Cameroon: Seeing the World Through Different Eyes

Ndiki, a small town on a hill, is the oldest mission station in Cameroon and is located in the south of the country. The campus of the Theological Seminary is located there. 111 students reflect on their faith together here and experience community. Ndiki is a place that provides encounters in different ways: All ethnic groups of the country as well as members of all Protestant churches live and learn together here. The families of the students also live on the campus, in the village itself, and help shape this place of learning.

This diversity is challenging and at the same time a valuable gift for everyone who opens up to it. It broadens the heart and horizons and, quite incidentally, changes the perspective on one's own life and personality. Anne and Elie have also experienced this.

Anne: fundamental change

When Anne, still a young woman, came to the seminary, she was already a widow. This was very difficult for her. Growing up in a Pentecostal family, she began to learn about the faith from an academic perspective. That wasn't easy at first, she says. Anne also wondered if she was up to it all and what this education would ultimately bring her. But she trusted God and began to make her own way. The flower-filled grounds of the campus and the warm welcome especially helped her find herself and settle at the seminary. In her studies, she experienced how people, learning, and ultimately God have fundamentally changed her. Anne is looking forward to finishing her education soon so that she can "take the gospel to the ends of the earth."

Elie: new love for the church

Elie is also studying in Ndiki. Looking back, he considers his time there a great benefit - both personally and professionally. He was still unsure of his faith when he began his studies. The young man had a certain way of looking at people and God. His image of church was also a rather negative one. In his studies he learned how rich the Christian tradition is, gained a heart for diversity, learned to appreciate the opinions of his fellow students, and is grateful for his level-headed teachers. Even though the living conditions on campus are sometimes difficult - power outages, internet connection, or water pumps - Elie is heartily grateful for his education: "I now have an eye for everyday situations and appreciate the fact that I can accompany others when needed."

Both opened up to people and to God. Both have dared to let themselves be touched and transformed by God and companions. And this is exactly the kind of people the world needs: pastors who embrace change, to accompany others, and touch them with God's life-changing love - in the church and beyond.