Three Presbyterian Sisters make Final Profession

Br. Singfred Sinior, BSM

Agyati is a sleepy community along the Bamenda - Bafut Palace road that suddenly became a busy tourist attraction on Saturday, January 21, as hundreds of people streamed across to the Sisterhood Emmanuel Monastery of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, to be part of a history-making event.  Three Presbyterian women: Sisters Stephanie, Shalom and Clare publicly renounced marriage and property to serve God the whole of their lives. A palpable atmosphere of joy and expectancy reigned in the crowd that gathered in the church to await the occasion. So, many who could not find a place inside the church hustled for space near loudspeakers connected outside the chapel to follow the ceremony.

The crowd overflowed the monastery chapel to the courtyard and to the neighbouring road, for such an event is very uncommon in the Presbyterian Church. In fact, many of the people I caught up with, including Pastors, said that they were witnessing such a thing for the first time.
At 10a.m, a cross bearer together with the choir, led a procession of sisters and officiating Pastors, wearing black Robes and red Stoles, adorned with white Crosses and Doves into the church. The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the Rt. Rev. Nyasa ko-ni Nku came last, also donning similar garbs with a distinguishing cross around his neck.
Along with the crowd in the chapel was a group of priests and religious from the Roman Catholic Church. There were Sisters Servants of Mary, Franciscan Sisters, Benedictine Nuns, Cistercian Monks, Brothers of St. Martin, Marist Brothers, Little Brothers of Jesus, Brothers of St. John of God, Dominican Nuns and Diocesan Priests from the neighbouring Catholic Institute and Parishes.  There were also Pastors and Evangelists from other denominations.
The only Person in church with a cap on, was His Royal Highness Fon Abumbih II of Bafut, accompanied by one of his wives. The service began with the Salutation by the host pastor, "in the name of God the Father…" followed by the Invitation, the Act of Penitence, the word of Grace and the Act of Praise.
At the Proclamation of the Word, three lessons were read. The first by Sr. Cecilia Wiyen, TSSF, the second in English and Lamnso and the third in English. In his reflection on the word of God, Rev Aki Abraham, Presbyterian Secretary for Bafut -Tubah Presbytery, drew inspiration from Second Corinthians  7.
He expounded the Pauline Philosophy on Marriage and single Life in relation to the Corinth Church and went further to observe that it is not easy to serve God fully in a marriage state. Like Paul, he called on all to choose how we want to serve God and remain faithful in our commitments. He urged the three Sisters to be faithful in the promises they were about to make, for "It is how you live out the vows you take that matters and not what happens here today", he cautioned.
He invited the congregation to pledge unceasing prayers in support of the three sisters because "the life they have chosen is not an easy one." The high points of the Ritual-packed ceremony came when the Master of ceremony announced that it was time for the sisters to respond publicly to the call of God.
The parents of the Sisters presented them to the Community's Superior, Sr. Judith and the Superior General, Mother Evangeline from the Mother House in France. The Candidates stood before the two Superiors and read out their formula for vows in turns. They then proceeded to the altar where they signed the documents of profession together with Mother Evangeline while Sr. Judith remained on her wheel chair - she is physically handicapped.
Each candidate then knelt before the Superiors and received a book of their rule, a ring on a finger and was then clothed in a white Robe and a white Veil. The Moderator and the officiating Ministers came forward, laid hands on the Sisters heads, held an open Bible across their heads and prayed. The Moderator presented each of them a book of Psalms and urged them to use it in praising God. The other rituals followed with respect and solemnity.
At the end of the consecration of the sisters, the Service continued as usual. It ended with a benediction by the Moderator, preceded by recognition of personalities and a word from the chairperson of the Bafut -Tubah Presbytery, Mrs Mofor Cecilia, who expressed joy for having "the praying Machine of the PCC", as she described the Monastery, in her presbytery.
She likened the decision of the sisters with an economic theory which says that "the Price of any good is not the money one pays for it but what one forgoes to acquire the good". Mrs Mofor, a teacher in CCAST Bambili, said that the Sisters have forgone the pleasures of this world "to give their lives in prayer for all of us" which is the best gift to the church.
After the recession, the Pastors took their places at the grand stand for the civic reception as speeches were read and gifts presented to the three sisters. Traditional dances from Bui division, the home division of the Sisters kept the crowd spellbound till dawn.
The Community of the Sisterhood Emmanuel was founded in 1973 in Makak - in the Centre Province by Mother Marie, one of the first female Pastors of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. In 1975 she moved the community to the present site- at Agyati in Bafut. It has 10 finally consecrated Sisters, four in simple vows and a handfull of others in formation. The Sisters are trained in strong collaboration with the sister Institutes of the Catholic Church. They say that one of their charisms is ecumenism.
The Sisterhood Emmanuel is the only Presbyterian Monastery in Cameroon.

Comments

[Ndi O N (twan)]

I want to appreciate the above siters so much for the wonderful life decision so far made. a preacher once said " If good wife, good job, etc cannot lead one to Christ, then they should be dropped immediately. This is a challenge for some of us who are like that seed that fell and grew inside thorns. We therefore need to fully dedicate our lives to him who cares just like the sisters above so as to have life in its fullness. May the Good Lord grant them courage as they carry out their ministry in this unkind world. I believe God will lead them to the end.

[mirabel fambo]

I am very pleased with the way things are happening in cameroon when it concerns GODS work. no matter the hardship that our country is facing people are still ready to give thier life to GOD. i use to be a student at p.s.s bafut and on a few ocassions i have been to the EMMANUEL SISTERHOOD.THANK be TO GOD ITS GROWING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY BLESSED DAY.
I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I READ ABOUT THE VOWS THAT THESE SISTERS TOOK. I PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL TAKE THEM THROUGH IN WHAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DO BY SERVING HIM.AMEN

[E.N.Makia]

In an advent of a world where the devil is using all his powers to charm many people to his camp; where the prophesies about the "end times" have become very evident to us in recent times, it is a very potent duel between the devil and man as we humans strive to tick our names in the register of the Lord's camp.

These sisters, have been able to brave all the waves and storms from all the temptations and fantasies of life to say "Here I am Lord, send me" like Prophet Isiah said thousands of year ago.

Now they need no other weapon but our steadfast prayers to be able to stand firm throughtout this path of life they have vowed to holdfast to.

Also,people one thing here! this sisters are just humans like us hence still vulnerable to temptations. Let's not treat them like outcasts in case they fall prey to temptation along the way but pray for their restoration through helping them bear the burden. No one is perfect except God in Heaven.

I am saying this because this is a natural syndrome in the world nowadays for people to condemn workers of God,when they have weaknesses along the way forgetting to look at their own personal actions. Even some of the prophets had weaknesses but God still wrote on the crooked lines!!!!

Let's learn not to curse but encourage and we shall see how high we can soar with Lord as powerhouse.

[Martina ghakuh Yiyi]

Wow, this picture reminds me of how much i really miss home and these my sweet sisters in Bafut. God Bless you all and hope to see again soon.