West Africa – update March 2008

There is every indication that the biblical truth of the importance of the people and nation of Israel in redemptive history is gaining more grounds in the church in Cameroon. During February and March there were more advances in spite of some difficulties and delays.

Douala Contacts
The message of the importance of Israel in redemptive and prophetic history gained more ground in Douala in the Litoral province during a series of meetings with pastors on Thursday 14 February 2007. Pastor H.Dumsi who had committed himself to organise prayers in his church in Douala for Israel since last year gave me special assistance in the contacts. As we met pastors, we spoke concerning God’s love and plans for his chosen people, Israel and how Replacement Theology is actually a denial of what the Bible teaches.

Among our important contacts in Douala is Rev. Koum Nkoba Emmanuel who comes from the Bassa tribe and founder of a church called Israel Makepe. He has given his heart to the interest of Israel in God’s plan and has invited me already to do a presentation in his church about Israel in biblical prophecy. We are still working on the date and program. Our activities have been hampered in the past four days by the industrial action going on in Cameroon. There is no transportation between the provinces until government reduces the prices of fuel and other petroleum products.

Commissioning for Ministry
On 15th February, the ministers of Ebenezer Baptist Church laid hands on me and my wife, Eleanor in a solemn prayer meeting to dedicate us for the ministry concerning Israel. I have been scheduled to talk to the Ebenezer Baptist church congregation on God’s plans for Israel on Sunday 9th of March.

There was a presentation on God’s plans for Israel and the nations in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Limbe on Sunday 9th of March. The attendance was over 300 adults from different professions. This was followed by a mid week bible study and prayer meeting in the same church which witnessed the participation of more than one hundred Christians. A growing interest in praying for the people and nation of Israel was clearly demonstrated. Some participants also demonstrated their interest in the book, Why Israel? and the CDs.

On 30th March 2008, the chaplains of Banso Baptist Hospital prayed together for the mission of C4I in Cameroon and the peace of Jerusalem.

A presentation has been scheduled on Sunday 30th of March in Makepe and in Douala on Sunday 13th April 2008.

Contacts with ATNA
The mission of C4I was introduced to the coordinator of Atteindre les Nations (ATNA), pastor Tchagang Patrice on Sunday 17 February 2007. ATNA is a Christian missionary organisation in Yaounde, Cameroon committed to Moslem evangelism. We are not yet certain how this relationship may be of benefit to C4I in Cameroon.

Curriculum Development
Concerning the curriculum for our dream institute for Jewish-Christian Studies in Cameroon, Rev. Evande Peter and I have met three times to examine what courses may be included in a such a program. We proposed the following core courses: Why Israel, Old Testament survey, Inter-Testamental Period, Jewish history, Jewish Culture, the Holocaust, Christian Zionism, The Middle East Crisis etc. We suggested also that the institute should offer courses in a variety of ways including correspondence and seminars. The Why Israel bible study series is suitable for a full course by correspondence (Other courses can be designed this way in French and English by C4I International for correspondence schools).
The institute will seek partnership with seminaries and bible institutes in Cameroon.
The function of the project will depend on the endorsement and support of C4I International.

Meeting with Anasthasie Njima
On 23rd February there was a successful meeting with Anasthasie Njima, the President of Pentecostal Churches and the President of Corps Missionaire du Christ in Yaounde. We will work together with the president of Pentecostal churches in Yaounde to organise a seminar with Pentecostal pastors in Yaounde on Israel and the church before the C4I conference in September.

Meeting with the President of Pentecostal pastors in Yaoundé
Rev. Boba Devis is a lawyer. He also serves as pastor of Assemblees Chritienne Restauration and president of Pentecostal pastors in Yaoundé. He has invited the C4I Cameroon coordinator to speak on the mission of C4I at a one day seminar with Pentecostal pastors in Yaoundé, the date and venue is yet to be fixed. We will work towards this important project and use it as a forum to speak to a larger audience about God’s plans for Israel and our ministry in West Africa.

Invitation/ Meeting with the General secretary of the Cameroon Baptist Convention
Cameroon Baptist Convention(CBC) top executive members were the first in Cameroon to voice support for Israel and the vision of C4I International. On 6th March 2008 pastor Peter Ngong (a CACFI executive and Cameroon Baptist Convention Communications Director) met with Rev. Charles Tangwa (the CBC General Secretary), to brief him on the progress and vision of the ministry in Cameroon. Impressed with the report, agreed to support the proposed C4I Teachers Training seminars in Cameroon in September this year, and has extended an official invitation to Rev. Willem Glashouwer and Mr. Jos van Westing approved by the state to visit Cameroon in September 22-30, 2008 for the seminars.

Prayer Requests
I thank you for your support of this ministry. We need all the help we can get in this start-up phase. Please continue to pray for the advancement of the ministry in Cameroon. Pray for the presentation in Ebenezer Baptist Church on 9 March. Also pray for meeting with the Ebenezer BC board of Deacons to use the church as a centre for Israel bible study and prayer programs in Limbe. Pray that Israel Makepe in Douala and Fullness Chapel in Yaounde will be used for Israel programs in these towns as well.

Gideon Nchinda, C4I Coordinator West Africa
March 2008