Esimbi Dictionary Worker-Cameroon

The mission

The mission of this role is to empower the Esimbi people to read and understand the Scriptures in their own language, fostering spiritual growth and gospel engagement. By developing the Esimbi dictionary, the worker will equip the Esimbi community to build relationships, share the gospel, and participate actively in their own churches.

Ministry Setting

• The Esimbi traditionally have an animistic religion, though many have become believers in Jesus. Their homeland is in the Northwest region, where they live in small villages, but the area is currently not safe for foreigners. Many Esimbi have moved to other parts of the country, especially in southern Cameroon.
• Ministry will be based in the capital city of Yaoundé, where there are many Esimbi people and a strong missionary community. The Esimbi New Testament was dedicated in 2024. Four literacy books have already been developed.
• Ministry among the Esimbi is challenging and requires cooperation and a resilient and persevering spirit.

Requirements

• Mother-tongue fluency in English is required.
• A basic understanding of French is helpful for living in Cameroon.
• Patience and perseverance are essential, as work in a previously unwritten language requires time and dedication.

The Ideal Candidate

• Has completed linguistic courses in phonetics, phonology, and grammar
• Strong computer skills

Responsibilities

• Input lexical data into the computer, gather more data, and standardize the format of the data
• Work with Esimbi speakers to clarify language data
• Prepare the Esimbi dictionary for publication in print and phone app formats
• Participate in the ministry of World Team’s Esimbi team
• Build relationships and share the gospel, discipling believers as they work among them