Pulpit Interpretation in the Cameroon Baptist Convention Churches

Abstract

This article examines how the Cameroon Baptist Church (CBC) makes efforts to pass across the gospel message to their target population through sermon interpreting. It highlights how interpretation of sermons are carried out by lay interpreters given the necessity of interpretation in bilingual congregations. The two languages concerned are French and English, the two official languages of Cameroon. The linguistic nature of Cameroon obliges the CBC to organize bilingual church services so as to minister alternately to their bilingual audience. While interpreting is necessary and obligatory given the target church population, the problem is the quality of interpretation due to unskilled interpreters that sometimes misinterpret messages leading to break down in communication. Break downs in sermon interpretations can really be misleading because the word of God is Yes and Amen. It is therefore concluded that given the centrality of interpreting in the CBC settings, it is important for the CBC to train interpreters and make use of them for the well being of evangelism.