Sara Kaba Dem Bible & Literacy

• Location: Chad
• New Testament Completion Date: 1999
• Bible Completion Date: 2025

The Sara Kaba Dem people reside in the Guerea and Moyen-Chari regions of Chad, Africa. Numbering about 39,000 people, 74% profess Christianity, and 39% claim to be evangelical. Of the remaining population, 25% participate in animism, and 5% follow Islam.

Baptist Mid-Missions missionary Paul Metzler and evangelists from the Central African Republic introduced the Sara Kaba Dem to the gospel. Then, the preaching of a Chadian pastor resulted in the establishment of the first Sara Kaba Dem church in 1942–43. BMM missionary Roy Hammond also preached among the Sara Kaba Dem, traveling between the cities of Sarh and Kyabe, which led to the founding of a second church in 1944.

The Sara Kaba Dem-speaking people greatly desired to read and study the Scriptures in their own language. With the assistance of a BMM missionary, a translation of the Gospel of Mark began in 1983. Upon reading Mark 13:15-18 in his language during the translation process, one pastor admitted that he finally understood the passage for the first time. Bibles International formally engaged with the Sara Kaba Dem in 1989 by adopting the New Testament translation project. Translator Hondo Job faithfully worked with the manuscript typist Yongo Paul until the completion of the project in 1999. The Sara Kaba Dem believers joyfully conducted a dedication service for the New Testament in Banda Canton on December 6, 1999.

Throughout the translation work, God has provided for the needs of His people. One such need came to light when a BI consultant asked the Sara Kaba Dem if he could help the project in any way. The people replied that they needed a tin roof for the translation building. In addition to dirty rainwater leaking through the roof and soiling the manuscripts, termites would fall from the grass roof onto the typewriter, slowing down the work. When American children heard of this need, they raised $9,000 through their VBS programs, enough for three translation center building roofs.

An even greater example of God’s work through the translation of the Scriptures occurred in the lives of the translator Hondo Job and his friend. The son of a Baptist preacher, Job grew up with a friend who was the son of the village witch doctor. When they became adults, Job became a Baptist pastor and his friend became a witch doctor. Job witnessed to his friend many times. As Job continued to pastor, he became involved in Bible translation. When the first Scripture portion was finished and dedicated, there was a special service at the church, and Job’s witch doctor friend was there. At the end of the service, the friend was saved. Job was not only very glad but also curious as to why his friend had not come to Christ before. The friend said, "I could never believe that a God who did not know my language could love me. When I heard God’s words in my own language, I realized He did love me."

Even before the dedication of the New Testament, translation work had already begun on the Sara Kaba Dem Old Testament. BI adopted the Old Testament project in 1994. More than 30 years later, the entire Bible in Sara Kaba Dem was joyfully dedicated in Banda Canton on November 22, 2025. Chief translator, Hondo Job, who worked for 41 years on the Bible translation, was finally able to hold the complete Word of God in his language.

Work among the Sara Kaba Dem now focuses on Scripture engagement and improved literacy. Before 1995, the Sara Kaba Dem experienced a 15-20% literacy rate. Concerned about the low numbers, Bibles International developed a Sara Kaba Dem literacy primer and initiated literacy teacher training. This was followed by a revised primer printed in 2016 and additional teacher training in 2017. The improved literacy rate, in addition to audio Bibles, will help the Sara Kaba Dem develop habits of Bible reading, train more church leaders, and reach the next generation.

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