary-sending church within the next two years.
• Establish the Librairie de l’Alliance Chrétienne (Alliance Bookstore) in its new location and transfer management of this ministry to the national church.

Fire Truck’s Two-Plus Year Journey to Bongolo Nears Completion

2012-03-29 14:26:37.0

By Keir Thelander, MD, serving at Bongolo Hospital, Gabon, Central Africa

After a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, the 1975 Mack Fire Truck—purchased on eBay® to serve Bongolo Hospital and the surrounding areas—finally arrived in Gabon’s capital city, Libreville, this month.

As expected, the customs process began with some confusion, since the shippers had not procured authorization numbers. Also, the idea of a fire truck purchased on eBay® for such a reasonable price ($3,175!) confused port officials, leading to unexpected fees and penalties.

After learning that the fire truck will serve Bongolo Hospital, customs officers reduced the taxes on the vehicle to approximately $10,000, including a minimum of $4,000 in penalties.

We are thankful that God moved in the hearts of these officials to grant a reduction in fees. Yet we are disappointed in the penalties that could have been avoided.

Next Steps

After more than two years, the truck appears to be in the last stages of its journey out of retirement (from the New York Fire Department). What’s next? Well, the paperwork.

Once the required title, license plates, and insurance documents are obtained, the next hurdle will be getting the truck down country to the hospital.

Initially, a flatbed truck was planned to transport the vehicle, but damage to a main bridge on the road to Bongolo makes this prohibitive. Transporting it by ferry doesn’t seem like a good idea either—the truck weighs 10 tons.

Prayer Needed

Please pray for a quick completion of the paperwork and the bridge repairs and a viable means to transport the fire truck to Bongolo Hospital.  

We believe this final leg of the truck’s passage to Bongolo is just the beginning of its, what we hope will be, many years of service in the jungles of Gabon.

Our God works in mighty and mysterious ways. He is now working through a 1975 Mack Pumper—yet another “vehicle” through which to reach the lost for Jesus.

You Can Do

Make a Donation to the Great Commission Fund. Partner with Alliance workers like Dr. Thelander to share the eternal hope only Jesus can offer to those suffering great physical and spiritual need.

Learn more about Bongolo Hospital’s powerful witness in Gabon.

Watch a YouTube video about the first leg of the fire truck’s journey to Africa, including an interview with Dave and Diann Conquest, the parents of Keir’s wife, Joanna, who purchased the vehicle. Note: Clicking on this link will take you off of the C&MA Web site.

Demographics

Population

Population--1,389,201 Infant mortality rate--53.6/1,000 Life expectancy--55.8

Capital City

Libreville (661,600) pop.

Geography

With an area slightly smaller than Colorado, Gabon (103,346 sq. mi.) is mostly covered by dense tropical forest, with coastal lowlands, plateaus, and mountains.

Languages

French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Ethnicity/Race

Bantu tribes (including Fang, Punu, Nzeiby, Mbede)--88.7%; other Africans and Europeans--11.3%

Economy

Per capita income--$5,900 Inflation--1.5% Unemployment--21% Literacy rate--63% (1995 est.)

Government/Political Climate

Republic,with multiplicity presidential regime. Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. A small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Religion

Christian--75%; animist--24; Muslim--1%