Dedication in Douala: the book of Rev. Laure Ntamack Binyet restores the nobility of worship leadership

Dedication in Douala: when a book on worship leadership brings together pastors, cantors and faithful

This Saturday, July 25, the artist writer Laura presented her new book. A signing stand, a line of curious people, pastors from several assemblies in the city: the release of Lead with grace, guide with fire, signed Rev Laure Ntamack Binyet, brought together this weekend an audience reflecting her ambition — to go beyond the boundaries of a single church to speak to all the servants of praise.

“A tool for everyone”

First to speak to the audience, Daniel Makon recognizes that the title could be misleading. One might think, he says, that the book is aimed only at praise and worship leaders. This is not the case: praise concerns all Christians, and everyone should feel free to praise the Lord. This is precisely what, according to him, makes the strength of the book: a tool designed for everyone, and not for a restricted circle.

This is also what pushed him, during his public intervention, to insist on the interdenominational dimension of the work. When reading it, he confides, he had the feeling that the text was primarily aimed at a privileged group. Hence his call to break down barriers, so that the message also reaches those who were initially outside the target audience. And already, even before the end of the ceremony, Daniel Makon announces that he wants to take part in the writing of a second volume.

Giving back the cantor's place

For Pastor S. Ngancha, assistant pastor at the Source de Gloire chapel (Deïdo), the book responds to a reality experienced on the ground: many cantors feel marginalized within their assemblies, due to a lack of recognition of the true place of singing in a ministry. However, he reminds us, there is no good time of worship without a good time of praise and adoration.

Seeing a cantor herself, Reverend Laure, take the initiative to produce this tool is, according to him, a strong signal: the cantors have understood that they need to structure themselves, defend themselves and equip themselves. The book thus offers each choir member something to present themselves knowing exactly what they must bring: an impact that goes beyond the walls of the church.

Ten skills, one single requirement: grace in rigor

Questioned about the heart of her remarks, Reverend Laure Ntamack Binyet summarizes it in a formula: ten extremely important skills, not isolated but chosen from hundreds possible, to enable any worship leader to lead effectively her choir or music group — dedication, communication, integrity, mediation, conflict management, delegation, reward.

These are not simple theoretical principles, she insists: they are basic but essential skills, designed to make a dynamic team without sacrificing either discipline or grace. Hence the title: the fire of rigor, the grace of the heart.

A need felt on the ground

Where does this book come from? Of a need felt “very, very, very ardently”, responds the author, in all the denominations and teams that she has had to supervise. The language chosen is deliberately simple - "terra terra", she says - so that everyone can take ownership of what is shared.

Her ambition: to see the emergence of leaders who are not content with checking off attendance lists, but who take the time to be interested in people - asking a member why they seem sad, entering into their daily life, helping them to flourish. Because a choir, she recalls, is also a social space where everyone must be able to find their place.

A book, a life, the same path

The dedication ceremony continued the same day with a concert marking the release of Je vie pour t'adore, Reverend Laure's first solo album. A choice far from trivial: the book, she explains, introduces the album, the two telling one and the same story - that of a life as a chorister devoted to adoration, always. After several albums recorded as a group, this is the first that she released alone - a new release, associated with another equally new release.