Michael Ngassa, Ghanian businessman. (Photo courtesy Global Advance)
Cameroon (GAM/MNN) ― Until 1985, Cameroon was one of the most prosperous countries in Africa.
Since then, Cameroon's economic development has been hampered by mismanagement, corruption, and a challenging business environment for investors. As a result, it remains one of the lowest-ranked economies on the World Bank's annual Doing Business and regularly ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world.
The situation is unlikely to improve without change to the mindset. Since 2006, Global Advance has been partnering with the Kingdom Business Network of Cameroon Africa. This group is made up of small to mid-size entrepreneurs who desire to see Jesus Christ lifted high in their nation through the marketplace.
Global Advance provided teams of American business leaders to bring teaching and coaching in the areas of finance and accounting, marketing, management, and Biblical worldview for business.
One of the members is working with numerous leaders of churches throughout West Africa to teach them how to set up their own credit unions and business training to help people get out of poverty.
Michael Ngassa, who owns a coco farming operation, learned how to keep accurate accounting records from the Global Advance Business Institute (GABI). He discovered that many were stealing large amounts of money from him every year. Now his business is profitable.
Michael told us, "We could not have gone to this level without the training! People are being discipled through the business." Michael regularly evangelizes and disciples farmers and even helps pay for their children to receive schooling.
Evelyn was always a capable manager for an oil company. She told us: "The GABI training gave me the courage to start my own business." Last year, she began a poultry business for free-range chickens. It is already profitable, and she's teaching her daughter how to run it. Her daughter already has a vision for expanding the business and using it to bless others.
What's encouraging is that this group takes the Great Commission seriously. They are not only going to other towns throughout West Africa teaching basic business principles, but they're also sharing the Gospel.
Marketplace Missions conferences emphasize both the spiritual and practical aspects of doing business God's way. The goal of the training is to encourage networking in the business community and generate new capital, greater integrity, and spiritual and economic renewal.
