March - 21

CAMEROON Population 12,875,000 Peoples Over 260 languages, maybe 500 or more ethnic groups; Africa's most complex country. Only the larger or noteworthy are mentioned here. Major language groups: Bantu 50.5%. 97 groups: Bamiléké (20) 1,737,000; Ewondo 369,000; Bassa 358,000; Bulu Fang 314,000; Eton 259,000; Nso 231,000; Mum 190,000; Maka 118,000; Kundu 116,000; Kaalong 116,000; Limbum 115,000. Chadic-Hausa 19.4%. 41 groups: Mandara 393,000; Masa 208,000; Matakam 129,000; Kotoko 116,000; Giziga 102,000; Mose 100,000; Mofu 96,000; Musgu 90,000; Kapsiki 58,000; Gidar 50,000; Gude 46,000; Daba 38,000; Zulgwa 25,000; Mambila 22,000. Sudanic 10.3%. 41 groups: Gbaya 281,000; Tupuri 277,000; Fali 116,000; Mundang 104,000; Manja 92,000; Mbum 42,000. West Atlantic 9.6%. Adamawa Fulani, 1,080,000. Bantoid 8.2%. 42 groups: Bitore 116,000; Kungom 92,000. Arab 0.7%. Shuwa (Baggara) 69,000; Turku 6,000. Kwa 0.4%. Igbo 45,000. Saharan 0.2%. Kanuri 23,000. Pygmy 0.2%. Two groups: Baka 35,000; Bayaka 11,000. Other 0.5%. French; British. Refugees: Chadians fleeing civil war in their land have fluctuated between 50,000 and 200,000. Literacy 62%. Official languages: French, English. All languages 275. Languages with Scriptures 18Bi 24NT 31por. Cities Capital: Yaoundé 712,000. Other major city: Douala 1,117,000. Urbanization 42%. Economy An agricultural economy, but boosted by oil exploitation in the '80s. The depletion of oil reserves and decline in earnings on cocoa and coffee have put stress on the economy. Political uncertainty has further worsened prospects of improvement. Income/person $1,010 (5% of USA). Politics A German colony between 1884 and 1919, then divided between Britain and France. Independence from France in 1960, and union with English-speaking West Cameroon in 1961 as a bilingual one-party republic. The first president, a Muslim Fulani, was replaced by a Catholic southerner in 1982. Popular pressure forced the President to accede to multi-party elections in 1992, but blatant manipulation of the results to prevent change could lead to political upheaval and even civil war. Religion Secular state which guarantees religious freedom. Controls on Christian activities in the more Islamized north and promotion of Islam nationwide until the change in leadership in 1982. Tribal religions 12%. Numerous among central and northern non-Muslim peoples and of considerable influence among Muslims and "Christians". Muslim 24%. Strong among the Fulani, Mandara, Shua Arab, Kotoko, Kanuri; increasing among the Mbum and Fali. Baha'i 0.8%. Christian 63.2%. Nom 17%. Affil 46.2%. Growth 3.3%. Protestant 22%. Nom 7.1%. Affil 14.9%. Growth 4.3%. Roman Catholic 40%. Nom 9.8%. Affil 30.2%. Growth 2.8%. Foreign Marginal 0.3%. Affil 0.25%. Growth 1.7%. Indigenous Marginal 0.9%. Affil 0.81%. Growth 5.2%. 1. Praise God for present religious freedom, church growth, and localized touches of revival. Yet the overall situation gives rise for concern: a) Political uncertainty and the danger of civil war. Endemic corruption in government, and unwillingness of the leaders to relinquish power through the ballot box are building widespread resentment. Pray for peaceful change and leadership for the country which will bring unity in a land with such ethnic and religious diversity. Without this, disaster could come. b) Spiritual poverty among Christians. Widespread nominalism and liberal teaching given to church leaders has led to lowering of spiritual standards, pagan practices among Christians, and unchallenged pride, compromise and sin among leaders. Pray for deep repentance, lasting deliverance and true revival, and a restoration of Bible reading, preaching and holiness among Christians. 2. Christianity is predominant in the centre and south -- the fruit of a century of Presbyterian, Baptist and Lutheran missionary activity. Yet denominational and language barriers have prevented leaders from developing spiritual fellowship and common goals for the advancement of the cause of Christ. Pray for unity and vision for evangelism and missions to transform the church in the '90s. 3. The north is still a pioneer area where Christians are relatively few. For years, the Muslim Fulani dominated the trade and politics of the region, but this has been reduced since 1982. The contribution of Lutheran Brethren missionaries from the USA and Norway, the SUM, German Baptists and the Full Gospel Mission (AoG) has been decisive and the churches have grown faster there than elsewhere in the country. Intercede for these young churches that they may powerfully witness to the pagan and Muslim peoples around them. 4. Theological training is the key need. Few outside the north are evangelical. Pray for the provision of born-again, godly national and expatriate staff for the 10 accredited denominational and interdenominational schools in Cameroon. Pray also for a spiritual revolution in these theological faculties and seminaries which will bring new life and biblical standards to churches so long deprived of these. 5. Bible translation for Cameroon's 275 languages is an overwhelming task. Only 32 have a Bible or New Testament. SIL and UBS are involved in 50 translation projects. For 38 more languages, there is a proven need for translation, but further research in another 125 languages may increase that number. Pray for Cameroonian and expatriate translators to be called, trained and deployed. The lack of Scriptures in indigenous languages is a major reason for spiritual poverty in the churches. 6. The missionary force is predominantly from USA (303), Norway (99), Switzerland (65), Germany (61) and Nigeria (32). The largest agencies are SIL (194), Norwegian Lutheran Mission (95), SUM (20), North American Baptist Conference (32) and European Baptist Mission (18). Pioneer missionaries are needed to reach the Muslims and northern pagan peoples, and for Bible translation ministry. Evangelical missionaries could help bring new life and vigour to the more nominal churches -- but this requires skills and gifting of a high order. 7. Less reached peoples. Pray for careful, in-depth research into the spiritual needs of every people and area in the country. a) The many peoples of the Mandara mountains, 30% Muslim but mostly fetishist, among some of whom SUM is beginning to see a breakthrough. The Zulgwa and Mambila are stone-age peoples. b) The northern plains peoples -- Giziga, Mofu, Kapsiki, Gude and Gidar among whom Lutheran Brethren missionaries are at work. c) The less-responsive Adamawa peoples -- especially the Pygmy Baka (to whom Presbyterians have gone) and Bayaka. d) Islam is dominant in eight peoples, and Christians are few but increasing in numbers. Pray for: i) The Fulani, with only a handful of Christians. ii) The Kanuri/Kotoko -- a burden for entry for the Lutheran Brethren. iii) The Arab Shuwa -- no Christians and no outreach. iv) The Islamized Fali and Mbum. 8. Supportive ministries for prayer: a) Christian literature is not used widely enough. More literature workers, both expatriate and national, are needed for writing, publishing and distributing French, English and local language materials. b) Cassette ministries have been used by churches -- UBS (Bible reading) and GRn with recordings available in 147 languages/dialects. This is a valuable tool in a multilingual land. c) The GBEEC (IFES) witness among students is small but vibrant and growing. d) Christian radio programmes may be aired on local stations; few workers have the skills or equipment to prepare quality material. Sawtu Linjiila is a studio run by the three Lutheran missions working in Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic, which produces French and Fulani radio programmes, cassettes, and audio-visual materials. The aim is pre-evangelism among the northern Cameroon peoples who use Fulani as a trade language. e) There are four SIM workers serving with the Swiss-based Helimission, which operates a helicopter service for Christian ministries. f) The Jesus Film has been dubbed in the language of the Adamawa Fulani.