Bless Zoshe
Buea, Cameroon.
Close to 400 women essentially from the Christian Women Fellowship, (CWF), and Catholic Women’s Association, (CWA) Likomba, in Tiko Subdivision, converged on Presbyterian Church Likomba, Friday March 1, 2013, to observe the 2013 World Day of Prayer.
The event which is celebrated every first Friday in March, took place under the theme: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me”, based on the Gospel text, Matthew 25.
Eyong Ebai Susan, Coordinator, WDP ecumenical committee, Tiko
Through Bible readings, prayers, songs, and talks, rendered with inspiration from a special manual prepared by the World Day of Prayer Committee in France, the women shared personal experiences as well as the plight of fellow women in countries like Rwanda, Ukraine, and Brazil. The manual also provided an extensive insight on the geography, political organization, history, economy, health, educational, and immigration policies of France.
Another highpoint during the ecumenical service was the interpretation of an illustration by Swiss born Anne-Lisse Jeannot. Explaining the work of art, former World Day of Prayer ecumenical president, Sally Lyonga said the image comprised six shades of colours from black, through grey, to cream white. To her, this progression represents a stranger, who is initially rejected, then, gradually accepted and welcomed within a new community.
Connecting this to her sermon, Mrs. Sally Lyonga enumerated ills such as tribalism, racial discrimination, gender bias, and the discrepancies in socio-economic status, inter religious differences, fear, and poor diplomatic relations, as some of the key vices, which hinder our openness to strangers.
Brother Lambert Bakati, interceding with prayer requests
“All of these make the theme relevant. It makes us conscious of the need to sit up, reflect, and set ourselves right with God, especially during this period of Lent. We as Christians are, and should be identified from the way we welcome and treat strangers. Consequently, we need to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Master who showed us love”. Lyonga added.
Adjoining to this view the representative of the Parish priest of the St. Martin the Porres Parish Likomba, Brother Lambert Bakati said “the significance of such ecumenical services is to let Christians know that we are for Christ, not a particular Church, and Christ is for all of us.
We have not come to be identified as individual Churches, but as followers of the same Master, Jesus Christ”.
Speaking to some of the Christians shortly after the service, the take home message was clear: learn how to welcome one another.
To the president of the Organizing Committee of the 2013 World Day of Prayer in Tiko sub division, Madam Eyong Ebai Susan, the watch word is tolerance. “After this World Day of Prayer, it is essential that we amend our ways, respect one another; pray in times of challenges and temptations, so that we can be the example in our families, and shine the light in our various communities. On the occasion of the celebration of International Women’s Day, my recommendation to women is to be decent and avoid excesses”. Ebai concluded.
CWF and CWA members at World Day of Prayer ecumenical service
