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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, October 18, 1979
Page 18
for the Church. This prohibits us from access to radio broadcasting,
big public meetings, etc. With recognition from the State it is felt
that we could be quickly on at least five French language stations and
would have access to rental halls more spacious than M. Njamta's
living room....
Sabbath is probably the most exhausting day of the week for me...
We left here a little after 9 a.m. and didn't arrive back until
a bit before 3 p.rn. Lots of questions, decisions, explanations, etc.
I'm sure you're familiar with it.
Evidently the Jehovah's 1qitnesses have made a big deal out of the fact
that they don't vote, sing national anthems or salute flags. Several
African nations have banned them, including Cameroon. Because of the
JW's outspokenness, the government is wary of all new "sects'' ....
A dossier is starting to be formed in Victoria (English-speaking city)
because Church members know the government officials involved and hope
that when a dossier is presented a favorable response will be obtained.
If favorable recommendations come from all levels of the local govern
ment in Victoria, then it would be difficult for the national govern
ment to refuse authorization. Our dossier in Yaounde has suffered
because the three levels of local bureaucracy through which it had
to pass are all occupied by Catholics who did not give us a favorable
recommendation.
I have met some officials in the Education and Information Ministries,
but no one yet in Territorial Administration which must approve the
application.
It's pretty clear to me that if God wants the door to open here in
Cameroon, He's going to have to do the work. I'm going to continue to
try to makec:ontacts and proceed cautiously, but humanly it looks like
a difficult proposition.
--Compiled by Rod Matthews, International Office