20.10.2023

Supporting Each Other - in Prayer and Action

The Regional Board serves to connect UEM and its member churches between General- and Regional Assemblies. Photo by: UEM

At the invitation of the Evangelical Church in Cameroon (Eglise Evangélique du Cameroun, EEC), the Africa Regional Board of UEM met in Douala, Cameroon, from October 8-11, 2023. The regional governing body is composed of the four African Council members, as well as five other elected delegates from African member churches and the Moderator of UEM, Bishop Dr Abednego Keshomshahara.

The ten board members discussed the work reports presented by the UEM Africa Department. Here, the staff of the UEM offices in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Wuppertal (Germany) provided information on the progress of activities in the region, which were decided by the 2022 General Assembly in Villigst (Germany) and the African Regional Assembly last March in Dar es Salaam. 

Church in Cameroon has overcome the crisis

In addition, for the first time, there was a renewed opportunity for collaboration with the EEC host church, which was in crisis from 2017 to 2022. "Five years ago, I last visited the EEC church. Given the severe crisis the church was facing at the time, the UEM family was in danger of losing the EEC as a member. But the UEM members have continually prayed for the church. And today, we are here with joy to thank God that since December 2022, the church members and the EEC leadership are on the good path of reconciliation and that the church in Cameroon is again holistically serving its members in all areas through various social projects," said the UEM General Secretary, Rev. Volker Martin Dally.

The board members also discussed the current situation in the African churches they represent. It was noted that many aspects of the daily work in the African member churches focus on the five areas of work of UEM, namely Evangelism, Diakonia, Advocacy, Development and Partnership. In addition, African churches were encouraged to have more ownership and participation within the UEM communion.

Call for unity in mission 

The regional board also made landmark decisions regarding the regional program work of UEM, which is supported by church leaders. Their commitment to solidarity is also expressed in prayers and visits, pursuing the common goal of church mission. "It is important for the members of UEM to support and strengthen each other in daily prayer and through concrete humanitarian action. This is especially necessary at a time of high global inflation and terrible human suffering caused by wars and conflicts in some countries, for example in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Ukraine by Russia, as well as the recent open attacks between Israel and Hamas. All the related challenges are negatively impacting the well-being of the world's population and the African continent in particular in many ways," said the Tanzanian Moderator of UEM, Bishop Keshomshahara.

Moreover, the board decided to mobilize African members to build reserves in order to support each other in the event of man-made or natural disasters. Prior to the board meeting, the UEM had already organized a workshop on disaster management in Douala. The aim was to train the African member churches for a more effective disaster preparedness. The EEC church set a good example after the workshop by establishing so-called JPIC groups, which are now in place in all 22 church regions.

Bishop Mothusi Jairos Letlhage, UEM Vice Moderator from Botswana, concluded: "UEM members in Africa are called to unity in mission, stressing on the importance of being together as a joint church that protects and provides holistically for the community in needs. UEM members are called to empower, equip and provide growth to the community in the midst of current challenges. Without being together, the worldwide church is open to attacks of loneliness, doubt and the devil’s attacks”. 

By Rev. Dr John Wesley Kabango, Executive Secretary Africa Department and Member of the UEM Board