Baptist Missionary Society sends English and Jamaican missionaries to Bimbia, Cameroon
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“A living fellowship of local churches, including their Preaching Stations and Prayer Groups, growing in grace, strengthening one another in faith, and reflecting the love of Christ in Cameroon and beyond.”
“CBC exists to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel holistically in Cameroon and beyond in obedience to the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ as led by the Holy Spirit.”
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The Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) was established in 1954 when it gained autonomy from the North American Baptist Conference. Before 1954, Baptist work was already over a century old in Cameroon. The Baptists were the first Christians to proclaim Christ as Savior and Lord on Cameroonian soil.
The history traces back through three main Baptist Mission Organizations: the English Baptists (1840–1885), the German Baptists (1885–1936), and the North American Baptists (1936–1954).
In 1841, the Baptist Missionary Society sent English and Jamaican missionaries, including Joseph Jackson Fuller and Joseph Merrick, to Bimbia, Cameroon. Joseph Merrick arrived in Bimbia in 1843, beginning Baptist missionary work. By 1845, Alfred Saker and his wife arrived in Douala, and in 1849, Saker founded Bethel Baptist Church — the first Baptist church in Cameroon. Saker also purchased land he named Victoria (now Limbe) after the Queen of England. Saker and Merrick planted churches and opened schools.
The work spread rapidly in the grasslands after a dispatch of Evangelists by the Native Baptist Church of Victoria, seeing the planting of the first Baptist Church in Songka-Bum in 1924 by Joseph Mamadou. In 1931, the North American Baptist Conference took over the mission work, expanding church planting, education, and healthcare across the interior.
In 1954, the CBC had over 16,000 members grouped in 218 congregations. By 2023, CBC had grown to 228,507 members in 1,535 congregations (as reported to the Baptist World Alliance) and was recognized in 2019 as one of the fastest-growing Baptist Conventions in the world.
Today, the CBC operates 16 Hospitals, 27 Integrated Health Centres, 54 Primary Health Centres, 332 Nursery and Primary Schools, 29 Secondary and High Schools, and counts over 1,300 trained Pastors. The CBC Health Services alone employs over 4,000 staff including specialists, doctors, nurses, administrators, and social workers.
The Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1947 in Ndu, offers courses at Diploma, Degree, and Master levels and is accredited by the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA).
Baptist Missionary Society sends English and Jamaican missionaries to Bimbia, Cameroon
Joseph Merrick arrives in Bimbia, beginning Baptist missionary work in Cameroon
Alfred Saker and wife arrive in Douala; mission expands along the coast
Alfred Saker and wife arrive in Douala; mission expands along the coast
Alfred Saker and wife arrive in Douala; mission expands along the coast
Alfred Saker founds Bethel Baptist Church — the first Baptist church in Cameroon
Saker purchases land and founds the town of Victoria (now Limbe)
German colonial rule begins; German Baptists take over missionary work
Joseph Mamadou plants the first Baptist Church in the grasslands at Songka-Bum
North American Baptist Conference takes over the mission work in Cameroon
NAB missionaries expand church planting, education, and healthcare across the interior
Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary founded in Ndu
CBC officially established with autonomy from the North American Baptist Conference — 16,000 members in 218 congregations
CBC Women's Department founded, beginning women's ministry across Cameroon
The Baptist Voice Newspaper begins publication — CBC's first media platform
CBC Men's Fellowship created (later transformed into a department in 2014)
CBC Radio Bamenda (FM 97.2) launched, expanding media ministry
Major constitutional restructuring — Communication raised to a full department
CBC Radio Buea (FM 101.9) launched in the South West Region
CBC recognized by the Baptist World Alliance as one of the fastest-growing Baptist Conventions in the world
CBC validates new Constitution via referendum; 228,507 members and 1,535 congregations reported to BWA
Rev. Dr. Teke John Ekema inducted as 15th chief executive and 2nd Executive President
CBC operates a congregational form of church government. The General Session is the highest decision-making body.
The highest decision-making body of CBC, bringing together delegates from all churches, fields, and departments.
The chief executive of CBC, elected by the General Session. Provides overall spiritual and administrative leadership.
Elected officers who preside over General Sessions and provide governance oversight alongside the EP
Comprising Directors of all 10 departments who implement policies and manage day-to-day operations.
33 Fields serve as administrative units, each with churches organized into local Associations.
Each congregation operates under congregational governance with autonomy in local church matters.
CBC operates a congregational form of church government. The General Session is the highest decision-making body.
The highest decision-making body of CBC, bringing together delegates from all churches, fields, and departments.
The chief executive of CBC, elected by the General Session. Provides overall spiritual and administrative leadership.
Elected officers who preside over General Sessions and provide governance oversight alongside the EP
Comprising Directors of all 10 departments who implement policies and manage day-to-day operations.
33 Fields serve as administrative units, each with churches organized into local Associations.
Each congregation operates under congregational governance with autonomy in local church matters.
CBC upholds the Bible as the highest authority in all matters of Faith and Practice.
“Since we have received the Lord Jesus as Saviour and have been baptized, we now before God and His Church agree:”
Oh God, help us by your power to keep these promises, Amen.
CBC operates a congregational form of church government. The General Session is the highest decision-making body.
CBC is a member of the BWA, the global fellowship of Baptist churches with over 51 million members worldwide.
CBC actively participates in the AABF, the continental Baptist body connecting Baptist denominations across Africa.
The NAB has been partnering with CBC since the 1930s and continues to support through cooperating missions.
CBC collaborates with the government in health, education, and community development across all 10 regions.
The Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa.
CBCHS partners with WHO, UNICEF, and other organizations for public health programs including immunization and NCD prevention.
CBC operates a congregational form of church government across these administrative units, covering all 10 regions of Cameroon.
Finance Junction, Nkwen, Bamenda
North West Region, Cameroon
“One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism”
Ephesians 4:5
A living fellowship of local churches growing in grace, strengthening one another in faith, and reflecting the love of Christ in Cameroon and beyond.
© 2026 Cameroon Baptist Convention
