Sunday, March 7, 2010
PTSD in Rescued Children
Leaders in Cameroon asked African Counseling Center staff to provide counseling for children recovering from child sex and slave trafficking. Also requested is a protocol for such therapy. Geography makes Cameroon "ideal" for traffickers to move children throughout West Africa and the interior. Post traumatic stress disorder is common in children torn from families and subjected to abuse. Pray for the children, and for Samuel Lindjeck and Dr. Jean-Emile Ngué, whose own emotions are deeply affected by the children's suffering and courage to recover.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Methodist leader visits ACC to plan building
Reverend Patrick Friday, Director of Global Ministries in Mission for the United Methodist Church USA, visited the African Counseling Center office in Yaoundé on 22 February 2010. He discussed plans for the construction of the ACC head office building to be built this year with a gift of $100,000 from the Trinity United Methodist Church of Richmond Virginia.
Accompanied by Reverend Nkemba Ndjungu, UMC Mission Superintendent in Cameroon and the Women's Project Officer, Reverend Friday met with Samuel Lindjeck, ACC Clinical and Program Director, Marie Meyong, ACC General Treasurer, and the staff.
These resolutions were adopted:
- The building project will be scheduled for one year.
- Reverend Nkemba Ndjungu, UMC Mission Superintendent in Cameroon, will be a local supervisor of the project.
- The money will be disbursed in five increments of $20,000. 100% of Trinity's gift will go to the Center.
- Financial accountability policies were established, copies provided to Dr. John Peters, Senior Pastor of Trinity UMC.
- The first step is purchase of land.
- The Board, Staff, and the Civil Engineer will take the next steps and reevaluate the cost of the project (as previously done in 2007).
All the ACC Board and Staff are grateful to our Companions in Hope, Trinity UMC Richmond, and the General Board of Global Ministries Advance office.
Ongoing activities of the ACC include:
- Counseling sessions with street children, HIV affected and infected people, individuals and families.
- Advocacy for people living with HIV and tuberculosis
- Psychological evaluation of young candidate to the priesthood or to pastoral ministry.
- Educational talks with youth in churches and at ACC office.
Networking with Cameroon Bible Society women, the ACC staff will present a second training session on counseling and care March 10-14, 2010, two women who offer care giving to violated and single young mothers in Yaoundé.
We regularly provide direct support to orphans: school supplies and fees, clothing, medical support and advocacy.
John Hamilton thanks Samuel Lindjeck, ACC Clinical and Program Director, who submitted this report while taking semester final exams at the Protestant Faculty of Theology!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Permanent Home for ACC
Due to the generosity of the members of Trinity United Methodist Church, Richmond, VA USA, and the ongoing commitment of Companions in Hope in Cameroon and the US, a permanent building for the African Counseling Center is projected to be completed within the coming year. A gift of $100,000 administered by the Advance mission program of the UMC will provide needed funds. More soon! Thanks be to God!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
"Thank you, ACC," says man living with AIDS
Thanksgiving is an American holiday, which people in Cameroon do not celebrate. Yet the Reverend Dr. Jean-Emile Ngué shared a story of thanks giving that touched him deeply.
(Names of living persons are not used.)
A young man named Awanna from the town of Basia died recently. Dr. Ngué recently met his mother and brother. They said that, as his family gathered about him, Awanna wrote Dr. Ngué's name and address on a piece of paper and asked them to visit and inform Dr. Ngué of his death, and thank him for his ministry.
Awanna had consulted Dr. Ngué earlier this year. Age 28, a vibrant Christian with a winning smile, he worked in a local hospital with people who were HIV+ or living with AIDS. What most did not know is that Awanna himself was living with the disease that affects a large number of adults in Cameroon.
He leaves behind two small children, one of them already HIV+. The African Counseling Center will assist them.
December 1 is HIV / AIDS Awareness Day in Cameroon. Officials recently interviewed Dr. Ngué about the Protestant view of AIDS and of sexuality in specific. Traditional African culture has a positive view of sex within the family. Protestants look on it as one of God's good gifts.
The ACC will provide learning experiences for 30 youngsters, teaching them abstinence as youth and fidelity within marriage. They also counsel couples to reduce the number of children. Large families are typical, especially in rural areas.
In addition, the ACC will reach out to other persons affected by AIDS, helping them make healthy choices and understand biblical principles about the joy of sex within marriage.
Staff members involved will be Dr. Ngué, Mr. Samuel Lindjeck, and Mme. Françoise Eyoa.
Mme. Eyoa has completed a Masters degree at the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Yaoundé, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree as well. (Mme. Eyoa is pictured in staff photo in the sidebar; she is seated, wearing red.)
(Names of living persons are not used.)
A young man named Awanna from the town of Basia died recently. Dr. Ngué recently met his mother and brother. They said that, as his family gathered about him, Awanna wrote Dr. Ngué's name and address on a piece of paper and asked them to visit and inform Dr. Ngué of his death, and thank him for his ministry.
Awanna had consulted Dr. Ngué earlier this year. Age 28, a vibrant Christian with a winning smile, he worked in a local hospital with people who were HIV+ or living with AIDS. What most did not know is that Awanna himself was living with the disease that affects a large number of adults in Cameroon.
He leaves behind two small children, one of them already HIV+. The African Counseling Center will assist them.
December 1 is HIV / AIDS Awareness Day in Cameroon. Officials recently interviewed Dr. Ngué about the Protestant view of AIDS and of sexuality in specific. Traditional African culture has a positive view of sex within the family. Protestants look on it as one of God's good gifts.
The ACC will provide learning experiences for 30 youngsters, teaching them abstinence as youth and fidelity within marriage. They also counsel couples to reduce the number of children. Large families are typical, especially in rural areas.
In addition, the ACC will reach out to other persons affected by AIDS, helping them make healthy choices and understand biblical principles about the joy of sex within marriage.
Staff members involved will be Dr. Ngué, Mr. Samuel Lindjeck, and Mme. Françoise Eyoa.
Mme. Eyoa has completed a Masters degree at the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Yaoundé, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree as well. (Mme. Eyoa is pictured in staff photo in the sidebar; she is seated, wearing red.)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Call to Prayer
The hour of 12 noon to 1 p.m. (Eastern Daylight time) is a special time, when prayer is offered for the African Counseling Center and staff. (Cameroon time is six hours ahead of daylight savings time.)
Why not join those who are praying for the Center, for its Staff, for its Clients, for Cameroon, for Africa! For all missions! For Trinity!
Set aside a few minutes during this hour to pray. Perhaps, if you're not deep into prayer a tithe of the hour, six minutes, would be a significant effort. However you pray, however long, even just a moment, God will make a difference through you.
"Only those who create silence within themselves will hear ... the silence of [God's] hope, of generosity, and of love." Dom Helder Camara
Why not join those who are praying for the Center, for its Staff, for its Clients, for Cameroon, for Africa! For all missions! For Trinity!
Set aside a few minutes during this hour to pray. Perhaps, if you're not deep into prayer a tithe of the hour, six minutes, would be a significant effort. However you pray, however long, even just a moment, God will make a difference through you.
"Only those who create silence within themselves will hear ... the silence of [God's] hope, of generosity, and of love." Dom Helder Camara
Friday, November 13, 2009
Giving Beyond Their Means
How did Trinity and the African Counseling Center get connected?
To answer that question, you need to go back to the mid-1990s. Dr. Sandra Hamilton, on staff at Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare), faces an unusual event. She has an hour open in her afternoon schedule.
The receptionist calls from the front desk. "Dr. Sam Roberts is here without an appointment to introduce us to an international student interested in pastoral care. Can you see them?"
Most weeks the answer would be "No!" But that day it happens to be "Yes!" Sometimes a moment of grace like that is called a God sighting.
At that time Dr. Roberts was a professor at Virginia Union University; he is now at Union-PSCE. The student was Rev. Jean-Emile Ngué from Cameroon, West Africa.
The hour passed quickly. Sandy recognized not only a quick mind, but a deep commitment to Christ and to the people of Cameroon.
Rev. Ngué's fellow pastors sent him to the U.S., providing a scholarship for one year. The average pay for pastors is $100/month. This represented a sacrifice on their part.
At the end of his year Rev. Ngué discovered pastoral counseling. He realized how badly the people of Africa need it in their fight with poverty, AIDS, and many other problems. He committed himself to stay and do the Doctor of Ministry at Virginia Union before returning to Camroon, where his wife and four children live. This is not uncommon for international students.
At that time I was a pastor as well as Sandy's husband. Jean-Emile and I became friends. I introduced him to Richmond Hill, and the Monday night community meal. Since he often had an involuntary fast, I knew this would help.
Jean-Emile took every course in pastoral counseling he could during the next several years. His doctoral research dealt with adapting Western psychology to the African context, and is a model for counseling in Africa.
Now Dr. Ngué, he never wavered from his sense of call to serve his own people, despite opportunities to stay in the U.S. as many internationals do.
At home in Yaoundé, he worked in a hospital as director of counseling, then as Secretary General of the Protestant Churches in Cameroon. The United Nations enlisted him to address the atrocities related to child ritual abuse.
But in 2000 he saw his dream come true, with the beginning of the African Counseling Center. College-trained professionals in Social Work and Psychology, also committed Christians, joined pastors on staff.
In 2002 a team from VIPCare visited Cameroon for a two week seminar. Thirty were expected; 70 showed up, and all were welcomed, fed, and housed. "You're not poor unless you're alone," said Madame Sophie Ngué, when asked how they managed to provide for so many with so few resources.
This is only one instance of the spirit of generosity and compassion among the people. Pastors' families often have several AIDS orphans in their homes, in addition to their own children, for example.
When Sandy related to Trinity as her charge conference church, she began attending the Missions Committee, of which Mary Hetzel is chairwoman. Sandy told the ACC story and the committee included ACC in the missions Lenten Offering.
Pastor Dr. John Peters also showed interest, introducing Dr. and Madame Ngué to the congregation during a 2008 visit to the States. When the Building Committee chose to tithe the gifts of the Capital Campaign, the ACC was one of three projects chosen, the only International project.
Why should Trinity care about people in Yaoundé, Cameroon? As headlines demonstrate every day, we live in a small world. But not only that. We serve a God who has called us to be living examples of compassion and mercy.
Our Christian brothers and sisters in Cameroon have taken initiative, made sacrifices, and put the interest of their people before self. They show us the face of Christ today.
Paul might have written these words about Cameroon, instead of Corinth: "During a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part...They voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means." 2 Corinthians 8.2-3 NRSV
How can we American Christians not follow their example, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and give as much as we can both to local causes and the African Counseling Center?
To answer that question, you need to go back to the mid-1990s. Dr. Sandra Hamilton, on staff at Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare), faces an unusual event. She has an hour open in her afternoon schedule.
The receptionist calls from the front desk. "Dr. Sam Roberts is here without an appointment to introduce us to an international student interested in pastoral care. Can you see them?"
Most weeks the answer would be "No!" But that day it happens to be "Yes!" Sometimes a moment of grace like that is called a God sighting.
At that time Dr. Roberts was a professor at Virginia Union University; he is now at Union-PSCE. The student was Rev. Jean-Emile Ngué from Cameroon, West Africa.
The hour passed quickly. Sandy recognized not only a quick mind, but a deep commitment to Christ and to the people of Cameroon.
Rev. Ngué's fellow pastors sent him to the U.S., providing a scholarship for one year. The average pay for pastors is $100/month. This represented a sacrifice on their part.
At the end of his year Rev. Ngué discovered pastoral counseling. He realized how badly the people of Africa need it in their fight with poverty, AIDS, and many other problems. He committed himself to stay and do the Doctor of Ministry at Virginia Union before returning to Camroon, where his wife and four children live. This is not uncommon for international students.
At that time I was a pastor as well as Sandy's husband. Jean-Emile and I became friends. I introduced him to Richmond Hill, and the Monday night community meal. Since he often had an involuntary fast, I knew this would help.
Jean-Emile took every course in pastoral counseling he could during the next several years. His doctoral research dealt with adapting Western psychology to the African context, and is a model for counseling in Africa.
Now Dr. Ngué, he never wavered from his sense of call to serve his own people, despite opportunities to stay in the U.S. as many internationals do.
At home in Yaoundé, he worked in a hospital as director of counseling, then as Secretary General of the Protestant Churches in Cameroon. The United Nations enlisted him to address the atrocities related to child ritual abuse.
But in 2000 he saw his dream come true, with the beginning of the African Counseling Center. College-trained professionals in Social Work and Psychology, also committed Christians, joined pastors on staff.
In 2002 a team from VIPCare visited Cameroon for a two week seminar. Thirty were expected; 70 showed up, and all were welcomed, fed, and housed. "You're not poor unless you're alone," said Madame Sophie Ngué, when asked how they managed to provide for so many with so few resources.
This is only one instance of the spirit of generosity and compassion among the people. Pastors' families often have several AIDS orphans in their homes, in addition to their own children, for example.
When Sandy related to Trinity as her charge conference church, she began attending the Missions Committee, of which Mary Hetzel is chairwoman. Sandy told the ACC story and the committee included ACC in the missions Lenten Offering.
Pastor Dr. John Peters also showed interest, introducing Dr. and Madame Ngué to the congregation during a 2008 visit to the States. When the Building Committee chose to tithe the gifts of the Capital Campaign, the ACC was one of three projects chosen, the only International project.
Why should Trinity care about people in Yaoundé, Cameroon? As headlines demonstrate every day, we live in a small world. But not only that. We serve a God who has called us to be living examples of compassion and mercy.
Our Christian brothers and sisters in Cameroon have taken initiative, made sacrifices, and put the interest of their people before self. They show us the face of Christ today.
Paul might have written these words about Cameroon, instead of Corinth: "During a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part...They voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means." 2 Corinthians 8.2-3 NRSV
How can we American Christians not follow their example, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and give as much as we can both to local causes and the African Counseling Center?
Monday, November 9, 2009
African Counseling Center Today
Recently General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, representatives visited the capital city of Cameroon, Yaoundé,where the African Counseling Center (ACC), founded 2000, is located. After a thorough review the ACC was approved for a Mission Advance offering.
Cameroon is strategically located in West Africa between the oil-rich north and the interior of the Congo to the south and west. As such, world powers are jockeying for influence. For example, the Chinese recently built a children's hospital. Both English and French are spoken. With a stable history and an excellent educational system, Cameroon is a highly significant country, whose inhabitants are rich in faith and culture.
Islam and Christianity are about equal in number of adherents at present, with native African religions continuing to influence the population. Globalization has increased poverty and alcoholism, and destroyed the cultural foundations of the past.
The ACC provides pastoral counseling to individuals and families, and training to pastors and other counselors. We believe it is the only center in Africa that provides both counseling and training in pastoral counseling.
Because as much as 40% of the adult population has been estimated to be HIV+ or to have AIDS, training in abstinence outside of marriage and safer sex within marriage is available. One myth is that, if an infected male has sex with a virgin, he will be cured. In this context education literally saves lives.
The ACC provides support for Grandparents raising children whose parents died of AIDS. The Grandmothers group meets for support, education, and encouragement. Orphans are aided with school fees and other needs, as funds are available.
The ACC works with street boys, to help them survive, in cooperation with the Eddie Marr Catholic center for street children.
Because the Rev. Dr. Jean-Emile Ngué, ACC's Executive Director, is nationally known, he often is consulted by government leaders regarding human rights and religious issues.
Mr. Samuel Lindjeck is the Clinical/Program Director. With a BA in psychology, Mr. Lindjeck now attends the Protestant Faculty of Theology, pursuing an MDiv degree. Since pastoral counseling is a blend of psychology and faith, this training will deepen his already deep competence.
Other staff include an LCSW and seminary trained pastors. (More about them to come.)
The dream of the ACC is constructon of a permanent home. This will say to the community that "ACC is here to stay." The facility will provide for counseling offices, group meeting rooms, and rental space which will help to provide a stable income. Currently staff sometimes face months when their only pay is the satisfaction of being professionally and spiritually committed to their task.
You will continue to find updates on the ministry of the ACC, at least once a week beginning 10 November 2009. We are indebted to Mr. Lindjeck and Dr. Ngué for their input. John Hamilton will have to take responsibility for any shortcomings of this blog.
NEXT: How God connected ACC, the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, and Trinity UMC.
Cameroon is strategically located in West Africa between the oil-rich north and the interior of the Congo to the south and west. As such, world powers are jockeying for influence. For example, the Chinese recently built a children's hospital. Both English and French are spoken. With a stable history and an excellent educational system, Cameroon is a highly significant country, whose inhabitants are rich in faith and culture.
Islam and Christianity are about equal in number of adherents at present, with native African religions continuing to influence the population. Globalization has increased poverty and alcoholism, and destroyed the cultural foundations of the past.
The ACC provides pastoral counseling to individuals and families, and training to pastors and other counselors. We believe it is the only center in Africa that provides both counseling and training in pastoral counseling.
Because as much as 40% of the adult population has been estimated to be HIV+ or to have AIDS, training in abstinence outside of marriage and safer sex within marriage is available. One myth is that, if an infected male has sex with a virgin, he will be cured. In this context education literally saves lives.
The ACC provides support for Grandparents raising children whose parents died of AIDS. The Grandmothers group meets for support, education, and encouragement. Orphans are aided with school fees and other needs, as funds are available.
The ACC works with street boys, to help them survive, in cooperation with the Eddie Marr Catholic center for street children.
Because the Rev. Dr. Jean-Emile Ngué, ACC's Executive Director, is nationally known, he often is consulted by government leaders regarding human rights and religious issues.
Mr. Samuel Lindjeck is the Clinical/Program Director. With a BA in psychology, Mr. Lindjeck now attends the Protestant Faculty of Theology, pursuing an MDiv degree. Since pastoral counseling is a blend of psychology and faith, this training will deepen his already deep competence.
Other staff include an LCSW and seminary trained pastors. (More about them to come.)
The dream of the ACC is constructon of a permanent home. This will say to the community that "ACC is here to stay." The facility will provide for counseling offices, group meeting rooms, and rental space which will help to provide a stable income. Currently staff sometimes face months when their only pay is the satisfaction of being professionally and spiritually committed to their task.
You will continue to find updates on the ministry of the ACC, at least once a week beginning 10 November 2009. We are indebted to Mr. Lindjeck and Dr. Ngué for their input. John Hamilton will have to take responsibility for any shortcomings of this blog.
NEXT: How God connected ACC, the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, and Trinity UMC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
