College Student Evangelists

—Prayer makes a difference

by Dr. Sydney C. Gibbons

In late January 2004, teams of college students and their mentors from Saleve Adventist University in France, traveled to Cameroon, a country to the north of Nigeria, on the vast African continent. They were the first wave of college students who, with training plus material and financial support from The Quiet Hour and Global Evangelism donors, are sowing the gospel and reaping miracles of changed lives.

Prayer makes a difference—280 baptisms!
Prayer was the significant activity that contributed to the soul winning success in Douala, Cameroon, during the evangelism meetings held there January 23 - February 7, 2004.

Meetings were conducted at three sites in Douala. Pastor Rodolfo Segorbe, executive secretary of the Central African Union Mission, conducted the meeting held in PK11, Douala. I (Dr. Sydney C. Gibbons) conducted the meetings held at Bali, Douala. High school student Mystere Gibbons conducted the meetings held at Ndobo, Douala. The three Douala meetings, along with those conducted in Buea and Limbe, comprised five of the meetings held in West Cameroon. These city-based meetings led 40 souls to commit their lives to Jesus through baptism. A total of 280 persons were baptized at the end of the 12 simultaneous meetings held in Cameroon. Prayer was a highlight of the meetings conducted.

The coordinators of each of the three meetings held in Douala met twice per week for general coordination and nightly in their respective groups. All three groups agreed to engage their team members in prayer and fasting. Organization of prayer bands, designating times for special prayer, and setting apart days to pray and fast were part of the prayer strategies adopted. All-night prayer services were also held in connection with the meetings.

At the Bali site, a band of prayer warriors assembled at the start of each nightly service and prayed throughout the service. Before the speaker and his translator joined the audience, they entered the circle of prayer and were prayed for. Following the sermon and appeal they returned to the circle for more prayer. The “Vision for Victory” series brought victory for many lives.

Also at the Bali site, a special prayer meeting was held from 5:30 to 6:00 nightly. Pre-announced subjects of prayer were shared at the nightly meetings to encourage guests and members to participate in and benefit from the pre-meeting prayer service. Prayer subjects, one theme per night, included physical healing, happiness, peace of mind, building of family, securing of employment, victory over sinful habits/developing positive habits, deliverance from demon possession, and overcoming obstacles to following Jesus. Actual prayer was preceded by sharing Bible passages related to the respective prayer subject for the night.

Church members and guests attended and participated in the prayer sessions. As the meetings progressed, testimonies by both members and guests affirmed the benefits of answered prayer. Homes that had been in an atmosphere of constant tension became peaceful. Unhappy lives became happy. Two families shared stories of God’s victory over demon possession. One unmarried couple attending the series was convicted of their sin of living together. The Bible preaching, in addition to the focus on prayer, contributed to victory in Jesus, and the couple was married on Friday, February 6 and baptized on February 7.

[To read the couple’s Christian testimony, please visit www.thequiethour.org/evan/college/cameroon2.php.--Married twice and twice happy.]

The greatest victory experienced, as a result of prayer during the series, was deliverance from sin. Many were baptized and became members of the family of God. Prayer made a difference in the lives of people who attended the Cameroon series. May God be praised for the great things He did for His children in Cameroon!

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Dr. Sydney C. Gibbons is executive secretary and family ministries director, Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Devonshire, Bermuda.

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For sociological and geographical information on Cameroon, visit: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/cm.html

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The nineteen persons who were baptized at Bali are: Christophe Adingogne; Josiane Adjanama; Issa Baba; Marlyne Djomana; Jean Pierre Kamdem; Ilou Koue; Alain Blaise Manyo; Amba Dominique Ngo’o; Antoinette Ngo’o; Badowaye Pierre Ngoya; Aurelie Nlend; Brigitte Nlend; Louis Aser Nlend; Frieda Penda; Chrispo Tanga; Melanie Tindi; Roger Yandjeu; Gislaine Yanga; Hortense Yanze.

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