The Rev. Dr. Elisabeth Johnson, a missionary and seminary professor in Cameroon who receives support from Our Savior’s, visited OSL on Aug. 13 to preach the Acoustic Wednesday worship service that evening and share this presentation about her work at the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Meiganga, Cameroon, at a supper before the service. Elisabeth is a graduate of Luther College, Decorah; Luther Seminary, St. Paul; and Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.

1. Life and Mission in Cameroon

2. Cameroon: at the crossroads of
West and Central Africa

3. Cameroon: a country
of great diversity…
In landscape and climate:
“Africa in miniature”
• Desert in the extreme
north
• Mountains in the west-
northwest
• Savannah in the center-
east
• Tropical rainforest in the
south
• Coastal plains in the
southwest

4. Cameroon: a country
of great diversity…
In peoples, tribes and
languages:
• There are as many as
270 different tribes
and indigenous
languages spoken in
Cameroon.
• Since colonial times,
French and English
have been the official
languages of
government and
business.

5. Cameroon: a country of great diversity…
In religious beliefs and practices
• 70% Christian
– 40% Catholic
– 30% Protestant
• 20% Muslim
• 6% Animist/Traditional
• 4% Other

6. Cameroon Demographics
Population: around 23 million people
About half (52%) are urban
dwellers, with the two largest cities
being Douala and Yaoundé.
About half are rural dwellers in
small villages.

7. Cameroon Demographics
• 1/3 of the population lives below the
international poverty threshold of $1.25/day.
• Unemployment is around 30%.
• Life expectancy is about 57 years.
• One of the highest school attendance rates in
Africa (although girls attend less regularly than
boys because of cultural attitudes, domestic
duties, and early marriage and pregnancy).
• Literacy rate is 71% (78% for males and 65% for
females over age 15).

8. Transportation
Mototaxis
Buses

10. Lutheran Missionary work in Cameroon
• The first American Lutheran missionaries were Adolf and Anna
Gunderson, who came to Cameroon in 1923. Norwegian
Lutherans began missionary work in Cameroon in 1925.

11. Missionary work led to the creation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon
(L’Eglise Evangélique Luthérienne au Cameroun)
National headquarters in Ngaoundéré

12. Installation of new national bishop,
the Rev. Dr. Ruben Ngozo
November, 2013

13. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon
• Today, there are about 300,000 members
• In more than 1500 congregations
• Organized into 10 regional synods.

14. The mission of the ELCC
Is to bring God’s salvation to the whole person –
body, soul, and spirit.
• To that end, the health ministry of the ELCC operates
three hospitals and thirteen health clinics. The largest
hospital, in Ngaoundéré, includes a center for
ophthalmology and a dental clinic.

15. • The hospital in Garoua-Boulaï, on the border with the
Central African Republic, is currently treating many
refugees of the war in CAR.

16. The ELCC department of communications
• Works on translation projects, translating the Bible,
catechism, liturgy and educational materials into local
languages.
• Operates the Sawtu Linjiila (Voice of the Gospel) radio
station, which produces programs in the fulfulde language
to bring the gospel to the Fulani people.

17. The Department of Education of the ELCC manages
4 preschools, 41 primary schools…

18. One secondary school…

19. Four Bible schools for the training of evangelists and
catechists for the church…

20. And one seminary for the training of pastors –
the Lutheran Institute of Theology in Meiganga
(started in 1958)

21. The Lutheran Institute of Theology in Meiganga
• 5 full-time faculty and several visiting professors
• About 50 students in 3 degree programs:
– The Baccalaureate in Theology
– The License in Theology
– Master’s in Theology / Master’s in Muslim-Christian
relations

22. My home in Meiganga
My home in Meiganga

23. Beginning of 2013-14 academic year

24. Children of students and faculty singing for the
Institute’s Christmas program

25. Students marching in the Festival of Youth
parade – February 11, 2014

26. Students singing on tour of congregations

27. Students singing on tour of congregations

28. End of the academic year 2013-14

29. End of the academic year 2013-14

30. Graduation – June 22, 2014

31. Children

32. Children

33. Children

34. Football!

35. Animals

36. Animals

37. Animals

38. Animals

39. Nature

40. Nature

41. Nature

42. In conclusion...
Merci beaucoup!
Thank you very much!
– For your support of my ministry and
of the ELCA’s partnership in mission
with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Cameroon !
God bless you!