"No Cross No Crown," was our watchword for our last graduation and, "Total Commitment," was the theme for this year to move the church and the new batch of students to another level. It all went well. We now use this medium to congratulate all partners of this great work that is going on in French Cameroon.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end, but they are new every morning. We greet all in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. We have gone through this year with a very big cross on our head but we can see the crown awaiting us in 2022. Our commitments were so great but we still see that even with the Covid-19 and other related crises, the supporting team has never relented their efforts.
Even though we have not had any missionaries here since the start of the crisis, we also want to thank God for the work that is going on inch by inch but there is still a lot to be done. We, the evangelists, are still in the field working endlessly. We appreciate you all for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and your finances also.
The students will complete their first year of training at the end of March 2022. Their maturity in preaching and handling the word is coming in with enthusiasm. They came with little or no experience, but today, with a lot of courage and knowledge, they can do more and better things in the vineyard of the Lord. God is still sitting on the throne. Before it's graduation time, they will be doing things with a lot of wisdom.
Students and staff also assisted greatly during the Annual Church of Christ Lectureship in Limbe. The director, the staff, the graduates, and the present students all took part along-side the general assembly of the churches of Christ that took place in Limbe, south west region, Cameroon.
It was a pleasure to join all of our resources to make this lectureship a success. While the staff and director were taking an active part in the activities, such as preaching, round table discussion, translating from one language to another (French to English and English to French), the students on their part were active in the organization of the grounds and in preaching. The van could be seen taking people around to various preaching grounds. With the use of the speakers on the top of the vehicles, some students and graduates were preaching through these instruments to the whole city.
The lectureship recorded 3 baptisms as well as some restored persons. It was the 2021 edition of the annual lectureship. Tracks were also shared to the majority English speakers in that area but also to the francophone population in Limbe as well. Thanks to Richard Renfro with Mission Printing and Barry Baggot with French World Outreach as well.
Mission Printing tracks arrived in Mbanga via Wotutu. These tracts will help us to push the work along for a good while. Materials of different kinds came to us including WBS programs in French and the lessons which are so interesting. We are also sending some to the congregations in the French (or francophone zones) both in Cameroon and in Chad Republic. Bibles and hymnals were also included.
It was time for short courses, and this time around we had missionary Bassay Louis and his wife Linda from the Bonaberi congregation in Douala teaching the students and their wives. It was great to have Louis teach the book of Galatian to the brothers and Linda teaching “The Holy Women of Faith,” to the women.
As weekend evangelism continues both in Mbanga and other communities, sister Tatiana was added to the church in Mbanga and some two other souls to Bafia and Kiboum. We would like to bring to your knowledge the establishment of the congratulations in Kiboum and in Bafia respectively. They also are a part of our newly created assemblies. We offered them a few benches and tables for worship.
The number of new congregations is quite motivating even though it is a timid start. Let's put these young assemblies in our prayers. Bibles were also sent to these young assemblies to be given to the new converts. The church also assisted sister Cecile during her grandmother's burial in Dikouma village. It all went well. Sister Cecile is a new convert and also very active in the church, but due to lack of work, she has decided to settle in Douala were she now worships with the Bonaberi church of Christ. Our prayers are needed. She is a young widow with four children who are still in primary school.
Thanks so much for reading. Happy new year in advance and many more years to do the work of the Lord.
Your servants Ititi Benedict and Mary