Population:
25.7 million
Evangelical population:
9.19%
People groups:
292
Unreached people groups:
17
Cameroon
The West African country of Cameroon is slightly larger than California with a tropical coast along the Bight of Biafra in the southwest, semiarid plains in the north, and mountains in the west. It is bordered by Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria.
More than 60% of Cameroon’s population is comprised of people under the age of 25. AIDS has ravaged the country and lowered the life expectancy to 55 years. The country essentially functions under a dictatorship, which provides subsidies for electricity, food, and fuel that have diverted funding from education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure. Though the nation has enjoyed stability and some economic growth through its petroleum industry and agricultural development, overall poverty is increasing.
Cameroon is home to a growing Christian minority but is a Muslim-dominated country. Christians face heavy restrictions on church activities and are subject to periodic attacks by hostile Muslim terrorist groups, like Boko Haram, especially in the northern region along Cameroon’s border with Nigeria. Boko Haram seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate across Africa and violently opposes any political or social activity associated with Western society, including voting, attending secular schools, and wearing Western dress. More than 100,000 refugees from Nigeria, where Boko Haram is most active, live in Cameroon.
An indigenous ministry working in Cameroon requests assistance for training and discipleship materials to strengthen the Body of Christ in a country suffering from political unrest, a growing Islamic presence, and high unemployment, causing many to turn to crime and prostitution. They would like to improve the quality of their Christian school, which is attended by mostly Muslim children. In addition, they ask for help to drill wells in villages where it only rains three months out of the year.
Missionaries with this ministry are reaching radical Islamic communities through evangelism, discipleship at their Bible school, prison ministry, medical outreaches, women’s education initiatives, and through its orphanage.
Sources: CIA World Factbook, Joshua Project
How to Pray for Cameroon
- Pray for the growing Christian community in Cameroon, that God would supply them with the discipleship and training they need to be a strong, effective witness for Him.
- Pray for indigenous missionaries ministering in radical Islamic communities, that the Lord would grant them courage, wisdom, and provision for their work.
- Pray that God would end the brutal rampage of Boko Haram throughout West Africa, and that He would open the blind eyes of those who are persecuting His Church, like He did with Saul of Tarsus.
More stories from Cameroon
Transform Communities Through Outreach Events in Cameroon
A mentally ill homeless woman announced that she wanted to accept Jesus as her Savior during an altar call at an evangelism event. When asked if she believed God could deliver her from her troubles, she said yes. Despite the mockery that erupted from other attendees, a missionary prayed with her, and she was instantly delivered.
Enable Workers to Proclaim Christ in Cameroon
On the first day of a ministry’s evangelistic event, a mentally unstable homeless woman who was addicted to alcohol rushed to the front of the room to repent and express her desire to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. While other attendees mocked her, ministry workers asked if she believed God could heal her mind, and she replied, “yes.” They prayed for her, and she was instantly healed.
Support Evangelism in Hostile Areas in Cameroon
At a four-day evangelistic event in the northern part of the country, local leaders mobilized those hostile to the gospel to destroy the team’s generator and sound system speakers. “But finally those who made it so they lost power accepted Jesus and confessed all the wicked works they have done to keep the villages poor and afflicted,” the ministry leader said.
Help Form Disciples in Cameroon
Male initiation rites lasting three months disrupted boys’ education until native Christian workers taught villagers how faith in Christ frees them from fear of the powers of witchcraft. “We taught that in Christ they are free from any demon; we advised them to be confident and to send their children to school,” the ministry leader said.
Help Expand the Kingdom in Cameroon
Through its evangelistic outreaches and school for missionaries, pastors and teachers, a native ministry overcame spiritual attacks to expand the kingdom of God. The ministry recently sent a native worker to a primitive village where there is no Christian or church.
Enable Workers to Proclaim Christ in Cameroon
Native workers saw hundreds of villagers come to Christ during outreaches earlier this year, but sometimes the Lord worked in other ways. Local workers took the opportunity to proclaim the gospel at a birthday party, and 21 people put their faith in Christ.