"Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who help the poor honour Him."
(Proverbs 14:32)

Website © 2007-2008 Boys' Brigade UK
www.boys-brigade.org.uk

The Boys' Brigade movement in Cameroon was founded in 1957 by Mr D McMillan. He was originally from Scotland but in 1957 was the Regional Training and Organising Secretary for Nigeria. Mr McMillan coordinated the first leadership training in Limbe (in the south-west province) and within the first three years, the organisation expanded to many parts of what was then West Cameroon.

The late Rev S B Nformi was the first full time Organising Secretary, after completing four months of training in England during 1963. From 1963 to 1965 the Brigade rose from 413 members to 1,295. With his influence and hard work, Companies sprung up all across the then West Cameroon – now the south-west and north-west provinces of Cameroon.

During the early years the Brigade received subventions from the then Southern Cameroon Government and grants from the World Conference (currently known as the Global Fellowship of Christian Youth) and the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC).

The Brigade saw a decline from about 1967 when Rev Nformi resigned and no one was appointed to take his place. The situation declined further when supporting funds dried up. BB:Cameroon have recognised this as a major learning experience:

In 1975 the Ndu Filed Council of Churches decided to appoint the Rev Joseph Kindefu, who was Pastor of Mbibi Baptist Church, to serve as an Honorary Officer in their Field (equivalent to our Battalion structure). At this time, there were about 300 Boys in the Field. By the middle of 1984 there were just over 800 Boys. Rev Kindefu was later appointed the National Organising Secretary in January 1991 by the CBC Executive Secretary. Funding was once again flowing from the World Conference and government grants.

Rev Kindefu remains the National Organising Secretary and the present strength of The Boys' Brigade in Cameroon now stands about 6,000 (including Boys and Officers) in 313 Companies across 24 Fields (Battalions).

The Brigade movement in Cameroon places a large focus on the child. They believe that their society is becoming more difficult with many more children and youth on the streets who "practice banditry and other forms of wickedness". They strongly believe this is because the young people "do not have Christ in their livers nor have they had any opportunity to learn good habits according to the objectives of the Boys' Brigade".