Dear Family and Friends,
So much has happened in the past two months, it will be a challenge to fit even just the highlights on one page. Last month began with another trip to encourage our brothers and sisters in the village of Benakuma. Hundreds of tracts were distributed, the believers were discipled and encouraged in the evenings, and more than 20 souls received Christ as Savior during the three days of evangelism. Even the chief of the village and two of his sons professed Christ as Savior on this trip!
Also last month we held a Sunday school seminar for all the fundamental churches in our area. Traditionally, the Sunday school ministry has only been used to disciple children here in Cameroon. When we taught how it could be used in the church to disciple and encourage accountability for believers of all ages, the response was encouraging. Pray for some of our more mature believers to surrender and volunteer to begin this ministry in our local churches.
Camp Joy, a fundamental Christian camp located about 30 minutes from our home, has been in full service now for more than five weeks. I have the privilege of preaching twice a week at the camp, and Becca has been able to challenge the young ladies during the girls’ and ladies’ camp. While the total decisions have not yet been reported, we know many life-changing decisions have been made, and we ask you to pray for God’s blessing on the final two weeks.
For several months we have been praying for a taxi driver in our town to be saved. His name has been on our Faith Baptist Church prayer list, and some of our people have been seriously burdened for his soul. A few weeks ago, Collins contacted us and asked for some counseling concerning his relationship with his girlfriend. I had the wonderful privilege of meeting with Collins and Bettyla one Sunday afternoon. I explained that the decision of who you marry is a very important decision. When I said that it is the second-most important decision a person can make, they were both surprised. After sharing the Gospel and explaining that what you do with Christ is by far the most important decision a person can make, they both bowed their heads to confess and believe in Christ! Praise God!
The greatest highlight for this month was the joy we experienced while ministering together with our visiting friends, the McBrayer family. The McBrayers are members of one of our supporting churches, and this family of seven sacrificially spent two weeks ministering together with us. They enjoyed the opportunity of distributing hundreds of tracts in the main market of Bamenda and participating in two VBSs. Through their puppet presentations, the children memorized the fruit of the spirit, and by the end of the second week, a total of 13 children believed in Christ for salvation! We praise God for a supporting church and a wonderful family willing to dedicate two weeks of their lives to serving the Lord here in Cameroon. Our open invitation to you all still stands; come over into Cameroon and help us (Acts 16:9)!
In conclusion, we have a very serious prayer request. Most of you know we have been praying for the president of Cameroon to sign the full authorization of the Cameroon Bible Fellowship. The CBF is a fellowship of fundamental, autonomous local churches, and we are part of this fellowship. While the CBF application has been sent to the president by the appropriate minister with his full recommendation that the president authorize the CBF, the president has not done so to date. As a matter of fact, the
president has not authorized a single church, denomination, or ministry since 2006! Last week, the same minister who forwarded the CBF application to the president for his authorization, announced that the Cameroon government will be “cracking down” on unauthorized churches. He wrote that, “churches without legally signed papers by the President would be charged and sanctioned.” We are not clear about exactly what this announcement means for us and those we fellowship with, but we ask you to please pray for complete liberty as we minister and serve the one who has “ALL authority.” Please pray that President Paul Biya would do the completely unexpected deed of signing and giving the CBF full authorization to minister throughout the country of Cameroon. We covet your prayers for our protection and provision of this need.
All to the glory of God,
Ben, Becca, Drew, Kate, Emma and Faith Ann
Six baptized this month!
