Dear Family and Friends,
As home assignment period is winding down it is a time for some reflection. We have had the opportunity to meet and share with many in the family of God who pray and support, to allow us to be involved in the work of His church in Cameroon. We are thankful for these brothers and sisters in Christ. We are thankful for the safety in travel by car and by plane as we strive to meet with all of our 28 supporting churches across North America. Home assignment period has also been helpful in understanding and being more aware of the challenges facing churches in North America. In the “post modern” era, with its “post Christian” culture, the church is being pushed to the margin of cultural relevance. As a result the church is weakening in numbers. Yet we rejoice that our God is far superior to cultural dictates. We are thankful for NAB Executive Director Dan Hamil’s call to a season of intentional prayer. We do pray to abide in Christ. Whatever culture may say, God is not finished with His church in North America, nor is He finished with His assignment for the North American church.
To this end let me share some “worker needs” in one of the “ends of the earth” i.e. Cameroon:
- Seminary Librarian – Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary, Ndu is seeking help in administration and development of the seminary library.
- National Missionary Facilitator – working with Cameroon national missionaries to cross cultures and borders for the sake of Christ.
- Seminary Professor – Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary, Ndu, the primary setting for pastors to receive theological and pastoral training, is seeking a professor in Old Testament studies.
- Hostel Home Parents – Rain Forest International School, Yaounde, provides quality education for missionary children. So that missionary parents may continue the work to which they have been called in areas where appropriate schooling for their children is not available, hostel parents are needed to care for these teens.
Please join us in praying that God would raise up workers for these posts. If you identify someone or some family, please inform and encourage, especially asking them to contact the North American Baptist Conference at serve@nabconf.org.
Beyond these full-time worker needs, there are short-term missionary opportunities through Gateway Teams (RSchmor@nabconf.org) for leadership training, children’s ministries, construction teams and opportunities for partnership with the Youth Ministries of the Cameroon Baptist Convention. Also the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary Ndu has opportunities for two week intensives as well as semester long volunteer professors. For this one contact the Field Director, Cal Hohn (fdbamenda@gmail.com).
The NAB Cameroon missionaries want you to know about helpful special projects for disadvantaged children in Cameroon. Children with disabilities like blindness or being deaf tend to be marginalized or neglected. To help them cope and even thrive, despite their physical disabilities, education is provided at the Integrated School for the Blind in Banso and the Integrated School for Deaf in Mbingo. For $200 a year per child, these children have the opportunity to be trained in a Christian context. Cheques can be sent to the North American Baptist Conference or given on-line at www.nabconference.org. Thank you for considering this.
In a number of previous newsletters I have been reporting that the Cameroon Baptist Convention Heath Services have been pursuing a large loan (about $7.2 million US) for 9 hospital/health centre structural improvement projects from French Development Agency. On May 9, 2014, the loan agreement was finally signed. This gives a resource privilege/responsibility so further needed health ministry can go forward. For us in the Central Accounting Office, it means a very significant adjustment. Part of the terms of the loan is that the accounting system be transitioned to a model adopted by French-speaking African countries (OHADA or “Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa”). So as Florence and I look forward to returning to Cameroon in mid July, there looms ahead some big work challenges that include learning and teaching a new accounting system and also acquiring, learning and implementing new accounting software. Again we are thankful that we are not alone, but have our great God to guide and the fellowship of the body of believers.
In Christ
Walter & Florence