Interview: “We Want To Be More Visible On Social Media”

What informed the joint organisation of a leadership conference in Yaounde, Cameroon by Parklands Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya and Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church, Yaounde?
During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Parklands Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya wrote to some diplomatic missions in Kenya whose nations were in the World Cup, inviting them to come over and watch their football matches with Christians in the church premises. Her Excellency, Dr Vivian Nain Kuma, the Head of Mission, Cameroon Consulate in Nairobi, Kenya, responded favourably and came to Parklands Baptist Church where she joined Christians in watching Cameroon’s matches on a giant screen. She later told Parklands about Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church, Yaounde. Expressing the wish to see the two churches collaborate. She then gave Parklands the phone number of Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church.
Parklands Baptist Church has a vision of training leaders all over Africa, and Cameroon stands at a strategic mid position between West and Central Africa. Moreover, Cameroon is bilingual, using both French and English. After discussions with Parklands, we agreed that the beginning point should be building leadership. If the church has strong leadership, the Greater Africa Vision of carrying the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all nations will go easily. This is only the starting point – the training of church leaders. All the speakers for the conference came from Parklands Baptist Church, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Is the partnership between the Cameroon Baptist Convention and Parklands Baptist Church or between Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church and Parklands Baptist Church?
The partnership is between Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church and Parklands Baptist Church, with the approval of the leadership of the Cameroon Baptist Convention.

Does the partnership have a timeframe?
The partnership for now does not have a timeframe. We are in a loose relationship. If for one reason one partner no longer respects the terms of the partnership, the other partner is free to walk of the relationship. But our prayer is that the partnership will last long and include exchange visits between men, women and youth of the two churches. And why not business exchange visits? We trust God that this partnership will last as long as God keeps us together. 

Apart from leadership, which other areas of cooperation do you envisage?
We are working on how to make Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church more visible in the social media space by running live services. For example, on Facebook and YouTube Channel, with the assistance of Parklands because they are well advanced in this. Parklands is very strong in social media visibility while Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church is strong is missions. 
Parklands runs home churches as support to the church’s membership of over 10,000 Christians. The home cells or churches are mini-churches in neighbourhoods where Christians meet. Also, Etoug-Ebe Baptist Church youths are very dynamic. Parklands would like our youths to help strengthen their youth group. 
Parklands is also interested in learning from Etoug-Ebe’s experience in running an elementary school and a hospital. They would like to also own and run a hospital. The Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services will be better placed to help them set up a medical facility. Our collaboration is diversified. Along the line, there will be business discussions and deals between members of the two sides. 

How many participants took part in the training?
We had over 400 participants because it was open to leaders from other Cameroon Baptist Convention churches as well as other denominations like Union des Eglises Baptistes Camerounaises, UEBC and Chr...