CABTAL counts 2025 achievements, makes ambitious 2026 projections.

The strides, anchored around transforming individuals and communities by the word of God in their local language, as well as enhancing local wellbeing through literacy, Bible translation and integrated support services, were presented on Friday, April 24.

The ceremony to present the results held at the CABTAL Missional Complex at the Tropicana neighbourhood in Yaounde. It also served as an opportunity make projections for 2026. 

The event was attended by CABTAL Board members, representatives of partner institutions, church leaders among other guests.

The General Director of CABTAL, Dr Keyeh Emmanuel Lufang, said the organisation, despite multiform challenges, witnessed remarkable expansion. Such expansion, Dr Keyeh said, were guided by vision and mission of CABTAL. 

Snapshot of 2025 achievements 

Dr Keyeh said in 2025, a total of 4,007 persons were graduated from 512 CABTAL literacy classes attended 18,319 learners.

In scripture engagement, he disclosed that 48 out of 60 envisaged workshops were successfully organised across churches and communities. Lack of resources, he revealed, accounted for the inability to organized 12 of the other workshops. 

The year 2025, he said, also saw the launch of the campaign to start work in 10 new languages and organise 10 Bible dedications in two years. 

He said CABTAL also dedicated the Moghamo, Bakweri, Nulibie, Esu and Weh New Testament Bibles and started final discussions for work in Mbuk, Mbessa, and Messaka. 

In the domain of printing, the General Director said the CABTAL Printing Press underwent significant changes, printing 3,500 copies of Mofu Gudur Bible, 3,000 copies of Ngiemboon Bible, 2,500 copies of the New Testament in Tuki, 1,500 copies of New Testament in Kishilele from DRC, 2,500 copies each of the Gavar and Mengaka New Testaments.

This, he detailed, adds to printing of calendars, annual reports, educational brochures, event posters, prayer topics, training manuals and various communication materials.

Zooming on Bible literacy, which he said is an element of transformation in communities and key aspect of CABTAL's work, Dr Keyeh said more literacy teachers got trained.

He said CABTAL drilled 3,068 in the Greater North, 8,123 in the Greater South and 7,128 in the Greater West. Per gender statistics, he said there was also improvement in the percentage of men to women as in the past. 

Touching on the aspect of translation, the General Director said much was done in the different regions including dedication of five New Testaments. He also mentioned the dedication of the first New Testament ever printed in Cameroon, the Nulibie.

On linguistics, which touches on the various language specificities and grammar, he said in 2025, the Foundation for Grammar training workshops were held for 35 translation teams, drilling over 175 translators with native grammatical structures. 

The General Director added that dictionary workshops were also held in 32 languages with each team collecting an average of 5,000 words. 

Aside Bible translation which he said puts the scriptures in the hands of communities, Dr Keyeh said much was also done in Scripture Engagement, which takes the message into hearts, enabling life-changing experiences.

He also mentioned Oral Bible Storying, Trauma Healing, Ethno-Arts, Gospel and Culture and Bible Studies which have happened as tools for engaging with the structure. Dr Keyeh said these tools have helped people to actually engaged with the translated word of God. 

CABTAL Board Chair commending management team for achievements 

CABTAL leveraging technology to ease work

The General Director said CABTAL is fully embracing digital technology and leveraging it to ease its work in various aspects. 

He mentioned introducing Artificial Intelligence, AI, in translation, holding of capacity building sessions on use of translation software such as Paratext, enabling over 100 participants to gain both basic and advanced skills. 

Dr Keyeh said CABTAL is dedicated to empowering language communities through cutting edge technology, with technology being used for test phase in five languages.

Aside translation, he said CABTAL has a Professional Recording Studio to get the Bible recorded in the way that people who cannot read can listen to the Scriptures in their mother tongue. 

2026 projections

Dr Keyeh said CABTAL will this year pursue a strategic agenda aimed at deepening its impact across translation, literacy, linguistics, and technical innovation.

He said six New Testaments and one complete Bible will be finalized this year, new consultants in linguistics, literacy and translation will be certified.

Dr Keyeh also mentioned plans to expand functional and didactics materials, enhancing and further equipping information and language technology service, as well as investing in human capital seek more academic partnerships to ensure excellence and sustainability in community-centred language development 

He also mentioned strengthening and expanding service offered to the church. The General Director said CABTAL will also continue to mobilise five communities for New Testament start and 13 communities for Old Testament start this year.

The official said plans are also on course to round up with two Oral Bible Translation pilot projects and move on to written translation in the two communities. Dr Keyeh said Oral Bible Translation are also envisaged to be launched in the Greater North Region.

He said CABTAL hopes to dedicate in collaboration with the communities concerned, two complete Bibles and eight New Testaments this year.

Dr Keyeh appealed to all stakeholders to put their hands on deck and help raise resources locally to help people interact with structure in their mother longue

Announces 40th anniversary preps 

The General Director said in 2027, CABTAL will celebrate 40 years of faith, service and outreach, a milestone in its spiritual and community journey.

He said preparations will soon begin for the grand ceremony to honour God for His faithfulness throughout the generations, recognize the pioneers, leaders and members who have marked the history of CABTAL, renew the collective commitment for the years to come and inspire a new generation to continue the work with faith and integrity.

Board salutes management team 

Speaking earlier, the Board Chairperson of CABTAL, Nze Jean Marc, saluted the management team, under the leadership of the General Director, for wonder achievements. 

“We are celebrating the name of the Lord for the job done by the General Director and all his team. It is a joyful thing to know that all what we planned this year was done about 80%. We thank god for that,” the Board Chairperson said. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3773 of Monday April 27, 2026