Baka Literacy-Cameroon

The purpose

The purpose of this role is to empower the Baka people to read and understand the Scriptures in their own language. By teaching literacy skills and developing local literacy teachers, the literacy worker will equip the Baka community to read the Scriptures as well as basic materials related to health, addiction recovery, trauma healing, and community development projects.

Ministry Setting

The Baka are traditionally animistic, forest-dwelling hunter-gatherers scattered across a wide area of eastern Cameroon, living in small camps and villages. Years of ministry—including oral Bible storytelling and discipleship—have resulted in a fledgling church. Bible translation efforts are underway, and a training center has been established where Baka people are gaining agricultural and business skills.

Initial literacy work has focused on adults and older youth in one region of the Baka area, but there is a significant need to expand literacy outreach more broadly. Language learning and initial ministry will be based in a village setting near other Baka team members; however, the literacy worker may later relocate to a larger town as a ministry base. Life among the Baka is challenging and requires resilience, flexibility, and a persevering spirit.

Requirements

• An Associate Degree (2 years) or more in Biblical studies or equivalent experience
• Completed linguistics courses in phonetics, phonology and literacy
• Experience in teaching or training
• Experience in strategic planning and the ability to coordinate people to carry out programs

Qualifications

• A vibrant spiritual life, characterized by consistent practice of the spiritual disciplines
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• The ability to teach and do strategic planning
• Experience in sharing their faith and discipling others
• A basic understanding of French
• Patience and perseverance

Skills

• Patience and perseverance
• Teaching and strategic planning

Benefits

The ideal candidate will have:

• Conversational proficiency in the Baka language
• Faithful literacy teaching that leads to Baka people learning to read their language, the Baka New Testament, and materials developed for life skills
• Use of strategic Baka Bible verses in the literacy program, giving opportunity for the Baka to hear the gospel
• Discipleship of literacy teachers

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A