The World Day of Prayer March 5 will this year focus on issues effecting women and children and communities in a globalized world as seen through the prism of the women of Cameroon.
Due to its cultural and geographical diversity, Cameroon is often referred to as "Africa in miniature." There are approximately 240 local languages corresponding to 240 ethnic groups Cameroon is located in the centre of Africa above the equator at the extreme end of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, in addition to Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea.
A local worship and celebration service, co-ordinated by Maj. Jacqueline Crites, will be held at the Salvation Army at 305 Thompson Dr. at 7 p.m. March 5.
The World Day of Prayer began in the 19th century when Christian women of Canada and the United States started to be involved in missions at home and in other parts of the world. Since 1812, women have encouraged one another to engage in personal prayer and take leadership in communal prayer within their mission auxiliaries and associations. Presbyterian women in the United States then called for a national day of prayer in 1887, and Anglican women in Canada established a national day of corporate intercessions for mission in 1895.
On Oct. 9, 1918, Presbyterian women in Canada called together representatives of five women's missionary boards - Anglican, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian - "to promote the spreading of Christ's kingdom through united prayer and action." That first inter-church meeting gave birth to the interim committee on the Federation of the Women's Missionary Society Boards of Canada, which organized a national and inter denominational day of prayer on Jan. 9, 1920.
In 1922, the Canadian committee agreed to use the same theme and day for the Day of Prayer as U.S. women. This annual event became the Women's World Day of Prayer in 1927. The Canadian committee changed its name to become the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada and now includes representatives from 11 churches. The council continues to co-ordinate the World Day of Prayer in Canada and to speak to issues that concern women of faith across the country.
This year's focus will be on Cameroon where the women have written, "Let everything that has breath praise God." * The women of Cameroon face substantial domestic violence and sexual abuse, in addition to being subject to practices like genital mutilation.
Human trafficking, a form of modern day slavery that consists of servitude and sexual exploitation of women and children is common. There is a growing rate of HIV infection among young women and girls.
"Market women," typically referred to as "buyam sellams" (from the verbs to buy and to sell), play a fundamental role in the Cameroonian economy helping to sustain their communities with their sales. Many are organized such as the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Cameroon.
