The Reverend Professor Michael Bame Bame, a venerated theologian and academician moves on to glory at age 63. July 11 will be remembered. A man of God who stood by the word against all odds, preached and practiced what he believed in. At the time of his death he served as the Dean for post-graduate studies at the Faculty of Evangelical Theology (FACTEC), under the Mission of Evangelical Church in Cameroon (MECC), where he also founded the Church of Patmos. Even as he was ill and virtually bed ridden for 2 ½ years, he continued to preach and teach. He also served as Dean at the FACTEC, for three years, from 1998-2001. Prior to that, he was Dean of the Faculty of Protestant Theology, Yaoundé in 1983 at the age of 36 and held that position for 12 years. An educator of outstanding qualities, he has trained students 8 of whom serve as Head of Churches in 5 different African countries. Several hold key positions in ecumenical originations both at the national and international level. Two of whom are head of large consortia of Christian churches in Switzerland, Germany, Congo and cameroon. One of them is a rector in Cotonou, Benin; Eight are Deans of Faculties of Theology in five different African Countries. Two are Registrars in Faculties of Theology in Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire and some 28 more are teaching theology in degree awarding institutions around the world. Several are heads of departments, principals of secondary schools, NGOs and most are importantly, Pastors of God's people across the African continent.
He occupied many posts of responsibilities as Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutions in West and Central Africa for 11 years, from 1983-1994; Treasurer of the Conference of Theological Institutions in Africa for 3 years, from 1983-86; President of the Scripture Union of Cameroon for 3 years, from 1991-94. He is credited with the authorship of five books, and several articles in leading Theological Journals, and has also written many pamphlets. He was member of many academic organizations in the USA, UK and Africa. He was cited in: "Who's Who in Science and Theology", published by the John Templeton Foundation; and 1000 Intellectuals of the 20th Century, published by the International Biographical Centre (IBC), Cambridge, England. He was elected the International Man of the Year 1992-1993 for His Services to Theology and the Church. In 2005, He was honored with the prestigious award TOP-100 Educators, inaugural series by the IBC, Cambridge, UK.
Rev. Professor Bame Bame served as Pastor of the Buea Station Congregation of the PCC for one year and as Pastor of the Bastos Congregation of the PCC for eleven years; He also served in various capacities in different Presbyterian missions in Illinois, Minnesota and Brentwood,USA between 1975 and 1997. Since 1997, he teaches Systematic Theology and a joint course in Faith and Science among other subjects. He became full professor in 1986 and shared his knowledge as a visiting professor with some 4 theological institutes in the USA. This venerated scholar is a product of CPC Bali, CCAST Bambili, Faculty of Protestant Theology Yaounde, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA and the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
He was a floriculturist, gardener, architect, song writer and won awards in poetry. Rev. Professor Michael Bame Bame is the second child in a family of 10 children born to late Rev. Simon Bame who served the PCC for over 40 years. He is survived by his wife Anne, to whom he has been married for 37 years.
Wilfred Mbacham, MS, DS, MPH, ScD.
Public Health Biotechnologist
Principal, PRD College
(mobile +237-77579180, Fax/Tel: +237-22019778 )
If you do not learn to share when you do not have, you will not learn to share when you have(wfm, 2004).
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