Global Companion Synod

2023 Sudan Mission Centennial Celebration

Check out this recent video to learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon.

OVERVIEW

Since 2003, the MNO Synod has been in a Companion Covenant with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon – Église évangélique luthérienne du Cameroun (EELC)

A Companion Covenant is an agreement between two international church bodies to encourage one another in our faithful response to God’s call to be disciples and make disciples in the name of Jesus Christ. Learn more about the ELCIC’s commitment and approach to Global Mission.

In this relationship, we have several hopes:

to learn about life as people of faith in another part of the world by hearing the story of another.
to become aware of our own abilities and resources, as well as our own needs, by offering our story to another.
to share each other’s life, dreams and ministry challenges as a way of helping to discern our mission in local and global contexts.
to support each other in faithful ministry through prayer, communication, and exchange of resources and persons.

At different times this partnership has included funding for ministry projects, travel between countries, and dialogue through theological and practical issues. You can read more about these specific ministries on the ‘Ministries’ tab.

Here is a brochure to use/share in your congregation to lift up Global Ministry

HISTORY

MNO Synod has a long-standing relationship with l’Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne du Cameroun (EELC) – the national Lutheran church in Cameroon. The formal relationship known as the Global Mission Partnership (formerly the Companion Synod Program) has been in place since 2003, when MNO Synod Bishop Richard Smith and EELC President Thomas Niewye met while at the Lutheran World Federation Assembly in Winnipeg. This partnership emerged as a natural follow-up to the Good News Partner Ministry run by the ELCIC (2000 to 2003) in which Rev. Etienne and Jeanne Fomgbami and family resided in Canada and provided training for evangelism and outreach.

This mission partnership is an accompaniment style relationship in which the focus is not only on the sharing and providing of resources, but also on creating and strengthening relationships between the EELC and the MNO Synod.

With this in mind, a number of significant trips to Cameroon, beginning in 2007, have been undertaken by the Synod bishops, Synod staff, and a number of Synod clergy and laypeople. These journeys have involved meeting with the EELC leadership, visiting the church schools, hospitals and women’s centres, attending conferences and gatherings, worshipping and sometimes preaching at various congregations, leading workshops and training sessions, and even assisting in the purchase of church roofs and motorcycles for the clergy. In return, we were also privilege to host EELC Bishop Ngozo in 2014, and have him address our Synod convention. The essential aspect of this has been to build relationships, support one another, share resources, enjoy hospitality and engage conversations in order to build up the relationship between us.

In addition to MNO Synod, the EELC is also Global Mission Partners with the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Souix Falls, MN; has an active partnership with Global Health Ministries in Minneapolis, MN; is supported by the Cameroon Healthcare Development Program in Duluth, MN; ministry partners with Incarnation Lutheran Church in Poway, California; and have ELCA missionaries, Anne and Willie Langjdi, living in country who serve as West Africa Regional Representatives for the ELCA.

MINISTRIES

Over the years of our Companion Covenant with the EELC, we have been supporters of various ministries. Some have been single events, while others have been ongoing programs. Here are some ways in which our churches have partnered:

Kids in Cameroon

We support “Kids in Cameroon” (formerly known as “Kids Helping Kids”)– a program to help orphaned and underprivileged children receive an education, and some basic food. This ministry predates our partnership with the EELC, and was initially established through the work of Rev. Jack and Val Fredrick and Madame Fanta Gaknone – the Social worker who still coordinates and administers the program in Cameroon. The goal is $20,000 for scholarships; programing (food supplement, school supplement, emergency health care); and also temporary housing for post-secondary education.

Support for Women in Ministry

We encourage women in ministry in the Lutheran church. The first ordination of the EELC’s Women clergy took place in 2012, with Bishop Elaine and Pastor Carol Janke privileged to attend and take part. Now we are engaged in continuing to offer support and guidance to these women, in part by providing funding for retreats and workshops geared to address their challenges and needs. Here, the goal is $10,000 in order to provide support and funding for an annual ministry and study retreat for ordained women in the EELC.

Deployed Missionaries

Pastor Jack and Val Frederick, Pinawa (2004, 2007, 2008) and Carol Krentz, Steinbach (2005) have worked with the EELC in Cameroon as Volunteers in Mission.

Partner Visits

Small groups from MNO have been hosted by the church in Cameroon. Pastors from Cameroon have been hosted in MNO. Partner visits are rich times of relationship building, learning, cultural awareness and fellowship.