Giving it Back

There is nothing that surpasses the feeling of being called to a specific task by a higher power.  This is especially true for those of us who get to make this calling our life's work.  However, sometimes we have to admit our shortcomings and failures.  We have to be ready to give our calling and our work back to the Lord in order to see it renewed and refreshed.  This has been the case for the work of the Church of the Nazarene in the country of Cameroon.

More than 12 years ago, some contacts were made by Nazarenes moving from another country to Cameroon.  They were members of the COTN and through their witness, deeply impacted the Christian Community they joined upon arriving in the city of Douala.  Soon after, the local church expressed its desire to join the Church of the Nazarene.  Unfortunately, long distances and other difficulties made it so that these connections were lost.

Over six years ago, a Nazarene pastor moved from his fruitful ministry in Western Africa to his home country of Cameroon.  He worked in the western part of the country and evangelized many people who didn't know the name of Christ.  Once again, there were many challenges related to isolation from church leadership, personal issues, and growing political unrest leading to violence in the area.  

Just about six months ago, the Church of the Nazarene sent a missionary family to Yaoundé from Goma, DRC.  In the short time since their arrival, God has used them to lead people to Christ, re-establish old contacts, and meet new people of peace.  Last week, we just received the first members of the Church of the Nazarene in Cameroon.  Eight people from old and new ministry efforts came together to officially join the Church of the Nazarene.  There is so much to be done and we know that we are still at the beginning of this journey of having a sustainable work of the church in Cameroon.  However, we know that none of this could have happened without recognizing our weaknesses and giving our ministry efforts back to the Lord.  

Sometimes on the path to faithfulness, doors are closed.  At some points along the way, it may be necessary to regroup.  The need may even arise to go back to step 1 and give the ministry back to the Lord. This can allow fresh ideas and new collaboration to arise.  Giving our callings back to the Lord may be what is needed to get over a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.  Phillipeans 1: 3-6 reads, "I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Receiving New Members

It is true that Paul was speaking about the work of these believers being saved and transformed into the image of Christ.  But I believe there are valuable implications for our ministry efforts as well.  God, who began this good work, will carry it on to completion.  This reminder takes the burden and pressure off of God's people who understand that our callings, and the people they bring us into relationship with, belong to God.  For those of us working to establish the Church of the Nazarene in Cameroon, it wasn't until we took a step back and committed to allowing the Lord to start our efforts over from scratch, that we were able to have this first fruit.  We will keep working as best we know how, but we will be waiting for God to carry it on to completion. 

Church of the Nazarene in Cameroon (sorry that its not in focus)