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Greetings. My November 2024 quarterly newsletter reported that the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) was dealing with a significant internal problem. Revisions to the denomination’s constitution were made in 2023. Some perceived that the revision procedure, as stated in the former constitution, was not strictly followed. The disagreement had become so protracted that there were five different court cases regarding the matter. With these unresolved court cases, a decentralized elective General Session (somewhat like an NAB Triennial) in twelve different locations was scheduled to be held on Saturday, November 23. The only agenda items were to vote for the top CBC leadership positions, namely the Executive President, the Chairman, and the Vice Chairperson, and to vote to ratify the 2023 constitution.
Prior to that date, there was a lot of speculation about whether the elections would be held. Some CBC church members were opposed to holding them and appeared to have gone to great lengths to try to frustrate the exercise. Unsettling reports came of injunctions and legal bans on the elections. All this troubling news prompted CBC Christians to pray and pray and pray. What shame this would bring to the Church as the general public hears of this strife! Well, God heard those prayers and protected the honour of His Church. The injunction bans were lifted on the morning of the election! Despite a police presence at some election centers, things were able to move ahead. With all the hurdles that came up, God gave the CBC leadership tact and sagacity – understanding the situation and the ability to make good decisions. I was part of the team tabulating the results as they came in from the twelve centers and got to hear about all the challenges. By God’s grace, the election passed successfully, new leaders were elected, and the constitution was ratified. Interestingly, on the eve of the election the incumbent executive president, Rev. Dr. Charlemagne Nditemeh, chose to withdraw his name as one of the three executive president candidates and not run for a second term. He cited his desire for peace in his family and peace in the CBC. Rev. Dr. Teke John Ekema, the long-time pastor of Mizpah Baptist Church, Limbe, was elected as the new executive president.
The newly elected Cameroon Baptist Convention Executive President, Rev. Dr. Teke Joonn, and his wife.
In December, I spent a week coaching a young lady from Nigeria on accounting and bank reconciliation procedures. She is from a people group that is estimated to be only 1 or 2 percent Christian. The NAB supports ministry in this people group. Unfortunately, due to the nature of our times, I am not at liberty to name this individual or her people group. But please know that the few Christians in this people group face A LOT of persecution.
Florence attending the Saker Baptist College Alumni Annual General Meeting.
Florence is a graduate of Saker Baptist College, an all-girls boarding secondary school started by NAB missionaries in the early 1960s. The school has undoubtedly the most vibrant alumni association in the country. There are chapters of the Ex-Sakerettes in a number Cameroonian cities, but also in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and England. The Saker Baptist College motto of “Love, Unity, Sisterhood” is really lived out by this alumni association. Many chapters, including the Bamenda chapter that Florence is a part of, have monthly meetings with a fellowship meal and a lot of singing. Then there is an Annual General Meeting, where they come together at one place. There they share in their camaraderie and sing a lot, but they also take on projects to help their alma mater. In the past, they have built the Saker chapel, improved the school dormitories, toilets, etc. With the school having an enrolment of over 1,000 and the current dining hall only able to accommodate 300 girls at a time, the Ex-Sakerettes have taken up the challenge to build a new dining hall.
In January and early February, most of my time was occupied with the year-end accounting work of the CBC Department of Finance and Development. And as I write this, there is still a lot to do!
Even though the socio-political crisis / civil war continues here, it really is a privilege to be sent and represent churches and individuals from North America to our brothers and sisters in Christ here in Cameroon. Thank you for prayers of support and encouragement. May God bless you.