• Despite the lockdown in the prisons, our team continued ministering in eight prisons across the country. Over 8,000 inmates were exposed to the beauty and credibility of the gospel of Jesus. Almost 4,000 became Christ followers. 478 of these new followers were released from Prison and they are now serving the Lord across the country.
• Four relief containers were sent through our small social business that enables us to ship ministry items at a fraction of what it would otherwise cost. The last two containers were shipped in early November and have recently been cleared through the Port of Douala.
• Two churches (Englise Ekklessia in Mendong and Yaoundé and Loussou community church in the village of Loussou) were greatly assisted in their efforts to build and reach their spheres of influence.
• I made two visits to the US and connected with supporters in Texas, Georgia, Arkansas and South Carolina
• I received a much-needed eye surgery to address the macula hole in my right eye. Enough provision came in to pay all medical bills!
• A lot was accomplished at our sustainable demonstration farm. A total of 120,000 pineapple suckers were planted and two permanent houses were initiated to address the needs of staff, as well that of animals and birds.

• Our all-inclusive model school in Douala grew to 92 students. Although we added another building, we still ran out of room. We had to turn down students because of limited space.
• Several students were given scholarships to enable them attend school.

(Below) Our teachers and Students in their traditional Regalia during the February Youth Day.

•  Our board chairman visited Cameroon with his brother. Another board member came with a medical team. We had several people from South Carolina, Arizona and Texas serve with us in Cameroon for several weeks.
• We celebrated BFL’s 25th anniversary in the city of Yaoundé with over 600 people from all walks of life.
• Physical and spiritual needs were met as we shared the gospel through words and practical demonstration.

(Above) Farm based pre-launch. In February, several hundred people, representing three villages, top government officials, and community leaders gathered at our farm to hear about our vision and the gospel.
 

• Strengthening three struggling churches in poor communities we helped plant (Bambili in the NW Region, Mendong Church in the capital city of Yaoundé and Loussou Community church in the village of Loussou, where our sustainable farm base is located).
• Mobilizing resources to position our unique model all-inclusive school in Douala towards sustainable growth. This will include finding a building that can accommodate at least 200 students, while trusting God for provision to buy and build a permanent structure that can accommodate up to 1,000 students.
• Mobilizing resources to make our integrated sustainable demonstration agricultural ministry base in Dimako sustainable. This will include developing at least 100 acres of virgin forest land at the cost of about $1,000 an acre. Constructing several permanent and temporary structures (four for animals, two for birds, and three for our growing team). Each house is estimated to cost about $10,000. Planting an additional 300,000 pineapple plants from suckers generated from our farm (we don’t have to buy them anymore!). Planting 15,000 to 30,000 plantain and banana trees. Planting 15,000 Cocoa trees. Developing 50 to 100 acres to plant corn, soya beans and peanuts to use in developing feed for our animals and birds.  

(Above) A small Section of the village of Lousou, near the farm.

is difficult to think of 2020 without thinking of several losses: The sudden departure of two friends and supporters from Texas and Arkansas hit me hard! You never fully know how much people mean to you, until you loose them.

Then, while still recovering from a major eye surgery, and still trying to make sense of the sudden passing away of my friends, I got another heart wrenching news from Cameroon: “Pastor FAUSTAIN Mvogo IS DEAD.”

About 21 years ago, Pastor Mvogo, along with his pregnant wife, 6-year-old son (Elisee) and one year old daughter, left the comfort of the capital city of Yaoundé to serve alongside us among the marginalized Baka Pygmies enclave of East Cameroon.

This was a new mission field. There were no houses. No roads. No church. No schools. None of us had a salary nor a guarantee of living expenses. Our only guarantee was the Great Promise (Matt 28:20b). Interestingly, the people we felt led to minister to were nomads. They were hunters and gatherers who roamed the forests of Cameroon and Central African countries.

We were all young. Pastor Mvogo was in his late 20’s and I was in my late 30’s. Our only motivation was the Great Commission and a strong desire to make a difference.

We began by planting tomatoes for Pastor Mvogo so he could feed his family and bought him a motorcycle to ease his mobility. Pastor Mvogo continued to support himself and his family through subsistent farming. Occasionally, he would approach us for assistance to pay the tuition of his growing school age children.

Within a few years, a community of Baka Pygmies began to converge outside the town of Mbang. A school was started. A clinic was built. True transformation started and eventually a church was planted.

Two years ago, I invited him to visit our work among another Baka tribe. My goal was for him to catch a vision for sustainable development. Before he left, I gave him $200 to send to his son, who had entered medical school in the neighboring country of Congo. Little did I know that would be our last meeting on this side of heaven.

I was traumatized to hear he was brutally murdered in his small farm. A very uncommon crime in this part of the country. It is still an unsolved mystery.

Pastor Mvogo leaves behind a wife, six children, and the struggling church he pioneered. His oldest child is 26 and in his 5th year of medical school. The youngest is 11. Like most people in full-time ministry in Cameroon, he left no savings and no property. For people like him, their only retirement and Social Security plan is their children, who they hope will go to school, graduate and be fortunate to get a job among a pool of millions of others struggling for the same job, and, hopefully assist their aging parents. Unfortunately, all his children are still in school. 

Yaounde:
Rue Obobogo
BP 1296
Yaounde, Cameroon

Douala:
Denver-Bonamoussadi
Douala, Cameroon