Cameroon (MNN) — The Fulani people of Cameroon are nomadic people. These predominately Muslim people follow their cattle as they forage from mountain side to mountain side. And it is this nomadic life-style that has made it difficult to reach them with the Gospel.
Last month, a pastor and his son from the United States teamed up with nationals to take the Gospel to the Fulani in the form of the JESUS Film. Pastor Steve Krogh and his college-age son, Derek, from Grace Community Church in Hudsonville, Michigan, hiked miles into the bush to reach three villages.
Pastor Krogh says, "They dropped us off in the middle of nowhere and said, 'You're headed that way,' and off we walked. We went to three villages; two of them had names. The middle village, as far as we know, doesn't even have a name."
The 11-member team carried a generator, projector and the JESUS Film.
The first village they visited had seen the JESUS Film last year. So they had heard the Gospel. But according to Derek, the second village was different. "Without a doubt they had never heard [the Gospel] before. They were pretty much in awe of seeing the video for the first time. They were very contemplative about what they were seeing. I got the impression there would be an elder men huddle and make a decision."
The decision would be binding for the entire village.
The third village seemed to be more emotional about seeing the story of Jesus for the first time. Pastor Steve says, "You could almost feel the energy at certain parts as Jesus would do a miracle of healing, or multiply some food, or raise a girl from the dead. I mean, people were just electrified by watching it."
Pastor Steve thinks he knows why people in the third world respond so passionately to the film. He says people from the third world can relate. "It's their culture. It's people sleeping on the ground on dirt floors and very down to earth, so they can identify with Jesus as He's walking around. As Americans, we watch the film and go 'That's interesting. That's how they lived way back then.' These people watch the movie, and they go, 'That's us.'"
According to Derek, being an American was helpful. "I was just shocked to see how many people automatically came running the very second we got there. I quickly figured out we were pretty much the main event for that night."
Derek says he plans to return to go even further into the bush to take the Gospel to those who have never heard.
