by Clare Jewell

More than 30 pastors and church planters joined me in Cameroon for a four-day workshop on church planting. The workshop was part of a partnership with Corban University’s School of Ministry, which has developed a three-year program to train pastors in Cameroon.

“Christianity has grown from 9% of Africa’s population in 1910 to 63% in 2010,” Corban University says. “However, this incredible growth has left only one trained pastor for every 20 churches in African countries like Cameroon.” Further, nominalism, syncretism, and a rise in the prosperity gospel in Cameroon have created a tremendous need for new churches that are committed to preaching and teaching the Word of God.

The Cameroon pastors are being well trained and have a growing passion for church planting. The interactive nature of the workshop allowed them to work together to formulate church planting strategies that fit their specific contexts. Some will be planting in cities. Some will be moving to the outskirts where new housing is under construction. Others are more focused on crossing cultures and even crossing borders to start churches throughout this region of Africa.

On the last day of the workshop, we joined hands and prayed together for God to use these men to ignite a church planting movement. They have the leaders to fan this movement into a flame. Their primary need is for initial resources to help light the match. I am hoping to develop partnerships with churches here in the USA for that purpose.

Please pray for God to open doors and hearts for the gospel to transform Cameroon. Ongoing political unrest makes this a critical time for these people. Pray that God will protect these church leaders and give them the wisdom to navigate the path God has laid out before them.

Clare Jewell is national church planting coordinator for Regular Baptist Churches.