LBTC: Progress for Cameroon’s “Bible House”

Cameroon’s Bible House under construction.

CAMEROON – The Bible House construction project has been the big news in Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada (LBTC) circles for the past few years. And the excitement continues to mount as the building nears completion.

Bill and Freda Klassen spent three months in Cameroon—November 2018 to February 2019—assisting Martin Weber in managing the Bible House project. LBTC expresses many thanks to them for their service to the Lord and the Bible translation ministry. Their heart for mission work shone through during their time in Ngaoundere.

While Rev. Ron Mohr and his wife, Karen, were in Ngaoundere in April, they met Oumarou Hamidou and the men doing the construction work under his watchful eye. They prayed with these men, asking for God’s protection for them as they work. They saw first-hand the commitment to excellence as the workers proudly showed off the Bible House. Oumarou has been able to maintain his rigorous quality standards throughout the project. He is both experienced and honest; and rightfully proud of his work. It is already proving to be a formidable and beautiful structure.

The financial picture of the Bible House project is proving to be a challenge as the cost of materials and labour have gone considerably over contract due to several factors.

Oumarou has never built an all-metal roof. The estimate provided to him for his contract was flawed. Quantities were wrong regarding the structural steel and some of the I-beam sizes needed to be increased due to the octagonal shape of the building.
Since Ngaoundere is a small city, availability of some required material is limited. Some needed to be special ordered which added time and expense. What LBTC hoped would be a nine-month project has become more then double that. With each delay the cost of material increases.

Scenes from April’s Service of Blessing.

While LBTC is doing everything possible to keep labour costs down they are still higher than expected. In addition, it is important to complete the interior of the Bible House to the same quality standard as the exterior. LED lights, quality light fixtures, tile flooring and bathroom fixtures will ensure that the translators will be able to accomplish their work in the best possible conditions. The quality of the fixtures will also help ensure that they will last longer.

The bottom line—an extra $40,000 is needed to complete the Bible House.

On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, about 50 people gathered in front of the Bible House for a service of blessing. The leadership and staff of the Lutheran Church of Cameroon (EELC) attended. Rev. Touka, director of EELC’s Translation Department, served as liturgist. The EELC bishop made some introductory comments. Rev. Mohr served as preacher and he and his wife sang a duet, adding a bit of western music to the African celebration. LBTC and the whole EELC are looking forward to the formal dedication of the Bible House at the end of 2019.

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From LBTC’s Summer 2019 insert in the July-August issue of The Canadian Lutheran.

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