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As a church, we help support a missionary team in Africa. In 1992, Phillip and Reda Anderton went to Cameroon, West Africa, to begin missionary work. They were sponsored by the
faith mission "Regions Beyond," now a part of "World Team." Their aim was to reach the Baka, a people who have never heard the Gospel in their own language. Phil's role in transformational development and Reda's role in medicine
supported the team's holistic approach to church planting. In 2005, God called Phil home to heaven, and the Anderton's work was continued by Barry and Desma Abbott, and by Nathan and
Laurel Conrad. Now, Reda Anderton plans to return to Cameroon to resume her work this September, 2008.The Baka are a people of about 30,000 who live in an area
crossing three countries in central West Africa. Cameroon is the western third of the area. The Baka are hunter-gatherers who live off the jungle. They move often and make leaf
shelters as they go from one food source to another. In recent times, the logging industry has taken a large portion of the trees that are the food source for the Baka. They are therefore
being forced to find a new way of life. Given their heritage, they find it hard to stay in one place, and farming is to them a strange way to live, but many feel it is their only hope for a future. In
this regard, Phil helped them plant an orchard, which is thriving, and a lasting reminder of his mission among them. Their Bantu neighbors are often of little help. Our missionaries believe that
they desperately need the hope that a life in Christ gives. The Andertons, Abbotts, and Conrods have brought much to the Baka people. Phil and Reda
began their mission with a dedicated effort to learn the language (which is an unwritten tonal language). Assisted by other members of the team, they participated in a major effort to
translate the Bible into the Baka tongue. As part of this effort, they wrote Old Testament Bible stories which they read to the Baka, and then continued the series with the New Testament
Gospels. The Abbotts and Conrods have continued this important effort which forms the basis of invitations to accept Christ as Savior. The Conrods are currently completing an addition to the language center house.
Reda, who is a physician, brought her much-needed medical skills to the Baka people, and began a medical mission which she hopes to continue upon her return. This will be in conjunction with
Jennifer Jessee, who has recently been in Cameroon but who returned to the United States to study missionary medicine, and who will spend time in Quebec this summer to learn French before
returning to Cameroon at the end of the year, not long after Reda arrives in September. This will mean there will be two people who help each other in performing this much-needed service to the Baka people.
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Left to right (standing): Boaz, Nandry, Nathan, Laurel and Asher Conrod. Left to right (seated): Jennifer Jessee,
Barry with Brianna, Desma with Brendan Abbott. |
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The mission center where the Andertons, Abbotts, and Conrods have worked is near a Baka village on a coffee plantation owned by a man called Pierre. Most of the land where the
Baka live in Cameroon is government reserve land, but old claims like Pierre's are scattered throughout the reserve lands. These are the only places where a mission center can be safely built. The Baka at times work for Pierre
and they consider him a patron. Pierre, in turn, helps stabilize the Baka community. He is not a Baka, but cares about them deeply. He is a college graduate and knows 20 languages, three of them European. Four years ago he
accepted Christ and was baptized. He has shown real maturity in the faith since that time. He is has been deeply involved in the Bible stories written by Phil and Reda, and helps tell them to the Baka.
The missionaries spend most of their time at the missionary center. They get most of their food from the capital eight hours away where French is the main language. The travel back and forth is the most dangerous part of being in
Cameroon because of the narrow roads and the logging trucks. Driving in the cities is also dangerous. Last winter, the Conrods were returning to a guest house from a supply trip into the
city when an out-of-control truck in the land opposite them hit a car in front of it and careened over to the Conrad's lane, smashing their truck and injuring Nathan.
Recently the Abbotts completed a survey and exploration trip to find out more about the Baka who live beyond their little corner of the Baka population. They visited Baka encampments along
a road stretching from the northern edge of the Baka territory and the southern tip of Cameroon. One purpose was to observe differences between and similarities with the lifestyles and language
of the Baka in their own mission area. Another purpose was to connect with others involved in outreach to the Baka. They found that several church groups had engaged in missionary work
along this road during the last 30 years. These included Catholics, Presbyterians, and Full Gospel missionaries from Germany. They attended worship at chapels along the way, and returned
convinced more than ever of the need for a Bible translation into Baka. The pace of contact with civilization is increasing rapidly in the Baka territory. In some ways this
is helping the Baka, and in some ways it is not. In either case it is lending urgency to the mission, and we urge all to keep th em in your prayers. |
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