An inspiring service from the Women of Cameroon

Jule Koch Brison | Mar 11, 2010

The children dressed in African dress and sang several songs for the congregation at Parham United Church.

On Friday March 5, several churches in the area observed the World Day of Prayer, an ecumenical event that was started in 1922.

The service for the 2010 World Day of Prayer was written by the Women of Cameroon. Its theme, “Let everything that has breath praise God”, urges us to praise God even in, or especially during difficult times in our lives. An introduction to the service says, “Even Cameroonians who are orphans, handicapped, HIV/AIDS infected persons know that God accompanies them ‘in the valley of the shadow of death’. Cameroonians who struggle to make a living like taxi men and the market women who are called bayam-sallams also praise God.”

The service spoke frankly of the seemingly insurmountable problems in Cameroon: exploitation of children; the low status of women; modern-day slavery and sex trafficking; gross human rights abuses, violence and torture by the government, among many other serious problems, but through it all there resounded a vibrant hope and thankfulness.

The service was accompanied by a video of everyday life in Cameroon that showed the beauty and potential of the country and made the service very real to the Canadian participants. Writing the service took years of work, with the writers having to overcome difficulties of language and transportation.

In Parham, the service was held at the United Church, with the participation of the Anglican and free Methodist Churches. In preparation, the Parham United Church Sunday school had been studying Cameroon and had made musical instruments, which were featured in a display. The children dressed in African dress and sang several songs for the congregation.