World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer Cycle - Cameroon

The WCC Ecumenical Prayer Cycle includes the Cameroon on August 2nd-8th, 2020.

DIAKONIA World Federation has a member association in Cameroon, Communauté de l’Emmanuel (Emmanuel Community), a protestant monastic community within the "Presbyterian Church in Cameroon" (PCC). It was one of the first Protestant communities of Africa. It was founded in 1971 by Sister Madeleine Mary Handy, Cameroonian and first woman pastor of Cameroon. The Cameroon sisters are closely associated with the Deaconesses Sisterhood of Reuilly (Versailles).

The prioresses (left to right)
Rev. Sr. Madeleine M. Handy, founder and prioress 1971-1999
Rev. Sr. Judith Ngo Nyemb, prioress 1999-2012
Rev .Sr. Shalom Kiven, prioress from 2012    
                                                             

The Charisma of Emmanuel Sisters is prayer, service to the poor and needy (whether the needs are
spiritual or practical), service to the church, and ecumenism. Prayer is central in the life of the Emmanuel Sisters. Isaiah 62: 6-7 guides them to give God no rest as they watch and pray for the whole world. Being a member of this community the sister must develop an intimate fellowship with God through prayer and learn to invoke God in all circumstances through prayer.

Prayers of thanksgiving for:
* the natural resources and diverse gifts, such as the distinctive music and dance of Cameroon
* those who minister to victims of sexual violence, trafficking and other human rights abuses
* Christians and people of other faiths who courageously have pursued reconciliation and peace among those in conflict
* individuals and organizations who have provided for health clinics and schools in Cameroon

Prayers for others:
* just resolutions to the conflicts and violence among diverse groups and their leaders
* refugees who flee to other countries, and for those who host them
* economic developments that make it possible for all to rise out of poverty
* stable democratic governments that effectively serve the common good.

DIAKONIA Executive Committee meeting by Zoom July 2020

The DIAKONIA World Federation (DWF) Executive Committee met online via Zoom this week. Ordinarily, we would have gathered for a face to face meeting, but travel plans had to be cancelled with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We had to arrange a narrow window of time over 4 days for our meeting, as members of the Executive live in many different time zones around the world - from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Nigeria, Scotland, Germany, Winnipeg in Canada, and Wisconsin and Seattle in the U.S.A. So it was very early morning (5.30am) for two members and 10pm at night for many others. Those in North America were in the early afternoon - so much more civilised!
There was a good sense of community built over the 4 days of our 'virtual' meeting.
Thank you for the prayers which sustained the Executive for the fairly concentrated time as we discussed important matters for DIAKONIA.
(Draft) minutes from the meeting will be available in a couple of weeks.