School Leader Profile: “An email from God” led Elie Haddad to become the new ABTS President

Born in Lebanon, Elie Haddad immigrated to Canada in 1990 near the end of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1991). He says he was “running away” with no plans to ever return. In Canada, he met Mireille, another Lebanese citizen who fled in 1989; the two eventually married. Although he accepted Christ when he was 10 years old, Elie says he became serious about his faith and serving God while in Canada. In Toronto, the couple was active in their Arabic-speaking church with the young adult ministry.

Elie's official Presidency installation service will be held later this month. Elie is the fourth President of ABTS, following Dr. Ghassan Khalaf (1993-2008), Emett Barnes (1976-1993) and ABTS Founder Finlay Graham (1961-1976). He has a Master's degree in Theological Education from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, and is currently pursuing his doctoral studies with another OC partner, the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) in Prague. Congratulations and blessings to you and your service, Elie!

In 2004, Elie felt the need to leave his consulting job and serve in a ministry-based position. However, he says Toronto was their home; they had no intention of leaving and had even built their “dream home.” However, the couple got an email from God one day. “I don’t know if you knew God sends emails, but we got an email from God,” Elie says. It came in the form of an email from Paul Sanders, an American missionary serving as Provost at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Lebanon. Paul desired to transition his position as Provost to a national with a theological/business background, and Elie’s name came up. The couple visited Beirut and was touched by the vision and needs in the community. “We saw God’s hand all over it, and we just couldn’t say no.” The couple left Toronto and moved back to Lebanon in 2005. Their Toronto church graciously supported them as missionaries. In January 2006, Elie became Provost at ABTS.

“It has been an incredible journey,” Elie says. “God has given us a new passion for Lebanon.” Elie says the excellent leadership of Paul Sanders and his team revived the seminary and led to the recent launching of several new ministries: equipping professionals in the mainstream workforce; the Institute of Middle East Studies and Educational Ministries Resource Center are playing significant roles; a public publishing department exists to provide books and resources in the Arabic language; and through OC, ABTS is part of the TEACH project (theological training and the truths of Christianity delivered through satellite television in the Middle East) which Elie says could be “the distance education of the future.” [To read more about ABTS and the unique theological education it provides in the Arab World, click here.]

Lebanon is the only country in the Arab World where it is legal for Muslim Background Believers to enroll in seminaries. “We feel a burden for this responsibility and take it very seriously,” Elie says. This is especially strategic for the thousands of North Africans coming to Christ. The seminary is very selective in the students they accept: only mature believers with a clear calling to ministry who will have an impact on the community. Leadership formation in a missional and contextually relevant training environment is their focus.

“We’re so grateful to partner with organizations like OC,” Elie says. “I’m serious when I say we could not do it without partnerships like you. Our students come from poor countries and cannot pay tuition fees…OC has been incredible to help, and we’re very grateful.”

Prayer requests

• For the Church in the region to be more effective and intentional in reaching its neighbors
• For ABTS’ ability to get new students from outside Lebanon (obtaining residence Visas are a problem for ABTS students every year)
• For ABTS’ vision and wisdom from God to discern future direction, especially with limited resources