The Cameroon 2009 Mission Attempted Much
God Makes Many Wonderful Things Happen
by Dale Fisher
During my May 7 to 25 mission to Cameroon, West Africa, as I led six other team members, I spent my first week in a Bible school, teaching a week-long course called World Missions. While teaching 17 students at the Baptist International School of Theology (BIST), I used the Perspectives textbook, an excellent resource that a home Bible-study group from my church provided all of the students, as well as the BIST library.
Teaching from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for five days (with an hour-long lunch break), my teaching went well. I was tired at the end of each class but felt that all was well received. As an after-class practice of what we had studied, I invited three students to attend the "JESUS" film showing that I would present to the local religious leader and two of his followers, members of a world religion different from mine. They each told me that they enjoyed watching this amazing film.
When my week of BIST student teaching ended, the BIST class had its graduation ceremony for which I was the main speaker. In my message, I highlighted 1 Timothy 4:15–16 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation (1 Timothy 4:15–16). that deals with the topic “Watching Your Life and Doctrine.”
All in all, I'm pleased with our team's two-and-a-half-week-long mission. The Lord God graciously enabled the seven of us to serve Him. Let me give you an idea of some of the things that I and my team members (see our photo below) were able to do on this mission.
- I presented a one-hour session on "How to Use a Bible Study" at the Mentor’s Conference. (Mentors are district pastors who oversee other pastors in their district.)
- I taught a 30-hour course at BIST on World Missions. (See photo below.)
- I gave the commencement address to 700 people during BIST's graduation ceremony. (See photo.)
- Visiting friends up the hill, I showed the "JESUS" film to a religious leader and two of his followers.
- The first Sunday, I preached at Bethel Baptist Church, in Mbam. The second Sunday, I preached Joseph Merrick Baptist Church in Fundong, which is the largest church in the Cameroon National Baptist Convention (CNBC) and the denomination we mainly work with while ministering in Cameroon.
- We participated in the first Fundong Community Pastor’s Fellowship.
- We provided parts (swing hangers) to fix three orphanage swings. (See photo.)
- We donated three jump ropes to the orphanage and demonstrated how to use them. (No photo)
- We led a delegation that visited the Fon (the tribal chief) in the palace.
- My church donated and provided 20 copies of the "Perspectives" textbook to students and the BIST library.
- We trained orphanage staff by presenting informative sessions on "communications" and "how to hold a meeting."
- We toured the orphanage facilities and met its director, helping him prioritize a variety of projects.
- We examined 13 medical patient orphans to assess and treated their health problems.
Thanks to Jehovah Jireh (our Heavenly Provider), our mission team helped many Cameroon people in a variety of meaningful ways.
(Below, I've displayed a few action photos.)
