Thoughts from David Anderson

Jesus explained his mission to those at the synagogue at Nazareth by quoting from Isaiah:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). Then he proclaimed “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Thus began the ministry of restoration and reconciliation that continues through Jesus’ present-day disciples until His return.

It was our privilege to participate in that ministry through the Cameroon Harvest Project. What a pleasure to see the expressions of joy on the faces of those who received the gift of mobility as the wheelchairs were fitted to their needs, and to see the barriers of fear and isolation collapse as they also received the love and care and acceptance from the team of therapists, mechanics, and support persons. How heartwarming it was to witness the team take time to pray with each recipient before they went to meet with the nationals who shared the gospel with each one. And how encouraging it was to the team and the wheelchair recipients and their family members to hear Mary and some of the Cameroonian workers softly singing Christian songs as the work progressed in Bamenda!

While most of the team worked long hours to adapt the wheelchairs to their recipients, it was my task to meet with church and community leaders to teach about disability ministry. Over 300 pastors, church leaders, parachurch ministry workers, and family members attended the various seminars in Yaounde, Bamenda, and Santa. We explored such topics as God’s view of persons with disabilities and ways in which the Church in Cameroon can demonstrate the love of Jesus by reaching out to the estimated 1.7 million persons in Cameroon who are disabled and welcoming them into the fellowship of the faith community.

Following the close of each seminar, several persons expressed a desire to begin a disability outreach ministry through their churches. One mother of a 12 year old girl with cognitive disability rejoiced that “her prayers were being answered” as she believed that her church in Yaounde would see her and her daughter differently as a result of their new awareness of God’s love for all people, disabled and temporarily able-bodied. We will continue to pray that the seeds sown in the hearts and minds of those who attended the seminars will take root and grow as God‘s Spirit continues, through His people, to bring good news, freedom, recovery, and release to those who have been neglected, oppressed, and marginalized by their society.