A good start, despite opposition

The Mbuko New Testament (Cameroon)

Though the enemy had other ideas, Richard Gravina and I have made an encouraging start on the Mbuko New Testament.* We were delayed for a week because of my swine flu; and we’ve also been battling a spate of computer problems (see adjacent posts). But after only a couple of weeks we’re already working through a near-final printout.

Richard and his wife Sue have been working for many years among the Mbuko of northern Cameroon in Central Africa. Here’s how he describes the Mbuko people:

“The Mbuko are a group of around 15,000, living in the northern part of Cameroon in central Africa. Up until 1978 there were no Christians among the Mbuko. But at that time, a few Mbuko put their trust in Jesus through contact with neighbouring groups. From then on their numbers increased rapidly. By 1990 a church had been formed in each of the Mbuko villages. Now most of the Mbuko would call themselves Christian, particularly amongst the younger age groups. As new Christians, they need to find out for the first time how to do everyday things, such as getting married, burying their dead, organising the church and so on.

“The leaders are learning how to apply Christian teaching to the Mbuko culture. Without the Bible to refer to, this is very difficult. The Mbuko are in the wonderful position of needing God’s Word, wanting God’s Word, and being about to receive God’s Word. It will be exciting to see the impact it has when the Mbuko have the New Testament in their hands and in their language!”

Please pray with us that that great day won’t be delayed by any further hold-ups in the typesetting process — health-wise, computer-wise, or any other-wise!

*For information about the language, including a map, click on the word Mbuko.

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