The Birth of the Movement in Cameroon 

The Charis Alliance’s presence in Cameroon started the capital city of Yaoundé in the 1980s when people started gathering in four small groups. The movement had made its way into Cameroon, and these initial groups were started by committed laypeople: Gabriel Nouale, Alphonse Ali, Santos Tokoum, Antoine Mboum, and Martin. They met in homes and were encouraged by Pastor Sonsaree Amstel Pierre, who was the president of the Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions of Cameroon (now known as the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon). 

The Growth of the Movement in Cameroon 

By 1992, God had grown those four groups into 11 churches, with nine in Yaoundé and two in Douala.  

In 2003, a war in the Central African Republic forced missionaries to leave their country, and many took refuge in Cameroon, including Encompass missionary Karen Foster. These missionaries began lending a hand to the churches in Cameroon, helping the movement grow in northern region. Dr. Eddie Mensenger was also instrumental in our growth in the north, since he held a meeting in N’Gaoundéré to raise awareness. 

In 2006, Frank and Karin Puhl moved to Cameroon, where they connected with church leaders and built crucial relationships that would later open doors for the establishment of a Bible Institute. 

By 2007, there were 42 churches across five regions. Dr. Eddie Mensenger and his wife traveled to each region to strengthen the churches and train their leaders. Samuel Dadje also came to Cameroon that year and helped select individuals to be sent to Chad to be trained as evangelists. This resulted in the training of Gabriel Deoudje and Delphi Wilingang. Several graduates of the School for Evangelism are still involved in church planting in Cameroon and are leading discipleship schools. 

As God continued to grow our presence in Cameroon, we had about 80 churches there—but only four pastors! That’s a big reason why in 2014 Encompass sent Jason and Christy Carmean and Doug and Jacquie Jensen to the country. In 2015 our team founded a Bible Institute to help fix that imbalance. In 2017 two discipleship schools were also founded. Together, these facilities would help train new leaders. 

2025 was a huge milestone as the Bible Institute opened a permanent facility that would serve the country’s many Charis churches. It also graduated its third class of students, bringing the number of men trained for ministry to over 60. The institute’s fourth class will start in September 2025 with 25 new students following a call towards ministry. Today, Cameroon now has over 60 pastors shepherding the country’s 100 churches thanks to the Bible Institute.  

A Call to Prayer and Support 

We’re amazed by the incredible growth God has blessed Cameroon with, but our churches there still have needs . Your prayers are crucial. 

• Ask God to continue using the Bible Institute to raise up more leaders who can care for the country’s many churches. 

• With many Cameroonians living in poverty, there’s a huge need for holistic ministries that meet tangible needs while also offering the hope of the gospel. Pray for God to raise up these kinds of ministries. 

• Consider playing a part in what God is doing in Cameroon by giving to our Cameroon Training and Ministry Center Construction project.