Mississauga, Ontario – Canadian Baptist Ministries Field Staff, Elie Haddad, will retire from his long-held position of President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Lebanon by the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. For two decades he has faithfully served with ABTS, building up leadership and strategic networks with other theological institutions and organizations.  

ABTS leadership shares, “During his time at ABTS, God used Elie to expand and shape the ministry in many wonderful and God-glorifying ways. We pray that the remaining stretch of Elie’s time at ABTS will continue to be a time of growth and development suitable for the transition process.” 

Elie will continue in his role as CBM Field Staff in Lebanon with his wife, Mireille, in an expanded capacity. 

John Chan, CBM’s Director of International Partnerships states: “Elie has been instrumental in solidifying our partnership with ABTS and THIMAR-LSESD, particularly in leading and shaping ABTS to train church leaders in the MENA region. In the past 5 years, he has also provided strategic regional leadership for CBM and helped to discover and establish new partners in Egypt, Sudan, and Morocco. We’re excited that as Elie transitions from his role as the President of ABTS, he will be able to invest more time and energy into establishing new partnerships in the region for CBM. As well as accompanying and resourcing these partners to become God’s instrument in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”  

Mireille and Elie joined CBM in 2005 and serve as the Team Leaders of the MENA region. CBM’s partnership with ABTS and THIMAR will continue to serve the needs of local communities and individuals through the unique challenges of this region, which include equipping leaders, responding to crises, and programs for children. 

For more information, please contact communications@cbmin.org.