Another Bible translator in Cameroon has been murdered following an attack in his village. Pastor Christopher Tanjoh, who was a Bible translator and literacy teacher with the Moghamo Bible translation and literacy project, was killed on Aug. 7. Last year, two other men who worked with Bible translation projects in Cameroon died in similar incidents.
Pastor Christopher Tanjoh
The attack occurred in the village of Guzang, in the northwest region of Cameroon. Tanjoh bled to death after being shot in the leg by unidentified gunmen. He leaves behind a wife and seven children.
Keyeh Emmanuel, director of the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL), says many Bible translation workers had relocated to the city of Bamenda due to the ongoing socio-political crisis in the northwest and southwest regions.
“Since Christopher had a bigger family,” says Emmanuel, “he decided to stay in the community to finish [translating] the New Testament in the Moghamo language, which is in its final stages.
“Christopher is gone, but we pray that his last pastoral counsel to the fighters will contribute to bring lasting peace in the Moghamo area and to Cameroon.”
“This tragic news reminds us how much the gospel message is urgently needed in Cameroon,” says James Poole, executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators in the U.K “Until people are transformed by Jesus, there will be no lasting peace.
“We continue to work with local partners to translate the Bible so that every Cameroonian can read the Bible in the language that speaks to them best. Please pray that the work of Bible translation in Cameroon will continue despite setbacks, and that people will discover the life-giving message of Jesus.”
Source: wycliffe.org.uk