Abstract

The study examines the establishment and growth of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo Community from 1964 -2016. The prime motive of this study is to show how the Full Gospel Mission Church came to Babungo Community in 1964 and has lasted till date. It examines the origins of the Babungo people and how the Full Gospel Mission Church came about, the challenges she faced and how she has been able to grow. With this historical approach, based largely on primary sources, the study argues that the live of the Babungo people have greatly contributed or influenced the motives and activities of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo. In this study, the background from which the Church emerged alongside its roots are followed by an insightful discussion of its administration, sources of finance, activities and problems encountered and achievements. The study has generally revealed that in spite the problems encountered by the church, she has greatly advanced.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The Full Gospel Mission with its motto being “No other Christ, no other spirit, no other Gospel” came to Cameroon in 1961. It was brought about by a young German missionary and wife Rev. and Mrs. Werner Knorr. The Full Gospel Mission obtained a recognition presidential decree in 1969. The Full Gospel Mission is a fellowship of evangelical, a Pentecostal church whose Christians believes in all the biblical doctrines as thought by Christ and his apostles. Due to good evangelical success the FGM was established in all the regions of Cameroon before 1990. The first superintendent of the FGM was Rev. Pastor Njemo with office in Yaoundé. The Full gospel mission has excelled greatly in its evangelical mission in Cameron, it has established a Bible Institute in Bamenda in the Northwest region, it has also established nursery, primary, secondary and high schools in the North west and south west regions of Cameroon, not leaving out a cross section of local church assemblies nationwide.

In the 1960s, the FGM came to Bamenda in the Northwest region of Cameroon. The mission went operational in most of the villages of the Ndop plains and Babungo is one of them. In 1964, the FGM was first established in the community by some mission evangelist, some of which were; Nsongsi Zacheaus and Leboh Patrick, all pastor by then.

After the establishment, it faced a lot of trials and was not functioning again. Later in 1994, it was established and till today it has been facing trials but nevertheless, it has been surviving and growth in members, finances and spirituality has been recorded.

In the light of the foregoing, there is need to record the history of the FGM in Babungo community from its inception till date. This work examines the roots of the FGM in Babungo, its growth and how it has been able to reach this present moment. That’s from 1964 – 2016. With 2016 being the year that the Full Gospel Mission in Cameroon waved farewell to their founding father Rev. and Mrs. Werner Knorr who travelled back to his home country with satisfaction and also the year that the FGM in the Babungo community saw good success and rapid population increase.

1.2 Statement of Problem

The Full Gospel Mission (FGM) that came to Africa in 1959 and reached the land of Cameroon in 1961 through its profounder Rev. and Mrs. Werner Knorr.  Her motto is “No other Christ, no other spirit, no other Gospel” and it is a fellowship of Pentecostal churches. The Full Gospel Mission is all over the territory and came to Babungo in the Northwest region in 1964.

The study: The establishment and growth of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo from 1964 to 2016, sets out to address the following research questions. How did the Full Gospel Mission church establish in Babungo community? and How has it been able to grow and survive in the community amidst adverse conflict?

In this perspective, the analysis sustained in this discussion is that the Full Gospel Mission from inception has succeeded and has conflicted with village authorities, yet has survived and is maintaining cordial relations with other denominations.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study are to unveil a complete picture of the Full Gospel Mission in the Babungo community from 1964 to 2016. This research particularly intends to examine the conflicts that have existed between the mission and the village authorities, not leaving out internal conflicts. It further investigates the spiritual, numerical, financial and infrastructural growth of the FGM in the Babungo community. In addition, this brings out the activities of the Full Gospel Mission to itself and the community and finally this research critically examines the relationship of the FGM with other churches in the community.

1.4 Review of Related Literature

There exists abundant literature that has helped in the realization of this study. Much on religion and the Full Gospel Mission in Cameroon. Some researchers have committed themselves to the study of the Full Gospel Mission in Cameroon. In fact, a lot has been written on the Full Gospel Mission, its activities and institutions in kumba, Mbalmayo and the FGBI (Full Gospel Bible Institute founded in 1970) and its activities in Bamenda and a lot more on the Babungo community, religion and spirituality in Babungo. Regrettably, there is little or nothing written on the establishment and growth of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo.

Literature that has greatly helped in this study is the publication of Enoh Richard Agbor (PhD) on historical writing, published in 2013. This book has served as the bedrock and a guide during the processes of data collection, analysis and usage.

One of the notable works relating to the activities of the Babungo people is the work of Jean Paul Noute and Bianca Traica published in 2006. This book presents the history, forms, functions and meanings of the cultural and artistic objects in Babungo. The work pays particular attention to the political and socio economic life of the Babungo people.it has provided valuable material background to which has helped to build the second chapter of this research study.

Another, yet unpublished study relating to religion and conflict in Babungo community is an article by Tumenta Acham Peter and Co titled The missionary methods: Dangers to traditional heritage in the Babungo Fondom. This works brings out the various religious denominations in Babungo and it underlines how the doctrines of these denominations have conflicted with traditional and cultural practices of the Babungo indigenes. The author pays particular attention to the extent to which Christianity has caused the indigenes to abandon the ways of their ancestors which they ought to inherit and transmit progressively to coming generations. This work is greatly of aid. In spite its weight, the present study presents a history of the establishment of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo community and conflict with the traditional authorities.

Gabe Jonatha and Mohamide Sany of the Cameroon Baptist Convention in Babungo Community have brought to light the origins and evolution of the CBC in time and circumstances. This work also critically discusses her relations with other sister denominations. Although this work does not pay particular attension to conflict, it has however provided valuable material to this study.

1.5 Delimitation of Study

The research study entitled “The Establishment and Growth of the Full Gospel Mission Church in Babungo Community: 1964 – 2016” has a research locale of the FGM church in the Babungo village of the North west region of Cameroon. This study spans from 1964 to 2016. The starting point of 1964 was marked by the coming of the preachers to the Babungo community to start the FGM assembly, while the terminating date of 2016 was characterized by the expansion of the church into 3 assemblies. In this year the main assembly expanded and two new assemblies were created in Nkungtoh and Finteng quarters of Babungo respectively. In this same year the FGM in Cameroon waved farewell to her founding missionary Rev Mr. &Mrs. Knorr

1.6 Methodology

In order to attain the main objective of this study, oral or primary sources have been consulted. With regards to oral sources repeated were paid to identified informants for interviews. The interviews were NOT conducted with the aid of questionnaires. Our informants comprised of former and current Christians and some pastors of the Full Gospel Mission church, some pastors and elders of other denominations like the Cameroon Baptist Convention, Roman Catholic Church and Presbyterian Churches, some traditional personalities and elites of the Babungo community, neighbors of the FGM churches and normal Babungo men and women. As a writing method, the thematic and chronological approaches have been used. Maps have also been used to render the work practical.

1.7 Chapter Organization

This study is divided into four chapters excluding the general introductions and general conclusions. The general introduction apart from serving as an entry point to the study, also highlights the research question. Objectives and methodology and significance of the study.

Chapter one examines the background of the study. It brings together the geographical location of study area, a historical background of the study area, socio cultural and political of the Babungo people, economic activities of the Babungo people.

Chapter two lays bare the advent of Christian missionaries in Babungo the life of the people prior to the coming of Christian missions, the Basel mission CBC, Roman Catholic and concludes with a brief history of the full gospel mission in Cameroon.

Chapter three examines the establishment of the Full Gospel Mission in Babungo, the objectives of the assembly and the administration of the assembly, the guiding principles, the activities and the sources of finance of the church. It further investigates the conflicts between the FGM and the Babungo traditional authorities. It looks at the causes of the conflict, both remote and immediate causes, the manifestation and outcome.

Chapter four critically evaluates the re-establishment of the attention of the development of the FGM church in Babungo. It pays particular attention to the development of the church in the infrastructural religious and numerical domains. It nevertheless focuses on the activities of the church and the relationship between the church and other churches in the Babungo comunity.

Finally, the general conclusion apart from summarizing the entire works brings to light an evaluation of the key findings of the research on the basis of which answers are provided.