The church was begun by people and pastors from Nigeria who were fleeing from the Biafran civil war. Two pastors met with four families and held services in their homes. This was in 1965. An early leader of the church contacted Missionary Kirby Spevacek in Central Africa to ask for help. The appeal was passed on to the synod in Milwaukee in January of 1970. Representatives were sent to review the potential of the field. Missionary E.H. Wendland was sent on a fact-finding mission. He noted in his report, “Quite obviously help for this church is very much needed, particularly in sound worker training and in material to help do the job. The field deserves a closer look.” Further visitations to the field were made in 1972 by Executive Secretary Edgar Hoenecke as well as Professor Wendland and Pastor Theodore Sauer.
There was a crisis in the church when funds were mismanaged and the church was even closed by the government for a time. However, more visits were made in 1975 and a series of seminars were set up. The situation in the church had improved and a cautious approval for financial help followed. Two expatriate missionaries were to be called. The government did not allow this to take place until 1991.
Early seminars were conducted by R.G. Cox and E.H. Wendland as well as Mark Krueger and Paul Wendland. Michael Hintz, Duane Tomhave, and John Kurth also conducted seminars. Pastor Norbert Meier was called as the first expatriate missionary. Pastor Delmer Kannenberg followed him. Pastor Carl Henkel and Salimo Hachibamba helped out with seminary training when Pastor Cox had to return to the states for health reasons. A class of 16 pastors graduated early in 1999. They now provide the main leadership for the church. Pastor Daniel Westendorf served one year here on leave of absence from his congregation in Hartford, Wisconsin. Pastor Keith Haag accepted the call to serve as a missionary for two years beginning in the year 2000. Laura and Aaron Bublitz served under the WELS Kingdom Workers to take care of financial records and assist in other areas of work. Missionary Richard Warneke was the first missionary to be called in a permanent capacity (’03), but he and his wife Sally were only able to serve until September of 2005. Kingdom Workers provided necessary support staff in Ralph Lovely (’03-’04), Loren and Marianne Bloomquist (’04-’05), Ron and Molly Stelljes (’05-’06), and Jim and Ginger Schlote (’05-07). Missionary Dan Myers arrived in the field with his wife Peggy in July of ’07. After creating some much needed systems of workshops and Bible studies working toward a Seminary Program, health matters caused them leave the field in 2011. While they were here, the Myers included vicar positions from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary for Justin Dauck (‘09-’10) and Joel Hoff (’10-’11). Joel returned with his wife Kate for a one-year assignment of teaching after the Myers left (’12-‘13). The Myers continued to administer the Cameroon field from the US until Missionary Dan Kroll arrived with his wife Karen and son Gideon in 2014.
The LCC headquarters is established at Kumba in a subdivision called Barombi Kang. This is the site of the “Lutheran Theological Seminary,” where we have recently begun training 12 men for full-time ministry. There is a chapel, two dormitory units, a classroom unit, and a cafeteria. There are seven congregations in the Kumba area. There is another area, called the Western Bakossi area, with thirteen congregations and two preaching stations located about 50 miles to the northwest. We also have a cluster of congregations about 200 miles to the north in what is called the Northwest District of Meta and Bafut areas. We have 12 congregations there.
Church Body Statistics
Baptized: 650
Communicants: 454
National Pastors: 8
National Evangelists: 12
Missionaries: 1
