Cameroon Baptist Convention creates development fund

The Cameroon Baptist Convention [CBC] has created what authorities say it’s a development pool aimed at gathering money for the raising to acceptable standards the conventions infrastructure and other projects related to it. All CBC institutions shall in turn after contributing a certain amount will qualify for a loan at a ``very low interest rate``. At the initial launching at the Etug-Ebe Baptist Church in Yaounde, where 30million francs was realized, the money which is expected at 1billion francs will go a long way to save the CBC from constant ``embarrassment``. 

The exercise which extended to Mutengene, Bamenda and has continued in Churches and other major gatherings, officials say is on the foundation `` Building the work of God one each at a time``. Contributors to this fund shall include all CBC institutions and personnel alongside special members ranging from a 1% for workers up to 5million francs. The development fund whose activities have already gone operational will generate 800million from term deposits and another 200million will come in from donations to make up the 1billion francs target.

During the exercise in various places, there have been divergent opinions on contributions and loans. Of the 7 ministries in the convention, Communication, Children, Ministers [Pastors] and the Evangelism and missions will surely have a problem. Taking the case of Pastors, their monthly income depends on the number of sheep they shepherd. To make matters worse there are some churches whose offering and other income of the church hardly go above 15.000frs per month. From this amount, the institution will have to pay the Pastors salary and other running cost of the congregation.

Most of the church houses in rural areas have an identity. The Communications, Children, Evangelism and Missions Ministries is another case. They run mostly from donations and will be difficult for them to get a loan needless to talk of repayment. Others include the education Department that has to do with schools especially at the Primary level. A good number have closed because of infrastructure or personnel management. Many are of the opinion that the CBCDF should look into building churches and schools as a long term investment.  As for churches in rural areas, its a wishful thinking for some of them to get a loan despite contributing to the fund. Elsewhere, the Evangelism and Missions department are organizing Bible conferences in her 33 administrative units [Fields] nationwide beginning November 11. Activities during these four days include conference of Ministers and their wives, Departmental meetings [men, women and youths], Bible lessons, Fund raising, singing, financial report and problems and possible solutions for a way forward for the CBC. The conference is holding under the theme, “Bearing the cross, cost of following Christ” drawn from Matthew 16.12-28