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There are external problems and there are internal problems.
Since late 2016, the Church in Cameroon, and more specifically the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC), has had to deal with a significant external problem: the socio-political crisis / civil war in the English regions of Cameroon. The Convention has had to contend with closed churches due to insecurity, loss of freedoms, the migration of internally displaced peoples . . . and some moving to Nigeria as refugees. Through these hardships, God has allowed His Church overall to worship, disciple, and persevere.
Now an internal problem in the CBC is becoming prominent. Revisions to the CBC’s constitution were made in 2023, but some perceived that the correct procedure to institute these changes was not strictly followed. The disagreement has become so protracted that there are now five different court cases regarding the matter. They take up time, energy, and resources of God’s church.
At the court in Bamenda, Baptist Christians await the start of a session regarding the denomination’s constitution changes.
The Apostle Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 6:1, “If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgement instead of before the saints?” I tried talking to one of the individuals taking the Convention to court, trying to direct him to Scripture. Sadly, he chose to continue with legal action.
In Yaoundé, CBC leadership and Christians pose for a photo before the start of another court case.
I was blessed in October to make a brief six-day trip back to Canada to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday with relatives and friends. Florence stayed in Cameroon to attend to her dental practice.
In Toronto, Canada, in mid-October, celebrating my Mom’s 90th birthday with relatives and friends. Mom is seated on the far left.
November is a very busy time for CBC churches. Most churches have just concluded celebrating several Sundays of Harvest Thanksgiving, bringing produce, livestock, and crafts, etc., to church as offerings to give thanks to God for His provision.
CBC fields (like NAB regions/associations) hold three- to four-day Bible Conferences in November. They start with a pastors’ fellowship. Then the Men’s, Women’s, and Youth departments of all the churches in the field hold separate meetings of worship and review of their respective ministries. After that is the general Bible conference, with Bible teaching, sermons, and plenty of singing and dancing by choirs and all others in attendance. Time is set aside to review the field’s ministries. It is a time to enjoy fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ from other Baptist congregations.
Also, on November 23, the CBC is holding a decentralized General Session in eleven different locations around the country. The purpose of these meetings is to hold elections for the denomination’s leadership, namely the Executive President, the Chairperson, and the Vice Chairperson. While the ongoing court cases kind of put a “dark cloud” over the situation, we remain mindful that our God is bigger than these internal problems and He can see His Church through.
You are kindly invited to pray for the trials your brothers and sisters in Christ in Cameroon are going through. May God bring about perseverance and maturing. Thank you for your continued partnership. May God bless.