The BAPTIST CENTER
BRIEF HISTORY
The Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) was established in 1954 when it gained autonomy from the North American Baptist Conference. Before 1954, Baptist work was already over a century old in Cameroon. The establishment of the CBC is not unconnected with the history of Baptist work in Cameroon. As a matter of fact, the Baptists were the first Christians to proclaim Christ as Savior and Lord on Cameroonian soil. So, we can trace the history of the Cameroon Baptist Convention from three main Baptist Mission Organizations, which carried out missions in Cameroon. They were the English Baptists (1840- 1885), the German Baptists (1885-1936), and the North American Baptists (1936-1954). In December 1954, the Cameroon Baptist Mission became the Cameroon Baptist Convention. The North American Baptist Conference adopted the name Cameroon Baptist Mission, which inherited the work of the German Baptists.
By 1842, the London Baptist Missionary Society planned to celebrate 50 years of missionary exploits in Jamaica. During this celebration, many Negros, including Joseph Merrick, Alexander Fuller, and a host of others, expressed an earnest desire to be sent to Africa to preach the gospel to their African kin and kith. Joseph Merrick then arrived in Bimbia in 1843. On his part, the British Missionary Alfred Saker went to Fernando Po to carry out the work of Evangelization, but he was sent away from the Island by Spanish Roman Catholics who claimed a monopoly of the Island.
Alfred Saker then moved to the coast of Bimbia and bought a piece of land and named it Victoria after the Queen of England at the time. Saker and Merrick planted a host of Churches and opened Schools. The English Missionaries found it difficult to work with the Germans when they annexed Cameroon in July 1884. As a result, the British Baptists sold their property and Churches to the Basel Mission. Some Baptist Christians refused to join the Basel Mission and decided to operate as Native Baptist Churches with indigenous leadership. Later, the German Baptists took over the work in 1885. These German Baptists had roots in America, where the North American Baptist Conference was anchored.
The work in Cameroon spread rapidly in the grasslands after a dispatch of Evangelists by the Native Baptist Church of Victoria. These endeavours saw the planting of the first Baptist Church in Songka-Bum in 1924 by Joseph Mamadou. The second Church was built in Wombong in Kom. However, the gospel was propagated in the Coast and Grasslands by some serious men. The early ones included: Joseph Evakise Burnley, Leban Moki, Joseph Mamadou, Daniel Hangu, Robert Nteff, Robert Jam, Thomas Toh, and a host of others. This resulted in church growth, and in 1954, the CBC had over 16.000 members grouped in 218 Congregations. By 2024, CBC had grown to over 200,000 members grouped into about 1500 congregations and recognised in 2019 as one of the fastest-growing Baptist Conventions in the world by the Baptist World Alliance.
In the areas of Hospitals, Health Centers, Radio Stations, Schools, Vocational Training Centres, and Theological Institutions, the CBC has experienced visible growth over the years. Significant is the number of Schools and Health Facilities, with 16 Hospitals, 26 Health Centres, 332 Nursery and Primary Schools, and 29 Secondary and High Schools. The CBC counts over 1300 trained Pastors, with close to half of this number ordained. In a worship community of about half a million, the Cameroon Baptist Convention can count about 300,000 registered Christians. The children and those who worship in CBC churches make up about 200.000.
Some CBC Leaders
Historians have taken time to document the names and faces of CBC leaders. The focus has always been on the Pastors. This is important. However, the Pastors always work with lay leaders at the Convention, Field, Association, and Church levels. It is also important to cite some Pastors who have served the Convention as Recording Secretary, Executive Secretary, General Secretary, and Executive President. The positions have changed names over time, but its occupants from 1954 had Rev David Nyanganji (1954-1955), who was the First Recording Secretary. Rev. Elias Tuboh (1955- 1956), Mr. DS. Njini (1958- 1959), Rev E.S. Nformi (1959- 1961, 1969-1971). Rev John N. Nfor (1963- 1967), Rev. S.N. Nteff (1957-1969), Rev Samuel Ngum (1971- 1975, 1987- 1992), Rev Samson Khama (1977-1987), Rev. Samuel Ngum (1987- 1992), Rev Dr. Oryn Meinerts 1992, interim), Rev. Peter Nyumnloh (1993-2002), Rev Charles Tangwa (2002-2008), Rev. Donald Ndichafah (2008- 2012), and Rev. Dr. Ncham Godwill (2012-2020). On November 13, 2020, Rev. Dr. Nditemeh Charlemagne was elected CBC Executive President during a decentralized CBC General Session in Ten Centres created for that purpose on November 20, 2020. He served till January 2025, when handed over to Rev. Dr. Teke John, elected in November 2024. The clergy, the laity have been instrumental in supporting the clergy in realizing exploits for God. The clergy worked with the following lay leaders and even other clergy, as explained in the following paragraph.
CBC Presidents or Chairmen
Lay leaders, Presidents/ Chairmen from the beginning include AN. Massa (1954-1955), Rev SB. Nformi (1956-1958). WN Tayu (1959-1960). EK Martin (1961-1984), WN Tayu (1987-1990), SN Becke (1993-1999), Tetevi Bodylawson (1999-2003), Dr. S Wanki (2003-2007), Joseph Chebongkeng (2008-2016), Yosimbom Mkong John (2016-2024). He handed over to Mr. Kongor John Kwa. It should be noted that the CBC President became CBC Chairman during the 2024 constitutional review. This also affected the position of the CBC Vice President, which became CBC Vice Chairperson too in 2014. Since 2008, women have occupied this position. Here are the names of some CBC Vice Presidents/ Vice Chairpersons.
CBC Vice Chairs
S.I Ekema, TT Agbo, GL Haddison, JN Mbeng, A Wamson, SN Tangi, GL. Haddison, Rev. S. Baah, E Ewule, Rev. PN. Nshing, Rev. S. Baah, IN. Ngala, SN Ndip, Dr. S N Gwei, Dr. I F. Mbah, Dr. S. Wanki, George Massa, Justice Betty Luma, Dianna Efosi Ekema. She passed on the baton to Mrs. Sofa Caroline. These vice chairpersons had been the unsung heroes because their work could only be seen in the work of their chairmen. The work of the chairmen could only be visible through the work of their Executive Presidents.
Today, the CBC is organized into 33 Fields and Missionary Areas, headed by Field and Area Pastors, respectively. At the level of the Central Administration, the CBC is organized into 10 Departments headed by Directors. The Departments include Evangelism and Missions, Education, Health Services, Finance and Development, Cooperating Missions, Theological and Christian Education, Communications and Publications, Men, Women, Youth, and Students Department.
The CBC is headed by the Executive President, assisted by the Chairman and Vice Chairperson. Currently, the Executive President is Rev. Dr. Teke John Ekema.
