The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, has urged Anglicans in Cameroon to stand firm in their faith, saying that 'God sees your struggles and is with you'. 

Archbishop Sarah, who is the first Archbishop of Canterbury to visit Cameroon, preached at a Eucharist service at Bishopcourt in Douala on the morning of August 2. 

The Archbishop’s visit to Cameroon is the second part of her pastoral visit to Anglican Churches in Ghana and Cameroon at the invitation of the Primate of the Church of the Province of West Africa, the Most Revd Dr Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith. The 10-day visit, which concludes in Yaoundé on August 4, began in Ghana on July 26. 

Preaching to a congregation of parishioners, bishops and clergy from across the Anglican Diocese of Cameroon, government officials and traditional leaders, the Archbishop said: 'It is a joy to be with you here today at the heart of my pastoral visit to the Diocese of Cameroon.'

In a three-hour service filled with emotion, music, joyful dancing and prayer, the Archbishop urged Anglicans to, 'Find your hope in the one who sees you and knows you. For our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth!' 

Eucharist service at Bishopcourt, Douala, Cameroon.
Photo: Kini Wolfgang/Lambeth Palace

Archbishop Sarah's sermon offered words of encouragement in a country affected by conflict, division and displacement, saying that she had come 'as a pastor and shepherd' and 'to assure you that you are not forgotten.'

'I give thanks to God for your faithfulness, and for your persistence in proclaiming the hope of Jesus Christ amid the suffering of your people,' she said.

Preaching on the story of Jacob wrestling with the Angel of God (Genesis 32:22-31), the Archbishop said: 'Brothers and sisters, in our scriptures we see the struggle of God’s people. We see the struggle against the powers of sin and oppression; the struggle in times of war and displacement, wilderness and exile; we even see the struggle of God’s people against God himself.'

The Archbishop added: 'God sees your struggle. When it feels like the eyes of the world are turned away, God looks upon you. When it feels like you are fighting a battle in complex circumstances and unclear gains or losses, God is with you. God wrestles and struggles with you in the darkness, until the blessing comes.'

Reflecting on the Gospel reading (Matthew 14:13-21), the Archbishop said: 'Jesus experiences the brutality of suffering and oppression, not only in his own death on the cross, but also in the killing of his cousin, John. We cannot underestimate how closely Jesus understands the pain and suffering of those experiencing similar oppression in our world, the fear and anxiety that rule daily life. Jesus sees his people and understands their pain.'

Concluding her sermon, the Archbishop said she prayed that Christ 'who is the bringer of peace, will mend what is torn apart.'

She added: 'I pray that Christ, the healer, will bind up your wounds and revive you. I pray that Christ, the one who sees and knows the heart of every person, will be your hope, your comfort, and your assurance. I pray that amid division, displacement and oppression, Jesus the Prince of Peace will bring hope.' 

The Archbishop of Canterbury at Eucharist service at Bishopcourt, Douala, Cameroon.
Photo: Kini Wolfgang/Lambeth Palace

On Saturday, August 1, the Archbishop visited the South West city of Buea, where she paid a courtesy call on the Governor of the South West Region and visited the Biaka Foundation, a healthcare institution founded on Christian principles that serves communities across Cameroon.

The Archbishop had also been due to visit South West clergy and parishioners at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Limbe but was prevented by heavy rains and flooding on the roads. Instead, she met with some of the clergy from across the Diocese of Cameroon after the service in Douala, then visited St Michael’s and All Angels’ Anglican Cathedral and Emmanuel Parish in Douala to meet and pray with local Anglicans. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury delivers sermon at Bishopcourt, Douala, Cameroon.
Photo: Kini Wolfgang/Lambeth Palace  

See Archbishop Sarah's full sermon from Bishopcourt, Douala. 

Read a recent news article about Archbishop Sarah's pastoral visit to the Church of the Province of West Africa.