Theological training

Gisèle

“The voice of the Lord,” says Dangbouack Gisèle Hortense, was the reason she chose to study theology and then work as a pastor in the Cameroon union. Gisèle is one of four students at the Theological Seminary in Ndiki, Cameroon. Everything began with her wanting to be a candidate for the elder election in her community. Since she wanted to serve God as thanks for all the good that he had done for her. Even if her candidacy was ultimately not possible due to her young age, God had spoken to her in a very different way. She heard of an acceptance test for the Institute Biblique de Mokong, where the evangelists of the UEBC are trained. Until then, she had thought that official service was not possible for women. Three times, she rejected the suggestion to take the acceptance test.

But then she remembered her personal vow to serve God for all His good deeds. The words of Revelation 3:20 came back to her:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me.”  After this, she took the acceptance test which she passed with flying colours. She was enrolled in the bible school and received her diploma in 2008. After a year in practical congregation service, she decided to continue studying theology at a higher level. As a result, she applied for acceptance to IBFTN, passed the acceptance test and began to study in 2009, at the end of which she will be an official colleague in service.

Notable is that Gisèle, who is 34 years old, started this degree programme as a single mother of two children. Currently, 40 students in the Theological Seminary of the Cameroon Baptist Convention in Ndiki (IBFTN) are being trained for official service. The EBM supports this area of church work with € 35,000. This money is used for equipping the seminary, providing scholarships for the students, material and salaries for the employees. Most of the students obtain a Bachelor degree in theology when graduating.