Missionary statesman E. Stanley Jones once wrote: “An individual gospel without a social gospel is a soul without a body, and a social gospel without an individual gospel is a body without a soul. One is a ghost, the other is a corpse.”
I am convinced that if our message is going to make a decisive impact in Africa and amongst its people, we’d have to preach it not only in words, but to demonstrate it in social action and concerns and in a compassion kindled at the flame of the charity of Jesus. This has been BFL’s distinctiveness - our willingness and ability to combine evangelism with social action.
Almost two decades ago we launched what we dubbed “Agricultural Evangelism”. We were motivated by both the Great Commission and what we saw and experienced. Through this unique ministry thousands of farmers have been taught, given needed tools, and exposed to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The result has been spiritual and community transformation. Communities that were almost impossible to reach with the good news have opened up to us as a result of this unique approach. We have also seen the standard of living of many elevated. It only goes to show – people don’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care!
From its inception, our agricultural ministry has had a four pronged objective:
1. SPIRITUAL: To have a spiritual impact in the communities we serve through personal relationships and evangelistic activities.
2. NUTRITIONAL: To ameliorate food supply to the population, increase food variety and ensure a balance diet.
3. SOCIO-CULTURAL: To revitalize agricultural activities in rural communities, create jobs, prevent rural exodus and bring modern agricultural techniques to rural farmers through teaching as well as demonstration farms.
4. ECONOMIC: To help generate funds to meet ministry objectives.
For me, finding sustainable solutions to our continent’s woes has been a personal quest. I have had a strong sense that God has called us to come alongside and help the many hardworking folks living on $2 or less a day and who continue to suffer the consequences of our economic failures. Again, the uniqueness of our approach is our ability to address both physical and spiritual hunger – body, soul and spirit!
Almost three years ago, we were led to buy over 250 acres of land among the marginalized Baka Pygmy community outside Dimako in the Eastern Region of Cameroon. I am thankful for a very supportive board, and especially Dr. Roxanne Cheek who has given her LIFE (Labor, Influence, Finances & Expertise) to make this vision a reality. I am also grateful to my team of indigenous staff and to you our faithful supporters for the progresses made so far. Thank you for your part in this vision, I pray that we will continue to do it for the glory of the ONE who came so we may “have life, and have it to the full” –John 10:10.
-Ernest Ehabe
I am convinced that if our message is going to make a decisive impact in Africa and amongst its people, we’d have to preach it not only in words, but to demonstrate it in social action and concerns and in a compassion kindled at the flame of the charity of Jesus. This has been BFL’s distinctiveness - our willingness and ability to combine evangelism with social action.
Almost two decades ago we launched what we dubbed “Agricultural Evangelism”. We were motivated by both the Great Commission and what we saw and experienced. Through this unique ministry thousands of farmers have been taught, given needed tools, and exposed to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The result has been spiritual and community transformation. Communities that were almost impossible to reach with the good news have opened up to us as a result of this unique approach. We have also seen the standard of living of many elevated. It only goes to show – people don’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care!
From its inception, our agricultural ministry has had a four pronged objective:
1. SPIRITUAL: To have a spiritual impact in the communities we serve through personal relationships and evangelistic activities.
2. NUTRITIONAL: To ameliorate food supply to the population, increase food variety and ensure a balance diet.
3. SOCIO-CULTURAL: To revitalize agricultural activities in rural communities, create jobs, prevent rural exodus and bring modern agricultural techniques to rural farmers through teaching as well as demonstration farms.
4. ECONOMIC: To help generate funds to meet ministry objectives.
For me, finding sustainable solutions to our continent’s woes has been a personal quest. I have had a strong sense that God has called us to come alongside and help the many hardworking folks living on $2 or less a day and who continue to suffer the consequences of our economic failures. Again, the uniqueness of our approach is our ability to address both physical and spiritual hunger – body, soul and spirit!
Almost three years ago, we were led to buy over 250 acres of land among the marginalized Baka Pygmy community outside Dimako in the Eastern Region of Cameroon. I am thankful for a very supportive board, and especially Dr. Roxanne Cheek who has given her LIFE (Labor, Influence, Finances & Expertise) to make this vision a reality. I am also grateful to my team of indigenous staff and to you our faithful supporters for the progresses made so far. Thank you for your part in this vision, I pray that we will continue to do it for the glory of the ONE who came so we may “have life, and have it to the full” –John 10:10.
-Ernest Ehabe