Lamech Katamba, Albert Baker Fund Africa Programs Manager visited the ABF Office in Folsom, CA, in May and June 2025.  During his trip he made two presentations to the ABF Board of Trustees.  Videos of these presentations can be found below, along with 3 additional interview clips.

Presentations to the ABF Board

Thursday evening, May 1, 2025

Friday morning, May 2, 2025

Additional interviews with Lamech

ABF’s Impact in Africa

Lamech’s introduction to Christian Science

Lamech’s first Christian Science healing

“My legal education and understanding of Christian Science enabled me… to have our church recognized as a legitimate religious organization.”
– Diana Nakawombe

Dear Friends,

It’s an hour before the Sunday-morning church service at the Christian Science Society in Kampala, Uganda, and no fewer than 15 members have arrived early to set up church on the 7th floor of a youth hostel where they meet each week. Floors must be swept, benches brought from other rooms and wiped down, 100 hymnals carried up from the first floor (no elevator here!), and the church sign put on the curb.

Placing the simple sandwich board sign on a busy street might be the finishing touch to prepare for the service, but to Christian Scientists in Kampala — and Diana Nakawombe, a 2019 Albert Baker Fund (ABF) law school graduate — it represents so much more!

Gaining legal status for her church

Due to the knowledge and skills Diana gained in law school at Uganda Christian University, Kampala’s Christian Science Society has received validation from the Uganda government that it is a legal church entity, with the right to use the name “Christian Science Society.”

Without being granted legal status, the Kampala Society would have been denied the use of its rightful name. With it, the church can open a bank account, purchase property, claim tax-exempt status — and even more importantly, the country of Uganda now recognizes the Kampala Society as a legitimate religious organization.

Diana’s education, as well as her experience as a class-taught Christian Scientist, was essential in guiding her church through the government’s complicated registration process.

Learning to become a more practical Christian

For Diana, the blessing began with finding Christian Science. “Before I found Christian Science, I had low self-esteem. But with Christian Science, I found truth, love, and understanding of my true nature. I loved the idea that Science and Health was the Key to the Scriptures. Fellow Christian Scientists taught me how to read and study the Bible using Science and Health, and I learned to be a more practical Christian.”

From law school to a Masters in Human Rights

When Diana was accepted into law school, The Albert Baker Fund was there to help pay her tuition for all four years.

“I am deeply grateful to ABF. Even with the generous scholarships I received, I needed to work two part-time jobs to cover school expenses. I am now pursuing a Masters in Human Rights and plan to pass the blessing forward by helping those in need.”

Diana’s story is just one example of how ABF scholarship recipients are using their education to bless church, community, and humanity, and how their education expands their influence for good far beyond what they might have thought possible.

Play a part in changing lives and blessing communities

You can play a part in changing lives and blessing communities by making a gift to fund a scholarship for a student living in Africa. These students greatly value their education and pass the blessing forward by helping others, and by actively participating in church activities. Your gift will be awarded 100% as a scholarship to a worthy student.

Thank you for joining with us to help more students such as Diana, who are called to put their faith and understanding into practice and bless others.

Make an online donation today!

With deep appreciation,

Joseph M. Ritter
Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Herbert
Chair, Board of Trustees

PS: Did you know, most of our Africa students can fund a whole year of education with a $900 scholarship from ABF?

PPS: Watch a video thank you from Diana

Dominique Bita’a Beling, Processing Agent for ABF Programs in Africa

Greetings, gratitude, and best wishes to each of you in your respective countries! Our thoughts and prayers are with you as we all embrace the world at this time.

I am writing to announce the change of ABF’s Africa Applications Processing Agent, (APA). You may know that our current APA, Mr. Jean Leonard (JL) Ngabo has entered the Christian Science Nursing ministry in the USA, which has been a cherished heart-felt desire for many years. We rejoice with JL in this beautiful unfoldment of opportunity to serve the Christian Science movement! Mr. Jean Leonard has given wonderful service for the last six years. and we will always consider him a member of The Albert Baker Fund family.

I am delighted to let you know that ABF has appointed Mr. Dominique Bita’a Beling, to succeed Mr. JL as the APA for Africa. Mr. Dominique was one of the first students to be assisted by the ABF in Douala, Cameroon. We are very grateful that he has agreed to work with us in this new capacity and are confident that he will continue the high standards of integrity and Christian care expressed by Mr. JL.

I know you will all enjoy working with Mr. Dominique, along with our longtime colleague, Lamech Katamba, who manages our Africa program and trains and supervises our 13 ICRs.

As always, we appreciate your continued support of our programs and students. Please join me in sending a heartfelt thank you to Mr. JL. and extending a warm welcome to Mr. Dominique.

With deep gratitude,

Dr. Joseph M. Ritter, Chief Executive Officer
The Albert Baker Fund

Jill Stucker writes from Dubai Airport 

Lamech, (center), with Angele Zeh (left), Christian Science nurse and First Reader at First Church, Douala; and Dominique Bita’a, ABF In-Country Representative (ICR) for Cameroon, and high school teacher of accountancy.

From Brazzaville, Alan departed Africa for meetings in the U.S. Lamech, our Africa Program Manager, and I traveled to our final countries in West Africa: Cameroon, Togo, and Ghana. Everywhere we visited, our fellow Christian Scientists greeted us with love, warmth, and so much gratitude for ABF. Cameroon and Togo are French-speaking countries, but the ever-present love and graciousness of our hosts overcame all potential barriers.

In Cameroon, we were warmly greeted by ABF’s volunteer In-Country Representative (ICR), Dominique Bita’a, a high school teacher of accounting, and Angele Zeh, a Christian Science nurse and First Reader at First Church, Douala. They both are ABF beneficiaries! I was so inspired by the humility, grace, and pure Christian Science love they both demonstrated so naturally. ABF is so fortunate to have them on our team!

After our meeting with local ABF beneficiaries and church elders, we received very positive feedback. They told us how grateful they were for our open communication, and our willingness to listen to their ideas. They especially love that ABF supports their growth and practice of Christian Science.  We all concluded that we are one family, all working together in support of our practice of Christian Science healing. I would never have imagined that I’d be spending Easter Sunday with friends and extended Christian Science family in West Africa! I really can’t describe how lovely it was–and memorable!

Incoming Togo ICR, Semenyo Koffi Anifrani, (left) with Lamech Katamba, ABF Africa Programs Manager, (center) and outgoing ICR,Rodger Glokpor, Christian Science practitioner (right)

Next, we traveled to Lome, Togo, where the airport is new and the roads are too! We expressed many thanks to our outgoing ICR, Rodger Glokpor, now a full-time Christian Science practitioner and Christian Science lecturer, and welcomed our incoming ICR, Semenyo Koffi Anifrani. We met with him along with one of ABF’s beneficiaries, Maxime Youbi Kelonto, communication coordinator for The Mother Church, and thanked them for the wonderful, loving work they are doing to encourage and mentor students in Togo.

Lamech and I felt so inspired hearing how Semenyo, Maxime, and other fellow church members each found Christian Science. Every one of them related how they had been in a time of dire need and how they had felt a deep yearning for God to show them the way. In their search, they each found Christian Science. Everyone shared testimonies of healing, many of which have been published in the Christian Science periodicals !

Our meeting with beneficiaries provided the setting for a good exchange of ideas and information, as the members had many thoughtful questions. They are enthused about the opportunity to give back and even to contribute financially to ABF. The Wednesday testimony meeting was filled with love, inspiration, and testimonies of healing. A reception afterwards in the home of Rita and Paul Yakpo gave us even more time to get to know the church members. We found that Lome, Togo, thrives with progressive ideas and a Christian Science field dedicated to healing. I can’t say enough how appreciative they are of ABF!  They feel that as individual Christian Scientists increase their capacity through education, their study and practice of Christian Science, and their church involvement, that the Christian Science Movement is lifted. This progress leavens the thought in Africa, bringing enlightenment and healing. That is what is happening in Togo!

We wrapped up our trip with our final meeting in Accra, Ghana. I was immediately impressed by ICR Daniel Koku Atidzon, a beneficiary of ABF in Accountancy and who is now a Journal-listed Christian Science practitioner, and George Sognon, currently working towards his Master’s in Development Finance. (See 2 min. video!) We had an enthusiastic and energizing meeting with current and potential beneficiaries, along with church members from all over Accra.

Our beneficiaries couldn’t express enough appreciation to ABF for providing them the opportunity to attend college and at the same time, continue to grow in their understanding of Christian Science. Potential beneficiaries were so grateful to be invited to the meeting and to learn more about ABF. All of the beneficiaries are currently working in their respective areas of study, in good positions. So now they wish to give back to ABF. We learned of the marvelous work going on in Ghana within our Christian Science Movement!

Final Reflections
As Lamech and I wrap up our travels and return to our respective homes, I am filled with immense gratitude for the privilege  of serving on the ABF team, and to have the opportunity to come to Africa so early in my tenure. First-hand experience is truly the only way to understand ABF’s purpose, design, and effectiveness in Africa. It has been awe-inspiring beyond words to witness the progress and significant impact the program has had — not only on individuals and communities, but on the CS movement worldwide. And it could be a “best kept secret” for many Christian Scientists who are not aware of the impact that the African Program is having on our church universal!

It is also a privilege to be working with such an outstanding Africa team. Lamech and Jean Leonard truly are stellar metaphysicians, professionals and leaders. Everywhere we traveled, the feedback was that of respect, admiration and appreciation for the prayerful care and dedication they express to our beneficiaries and ICRs, as well as to church members and perspective recipients.

An overarching insight for me has been to “connect the dots” between ABF and tangible church development and growth here in Africa, as Alan has depicted so beautifully in previous communications. In every country visited, we have seen that it is often the student beneficiaries of ABF who form Christian Science Organizations on campus, and later as alumni they move into their communities to form groups that become Christian Science Societies. And these naturally evolve into Churches! I had no idea how much ABF alumni have helped to forge the Africa field in the development and growth of churches. And it is the youth and alumni who often carry the torch forward through serving in church leadership roles. What a tremendous impact ABF is having on individual lives and entire church communities across Africa, and what a blessing they are for the Cause of Christian Science, worldwide!

My deepest gratitude to everyone for your prayers and support, 

Jill Stucker, Program Manager

Here’s how you can support ABF’s program in 13 African countries!

Alan Bashor writes from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

ABF’s Jean Leonard Ngabo with Asante staff

As I get settled in Brazzaville, I’m still reflecting on our time in Kenya. Since we began our program in Africa in 2003, The Albert Baker Fund (ABF) has supported more students in Kenya than any other country. This week in meetings with current and past students, members of the Board of First Church Nairobi, our Kenyan and Tanzanian In Country Representatives (ICR’s), and long-time trusted friends and advisors, we heard some new ideas that are clearly worth considering. Several things stand out to me: 1) Recipients feel responsible for protecting the beautiful program that ABF has brought to Kenya; 2) Colleges and universities are changing their demands on students for more timely payment of fees, thereby increasing the demand on ABF and the students to function more efficiently; 3) We see encouraging signs that Christian Scientists in Africa are interested in donating to ABF; and 4) I believe our program works because our ICR’s and alumni are mentoring Christian Science students about to enter college.

Yesterday we drove from Nairobi to Narok and visited the Kenya offices of Asante of Africa Foundation. Asante is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and provides educational programs for African Secondary School pupils, generating award-winning results in Kenya and Tanzania. Now, Asante would like to expand into Uganda and Rwanda. Every year, Asante offers week-long “incubator” camp-like sessions for young students and their teachers in either Kenya or Tanzania. We had the opportunity to talk with graduates and the Asante Africa staff, and we concluded that Asante’s focus, particularly on girls’ issues, as well as on leadership, entrepreneurship, world citizenship, and the concept of paying your blessings forward, could be wonderfully helpful to our own African Sunday School students.

Welcoming our new ICR for the Republic of Congo, Davey Ngamoueri

We’re considering whether or not ABF could adapt the program so that ten Christian Science students and teachers could attend. We would arrange for them to live together in their own housing unit so they could hold daily breakout sessions to address the issues of the day from a Christian Science perspective. More than ever, I see the possibilities for ABF students to benefit from this amazing organization’s program. We’ll be exploring more about this later!

Today we met with our long-time Congolese ICR’s from Pointe Noire and Brazzaville. In the most remote CS communities we have visited, we hear our friends and colleagues saying that church growth and progress is being actively supported by the ABF alums who experienced Christian Science healing in school, graduated, and have gone on to pass their blessings forward to their churches, fellow Christian Scientists, and their communities.

In closing, I just want to comment on the gratitude for ABF from our beneficiaries here in Congo and from our on-the-ground volunteers and friends—it has been overpowering. When we ask them to tell us what we can do to improve, they quickly point out how valuable ABF is to the Christian Science community and how much our program means to them.

So now, here are a few comments from Jill, who has been meeting our ICRs and on-the-ground Africa volunteers for the first time!

I’ve been so inspired by our ICR’s, as each one is filled with light, love, and joy. They are so committed to supporting our students, not only by helping process their applications, but primarily in being a voice and a listening ear in the students’ study and practice of Christian Science.

These volunteers are invaluable to our Africa Program. In fact, our Africa program would not be successful if not for our In-Country Volunteers! As ICRs, they work with the students and help them understand each specific step along the application process, prayerfully supporting them and sharing the practical application of Christian Science to meet every need.

ICRs sometimes travel to schools in the area to assure proper and harmonious processing of applications and fees. And while there, they often have the opportunity to explain what The Albert Baker Fund does. These discussions might even lead to the ICRs sharing Christian Science!

Many of our ICRs throughout Africa have become Journal-listed, full-time public Christian Science practitioners and many serve The Mother Church in other various roles. What a blessing they all are to ABF’s work in Africa!

With much love and gratitude,

Alan Bashor, CEO and Jill Stucker, Program Manager

PS By the time you receive this, Jill and Lamech will be on their way to Togo and Ghana, after spending Easter Sunday at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Douala, Cameroon!

Here’s how you can support ABF’s program in 13 African countries!

In our Kampala office: Jean Leonard Ngabo, Africa Programs Processing Agent; Alan Bashor, ABF CEO; Jill Stucker, Manager of Grant and Loan Programs; Lamech Katamba, Africa Programs Manager

Alan Bashor writes:

Jill and I are almost to the end of our second week on this wonderful trip. We cannot say enough about the work and wisdom of our African staff, Lamech Katamba in Uganda, and Jean Leonard Ngabo in Rwanda. ABF is blessed beyond measure to have them guiding and maintaining our efforts here.

Our overriding impressions are that our post-secondary education program in Africa is having a profound impact on our Christian Science beneficiaries. And this positive influence affects not only our individual ABF recipients—both within and beyond church—but their extended families, work environments, and communities also benefit.

In Kampala, Uganda, Jill and I witnessed how ABF’s support of active Christian Scientists and our expectation that these beneficiaries pass the blessings of their education forward, has transformed the Kampala Christian Science Society into a truly remarkable prayer-based healing center. So many factors contribute to the progress of this Christian Science community: the members’ prayerful support of one another; our alumni and church elders mentoring younger church members; all members’ generous giving to the church; their loving and welcome embrace of visitors; and their natural outreach into their nearby community. Working together, their membership demonstrates what all Christian Scientists value in their church family.

Christian Science Society, Kampala, Uganda

We saw first-hand and heard stories from the members of the Society how ABF has contributed to their church community’s growth and progress. These accounts give me the highest appreciation for what the ongoing development and delivery of our program means to our African fields. The proofs of God’s care are evident everywhere in the lives of these dedicated first-and-second-generation hard working, selfless, and determined Christian Scientists!

Well that’s it for now! Our days, though long and filled to overflowing, have not been wearing or tiring. That perhaps suggests that “the divine energy of Spirit” is truly “bringing us into newness of life.” (Science and Health p. 249-6-8)

Love to you all and thank you for your ongoing support of this journey!

Here’s how you can support ABF’s program in 13 African countries!

Lamech with Airtel company representatives

That was the message that landed in the email box of our Africa Programs Manager, Lamech Katamba early last November. Airtel Uganda, one of Uganda’s biggest mobile phone companies, was inviting Lamech—and 10 million other Ugandan cellphone users!—to submit a project for its 12 Days of Christmas Grant Program.

Not one to shy away from “passing his blessings forward,” Lamech, who lives in the capital city, Kampala, developed a brief but strategic proposal requesting funds for the doors and windows needed at the primary school under construction in his home village, Kyamulinga, in Kassanda County. The school serves 257 students from seven surrounding villages.

A few weeks later, much to his surprise and excitement, Lamech received a notice that his project was one of the 12 nominations that Airtel selected from throughout Uganda for its community-outreach initiative.

Gathering for the celebration with Airtel

According to Airtel, its 12 Days of Christmas Program aims at rewarding individuals and organizations that have made a remarkable difference in the lives of their community members.

Lamech certainly qualifies! In 2003, he was instrumental in starting the Kyamulinga school with other community members and has continued to stay involved—a beloved side project while managing ABF’s Africa Program in 12 African countries!

Lamech thinks that Airtel selected his grant project from the possibly thousands of nominations because, as he says, “I focused on making my proposal short and to-the-point. I was very clear about the positive and far-reaching impact of the school on our community, including educating orphans, employing community members, providing a market for local agricultural products, and developing community partnerships that benefit our students.”

Fitting a sample window in place

The entire village gathered on December 5th when Airtel presented the doors and windows to the school. The whole village turned out for the celebration that included, T-shirts, water bottles, backpacks, umbrellas, and a special cake just for the occasion—all for the students, teachers, parents, and community members.

“I cannot find the perfect words to describe exactly how happy everyone was, and is, in my village,” Lamech says. “But just know that it was the biggest Christmas gift ever to our community, and everyone was so happy and appreciative!”

We understand! Nothing feels quite as good as being part of a blessing!

May 2016

Dear Friends,

It was 2003 when we first expanded our financial support to Christian Scientists in Africa with a pilot program in Uganda and Zambia.

Since then, we’ve built a carefully structured program that has dispersed more than $2.1 million in the form of 1,256 educational grants to Christian Scientists in 13 African countries.

The numbers might be impressive, but they tell only part of the story.

As our Board of Trustees has reflected on the growth and sustainability of our post-secondary education program in Africa, we recognized the need for an objective measure of our success.

So, in 2015, with the help of a professional program evaluator, The Albert Baker Fund launched a comprehensive assessment of the impact that our Africa program is having on individual Christian Scientists, their churches, and communities.

We wanted to know the following:

1. What difference have we made in the lives of the recipients we’ve funded?
2. How sincere are recipients in their practice of Christian Science?
3. How have recipients passed the blessings of their education forward to help others?

Today we’re excited to share with you some of the in-depth answers to these questions in the report linked below.

You’ll learn that the education and training we fund for sincere students of Christian Science is making a significant difference — not only in the lives of our recipients but for their families, local branch churches, and communities.

View “The Albert Baker Fund in Africa, 2003-2016” report (5.4MB PDF)

Members of the Christian Science Society in Kapangan meet with ABF staffer Jen Day to plan a pilot program for learning English.

We are on the move! When ABF sent our Director of Programs, Marilyn Jones, and our Manager of Administration, Jennifer Day, on a research trip to the Philippines, they visited several communities of active Christian Scientists. They met with a number of students eligible for our college and vocational training programs.

We are thrilled to announce that ABF has launched pilot programs in Manila and in Baguio City. We’ve already funded several students in our post-secondary education program in Baguio City, and we’ve initiated an innovative English as a Second Language training program for qualified students in Manila.

Estela Badol, (center), one of ABF’s three In-Country Representative in the Philippines, with Marilyn Jones, Director of Programs (left), and Jen Day, Manager of Administration (right).

The language education program currently serves 15 students who take a four-hour bus ride to attend Sunday School in Manila. After Sunday School, an instructor from an accredited language school comes to the church to conduct the English language training.

So far, the programs in both areas are working well, and we anticipate serving more Christian Science students attending colleges as well as others who will need vocational and language education training. What a privilege for ABF to connect with our Christian Science brothers and sisters in Asia! We feel blessed.

“My gratitude to God really knows no bounds; so is my gratitude to The Albert Baker Fund (ABF). I wrote an article in the Christian Science Journal called God has a beautiful plan. The gratitude I had for all the things that were happening in my life
then has even increased over the years through the different trials and victories over sin, disease and death. I still relate to that article and have an even firmer belief in stating that God really does have a beautiful plan for me.

Emmeline Quist
Ashesi University College, 2013

“I am very grateful to ABF for playing a very huge part in my life progress. God really does know how to position people in your life at strategic points in time. The ABF came into my life just when I felt all hope was lost for me getting a good education, and more importantly, getting it at the right time. I basically had no hope of going to Ashesi University; the best and highest paid private university in Ghana. Attending Ashesi meant that I had the opportunity to go to school in what is considered the “Ivy League” college of Africa, without having to travel abroad. It also meant that I was going to be paying a lot of money for school fees which I knew my family could not afford.

“After looking at the pros and cons of attending the school, my human mind finally came to the conclusion that although the pros were very attractive, the cons outweighed them drastically. I mean how in this world was I going to afford that? Since the application forms to the other schools were sold out, I decided it was best to forget about attending any university that year and to wait patiently for the next year to begin applying for other schools.

“It seems that God had an even better plan for me. He answered my question of how I could afford to attend my dream school–He made it possible for ABF to come to Ghana!  ABF has been my safety net for my entire four years in school, always there for me and never letting me suffer or worry during my academic journey. I had a secure education. It has been a four year strong relationship with ABF and as the years went by, the love between us increased. It was like there was an unspoken family bond between me and ABF; we were one big happy family.

“Five years later, and I am doing my national service in a start-up company that is one of the most respected business marketers in Ghana, working as the CEO’s Executive Assistant and in human resources for the company. National service is a mandatory one year service to Ghana required of graduates in my country. I am able to demonstrate my knowledge of God through Christian Science in my journey through the corporate world. I am better equipped to take on the working world though the education received from Ashesi which was made possible through God and ABF.

“I remain humbled and very grateful. I am inspired by the generosity of donors to the ABF who make it possible for people like me to have a better shot at the opportunity to receive good education and I promise to work very hard to assist the Fund and give back to the community. I hope that as I venture through my professional career and life I will be able to help other students achieve their goals, just as ABF has helped me in achieving mine.”

Emmeline Quist lives and works in Accra, Ghana