Cameroon Pentecostal Churches: North West region under occupation

The coming of the Pentecostal movement to Cameroon and in the North West region in particular ushered in mixed feelings and confusion among folks as some ``men of God’` are benefitting from the culture of the people to ``preach the gospel``. Broken homes, teenage pregnancies and clash with the customs and tradition have characterized the activities of some of these churches in the North West region. The church usually begins with a few family members, then the people of the quarter and finally when things ``start getting better``, a megaphone or brass band is bought. It is common to get gospel music during all night prayers at the highest peak accompanied by shout of ``Holy Ghost, Fire, fire or Praise the Lord, Out, Out, Out`` repeated as many times as the announcer has the energy to do so. Moreover, the clash between some of these churches and the culture and traditional practices in the North West has remained a cause for concern.

On October 11 this year, heavy fighting erupted between members of a Pentecostal church, `` My Body Needs Yours`` and a traditional group in Ndop, Ngoketungia Division. According to what transpired, four members of the `Ngomba`` cult, stormed the church and were molested by worshippers of the congregation after sprinkling acid into the eyes of three of them. Unconfirmed sources say since the coming of the church in the area, disrespect for traditional institutions, blackmail, thievery, and prostitution has been the order of the day as condoms and mattresses were found in one of the rooms that house the church. When contacted, Pastor Komando, owner of Eglise Evangelique du Cameroun on whose mandate the controversial church is operating, refuted allegations by the traditional authorities.

In Ndu Sub Division, a Sub Chief burnt all artifacts in his Palace upon his return from Nigeria. He claimed he was told by a Prophet that the artifacts were the source of problems to his people. A Pastor in one of the villages in that locality was beaten on July 29 during the burial of a man who had long left tradition for the church. The ``Ngomba`` association members have noted that once a member, always a member and so they have the sole right to perform burial rites. In Bafut Subdivision, villagers are yet to come to terms with one of theirs who claims to be a prophet and cut down an ancestral tree at the entrance to the Palace saying God had revealed to him that all untimely deaths, sicknesses and other mishaps in the village were buried inside the mystical tree. Since then the problems of the people are far from being over.

The situation in Aghem, Menchum Division may be different but it is alleged that some Christians of yet another Pentecostal church sneaked into the Palace, collected all artifacts and burnt them saying they belonged to the devil. In Santa Subdivision, the CPDM government spent time and money to dig out the remains of a Prophet and his brother who were looking for Gold. The prophet said God revealed to him that there was Gold in their family residence. After digging a hole of close to 60 meters, the two brothers were covered by soil. In Bamenda, another Prophet after duping several people of their movable and fixed property, announced that every one should go back to his or her former Church. This was on the heels of threats from some young men whom the pastor had dispossessed their mother of valuable family property in exchange for would-be God blessings.

Despite government attempts to regularize the situation, the churches often develop new ways of operation. They either fuse into an authorized one or simply go underground and resurface when places are calm. There are numerous Bible Schools in town one of which claim recently that it will train 1000 prophets who will be able to dish out prophecy and interpret dreams by December this year. There is a church in almost every street hence Church Street and they also go by a variety of brand names; My Body needs Yours, Holy Ghost Ministry, Mountain of Fire, Miracle Assembly, etc. How some of these self made prophets became preachers of the Word is another topic for debate. However, a book, recently launched at the Nkwen Baptist church titled  Drinking the Gospel in African Cups could be one solution to these crises but the question remains, how many Cameroonians read books.