THE GOSPEL EMBODIED

Since the sad news of Daniel Bourdanné’s death from cancer on 6 September 2024, glowing tributes have poured in from across IFES and beyond.  

This is not a sign of the titles he held – 11 years as IFES Regional Secretary for Francophone Africa and 12 years as IFES General Secretary. Rather, it reflects how he fulfilled those roles: through his closely-held gospel values, visionary leadership, humble service, and friendly, godly manner. The flood of tributes is testimony to God’s gracious and glorious work in his life. 

Born in Malanegome, in the Mayo Kebbi West region of Chad, Daniel – at barely 14 years old – attended his first meeting of what would become UJC, the local IFES movement (working in high schools and universities).  

While this level of academic attainment reflects a deep intellect, it also speaks to his  conviction that faith connects with all of life. Later, as IFES General Secretary, he would encourage the development of the Engaging the University initiative, ensuring that a holistic approach to faith became central to the IFES mission. 

At a 2007 symposium entitled “‘Engaging the University: Student Mission and the Christian Mind” he said: 

“I would like to humbly suggest an enriching of the current paradigm with a new paradigm that considers the university as a community and approaches it in an organic, ‘grass roots’, and incarnational way. Our Christian witness should be lived out there through a dynamic of real internal, holistic transformation. I dream of a union of national movements that approach the university from the perspective of an integrated gospel, through the dynamic of real transformation, far from the dualism of an individualistic gospel.” 

But it was long before this, while teaching biology in Côte d’Ivoire in the late 1980s, that Daniel felt called to serve in IFES. He heard his Lord say: “You have been blessed so much by this ministry; why not consider helping other students to be blessed like you were?”. He responded by joining IFES staff in Francophone Africa for 16 years – first as a travelling secretary, then as literature secretary, and later as regional secretary (1995-2006). 

Aware of the need for Christian literature that addressed contemporary issues, Daniel became instrumental in establishing and expanding the publication of quality books under Presses Bibliques Africaines (PBA). He also authored influential books, including titles on leadership (Leadership pour l’excellence, as editor), marriage (Trois mariage pour un couple), and the dangers of prosperity theology (L’évangile de la prospérité, un danger pour l’église africaine). Today, PBA is a leading evangelical publishing house in Francophone Africa. 

In recognition of his academic and active contributions to theology and public witness, Daniel was awarded the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life at Calvin College (Michigan, USA) in 2018.  

“Daniel’s focus on the development and ministry to and for the whole person, individually and in society, is an inspiration to integral and responsible Christian public work,” noted Michael Le Roy, president of Calvin College.  

Given that Daniel was both shaped by and a shaper of IFES ministry in Francophone Africa, it was particularly fitting that he was selected to be IFES General Secretary in 2007. Yet, the significance of his appointment should not be overlooked. Lindsay Brown, Daniel’s predecessor, says:  

“Daniel was one of the first from Francophone Africa to lead a global, multilingual organisation. His appointment reflected how the make-up of the global church and its leadership was shifting. And given that Chad was one of the world’s poorest countries at the time, it is testimony to the grace and goodness of God – that a weak national economy is not a hindrance to God raising up leaders to serve him in his global church.” 

However, it was not without sacrifice and challenge that Daniel met God’s call to be a trailblazing example. In moving to Oxford for his new role, Daniel faced delays, detention, and deportation due to the British visa process. But after prayerful, gracious perseverance, he and his family were able to settle in the UK, from where he travelled widely to visit a growing family of national student movements, strengthening them with prophetic insight and pastoral care. 

Beyond IFES, his perspective and wisdom were appreciated on the boards of other Christian organizations in Africa, as an International Deputy Director of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, and on the International Board for the Lausanne Movement. 

Former IFES Regional Secretary for Francophone Africa, Augustin Ahoga, notes the influential vision Daniel possessed: 

“He was a visionary, a deconstructor of old paradigms. He dreamed of a Christianity that would free humanity from injustice and exploitation so that it would become a witness to what God wanted the world to be when he created it, a world imbued with love. He always wanted to see that begin with his own continent and viewed the IFES ministry in Francophone Africa as a prophetic voice.”   

Daniel’s rich experience, discerning mind, and deep faith enabled him to see which IFES ministry areas required focused attention. 

This gave impetus to the Breaking New Ground project, launched in 2018 with the goal of supporting 100 new planting initiatives by 2020. Thanks to this project, over 600 new groups have since been established across the world. 

Daniel similarly appreciated the need for leadership development and implored the fellowship to invest in it. This resulted in greater intentionality around developing staff capable of leading IFES ministry into the future. One expression of that vision is the Global Leadership Initiative (GLI): an 18-month mentoring program launched in 2015, which continues to produce new IFES leaders. 

This kind of forward-thinking vision was typical of Daniel; his self-effacing service was concerned with raising others up. Indeed, despite his stature as a global leader, he remained humble and approachable.  

One small incident vividly illustrates his lack of pretence and keen interest in students: a colleague recalls how some officials at an Urbana conference spotted Daniel in a long queue, waiting for food; when they approached to fast-track Daniel to the top of the line, he declined the offer, preferring instead to carry on enjoying conversation with the students.  

And Doug Birdsall, former Chair of the Lausanne Movement, remembers the warmth of relationships during his visit to Daniel’s home in Abidjan in 2005:  

“The feast on the dining room table was surrounded by as many as the room and table could accommodate. As we were talking, I would hear one person address Daniel as ‘Pappa’, another as ‘Uncle’, and others as ‘Daddy’. At one point, I stopped and asked, ‘Who’s related to who, here?’. They all laughed, and one of them said, ‘This is Africa! He is Daddy and Uncle to all of us!’” 

Daniel’s years as the leader of a global movement did not change him. Tim Adams, current IFES General Secretary, describes the kind of relationship he experienced during that time: 

“He was never motivated by money or position. He was my boss for more than a decade, but he resisted the labels and posture of power. He chose to adopt the posture of a mentor, an older brother who wanted to be alongside to help me thrive in my work. To me, as to many of you, he was first a role model, a friend, and an ‘Oncle’.” 

This warmth and familiarity never detracted from the sense of respect colleagues felt towards Daniel. Klaingar Ngarial, current IFES Regional Secretary for Francophone Africa, insists: 

“Those of us who have been Daniel’s fellow-workers consider ourselves more as his disciples than his peers – this is how much the foresight and character of his leadership has impacted us!” 

… 

Over his 64 years, Daniel responded to the gospel in Scripture, grew in his passion to share the gospel and promote its relevance to all of life, and allowed the gospel to orientate his ministry and shape his character. Through all and above all, Daniel embodied the gospel. He lived out his faith in his studies, in his work, and in his home, always open to how God would guide. 

In his farewell letter as General Secretary, he wrote about his family’s journey:

“through our years in IFES, we have been committed to following God where he precedes us and invites us.”  

His Lord has now invited Daniel to the place where he has already gone (John 14). As a fellowship, we are profoundly grateful for the years Daniel spent with us, for the gift he has been to us.  

As we grieve this great loss to a loving family and the global church, we do so with the hope that his legacy will raise up many more who embody the gospel. And we hold fast to the promise that the “earthly tent” with which he embodied the gospel will one day be raised in glory.