Coming to America: A Journey of Faith

By Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

Do you struggle with trusting God with your finances?
Feel that God is calling you to do something big but you can’t see how it will be accomplished?
Fear that He has abandoned you after starting your journey of faith?
Coming to America: A Journey of Faith is Eric Tangumonkem’s story of wrestling with these thoughts and doubts. God called him to America from Cameroon to pursue graduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas, but he had no money to put towards this dream. In this book, Tangumonkem shares his journey of learning to trust God as he stepped out in faith and came to America despite a lack of funds. He also shares some of his formative experiences prior to this call—experiences that will encourage readers in their faith. Tangumonkem’s life is a testimony to the faithfulness of God, and he is careful to give Him all of the glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IEM Press
• Release date: Apr 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9780991622511

Eric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

I am excited about people, their stories, where they have been, where they are and where they are going. I love to inspire and motivate people to be ALL God created them to be. I know that with God all things are possible. For I was born in a Caldera on the Cameroon volcanic Line in a village with little resources and face a lot of challenges growing up.I have a Bachelor in Geology and Sociology from the University of Buea, a Masters in Earth Sciences from the University of Yaounde and a Doctorate in Geosciences from The University of Texas at Dallas. In addition to being a consultant geologist, I am a poet, an inspirational speaker and President of Equipping of the Saints International Ministries. I am married to Elizabeth and God has blessed us with four children; Afaamboma, Nstongmboma, Elotmboma and Abuetmboma.

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Endorsements

This book provides a real-world case study for all who want to understand the complex links between convictions, difficulties, God centeredness, perseverance and success. The timeless principles illustrated in the book will change your life.

-Ebenezer A. Oladimeji, Ph.D.

President, Funnel Consulting LLC

A transformational read showcasing a true walk of faith in a faithless world. The depth and personal stories can be related to by everyone facing daily challenges and looking for a way out

-Akingbade Akinfenwa

CEO-ZEISTMASTER McKinney, Texas

I am always amazed by the things that happen in the life of my friend, Eric Tangumonkem. His story of daily guidance and miracles from God serve as a good reminder to all of us that it is possible to see God work in miraculous ways in our daily lives.

-Pastor Joe Slaughter

Sr. Pastor at New Generation Community Fellowship

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

This book is an immense expression of the audacity of faith. It takes faith to consider ones debt, which is even more than that of a whole community normal; it takes faith not to work because the law forbids one and yet one is in a precarious situation. In this book Dr. Eric Tangumonkem is inviting everyone in despondency to put their loads and intricate situations on God’s shoulder and maintain an individual communication with Him.

-Nanche Billa Robert

Assistant Lecturer Department of Social Sciences for Development

University of Maroua

I enthusiastically recommend Coming to America: A Journey of Faith.

-Tony Musumba, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Physics

Bismarck State College, North Dakota

Eric’s story is a powerful example of learning to walk by faith. I believe anyone who reads this book will be encouraged to trust the Lord to a much greater capacity and will be convicted of their little faith. The Christian life is truly meant to be an amazing adventure of faith, and Eric has modeled it. Read the book!

-Pastor Bruce Cargile

Senior Pastor of Creekside Baptist Church

Richardson, Texas

"This book is a compelling testimony of the triumph of faith and obedience. As the late Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones put it ‘faith is obedient action to what God says.’ Even so, Dr. Charles Stanley enjoins us to ‘obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.’

My friend Eric demonstrates the veracity of both principles in this remarkable treatise. I know many who will benefit from reading this book, and there are yet many who would be brought to repentance, and renewed faith by observing the ideas set forth herein.

-Julius N. Esunge, Ph.D.

Hope Outreach International Ministries

What Eric has accomplished is truly phenomenal! It is a modern-day realization of the American Dream that happened against all odds, and is an inspiration to all. It is a beautiful story of Christian faith in action that serves as an example of what can be achieved if we deeply believe. Highly recommended!

-Mike Liseser

Senior Geoscientist, Denbury Resources

Plano, Texas

A wonderful and captivating story of Eric’s journey from Cameroon to America. His story is a beautiful example of what can be if you believe. It is a must read!

-Whitney Shelley VP-HR,

Denbury Resources Plano, Texas

COMING

TO

AMERICA

A JOURNEY OF FAITH

DR. ERIC TANGUMONKEM

Copyright by ERIC TANGUMONKEM, Ph.D.

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I THANK GOD for making it possible for this book to be written. Without Him working through us, the account recorded in this book would not have been realized.

Writing a book is not one man’s job; it has taken the efforts of many people to realize this project. First, I offer sincere thanks and gratitude to my wife, Elizabeth Tangumonkem, for encouragement, constructive criticism, and for letting me say it as it happened.

I am grateful to my mother, Celine Lekunze, and dad, Abraham Lekunze, for instilling the fear of God in me at an early age, praying for me daily, and for demonstrating a life of faith before us.

Many thanks to all the teachers and mentors who have impacted my life over the years, and especially to Pastor Bisong David for being there for me at my hour of greatest need.

Special gratitude goes to Dr. James Carter, my mentor, for proofreading and editing the manuscript, and encouraging me to complete this project.

I also want to thank all of my friends who allowed God to work through them for the account recorded in this book to be made possible.

Finally, due to unforeseen circumstances the winepress team dropped the ball on this project and without the dedication and commitment of the team at IEM Press, this book would not have been published; thank you for a job well done.

FOREWORD

On Friday, August 16, 2002, I met Dr. Eric Tangumonkem in the international student office at the University of Texas at Dallas apartment. We struck a friendship during our first week of classes and our friendship has grown over time. I have had the good fortune of seeing Eric and Elizabeth’s beautiful family blossom in the last ten years. This story is a testimony of what God can do.

Eric came to the United States in very extraordinary circumstances. He traveled alone to the U.S. when his newborn baby, Afaamboma, was only a few months old. His wife and Afaamboma remained in Cameroon during his first year in Dallas, as he sought to further his education and advance his career. These were difficult times for Eric, but he persevered and trusted the Lord to open doors for his family to join him.

God is taking care has been the rallying cry for Eric in bountiful times and in tough times. The pressures of life have not abated, but his trust in the Lord has stayed strong. The book of Psalms says of the righteous man:

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

-Psalm 1:3

This is a true story of how God has led and continues to lead the Tangumonkem family in these challenging times. In these tough economic times we need a remainder that;

It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.‘

-Matthew 4:4

I enthusiastically recommend Coming to America: A Journey of Faith.

Dr. Tony Musumba

Assistant Professor of Physics

Bismarck State College

North Dakota, USA

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

1. Why I Wrote this Book

2. Knowing My Father in Heaven

3. Ever-Increasing Faith

4. Go to America

5. America Here I Come

6. Against All Odds

7. Conversations with God

8. Let Go of the U.S

9. Pushed Against the Wall

10. Breakthrough at Last

Epilogue

Biography

CHAPTER 1

WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK

I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.

-Psalm 34:1

EVER SINCE I landed in the United States of America, the most frequent question people ask me is; Why did you come to America? This is followed by, Why the city of Dallas, Texas? And then by, Why the University of Texas at Dallas? These are excellent questions that need answers. This book attempts to answer these and other questions to the best of my ability.

I believe God asked me to come to America to pursue graduate studies at the University of Texas at Dallas as part of the preparation to fulfill His purpose and calling for my life, the call to extend God’s kingdom on earth by inspiring, equipping, and motivating others to reach their God-given potential.

This testimony is not about me and my family. It is about what God has done and continues to do in our lives. It is in keeping with the promise that we made to God that we will proclaim His wonders and handiwork on the mountaintops when He does them. What better way to do so than putting this in a book?

This is my side of the story, with the permission of my better half, Elizabeth, the mother of our four children. She is preparing to tell her own side of the story in the next book: Living in America: A Journey of Faith.

Above all, God alone deserves all the praise. He alone is to be worshiped and all the honor must be ascribed to him. Only then can we overcome the devil, for it is written:

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. -Revelation 12: 1 1

Note that this verse says the word of their testimony made them overcome the devil. This is made possible because testifying gives God the glory and removes the focus from us and puts it on Him. One of the greatest benefits for us is that our faith is strengthened, for we know the source of our victory is God and not us. Armed with this understanding, you will be able to overcome whatever challenge that may come your way. For you know that victory does not depend on you, but on God.

I am not testifying because I have everything in order; I am testifying because God’s answer to our prayers does not depend on us. That is why the Bible says:

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. -James 5:17-18

God is faithful and will back His word irrespective of what we think about it. His promises to us are yea and amen. God has and will He always keep His promises. You can count on them. These promises are the only sure foundation upon which you can build.

I am going to take you on a journey of my personal walk of faith with the Lord and will let you hear a firsthand account of some of the difficulties, questions, and challenges I faced and how the Lord brought me through them.

I state emphatically that God is alive and still answers prayers. He may not answer our prayers in the manner we want. He may not even answer them within the time frame we want. Delays do not change the fact that God is involved in every aspect of our lives and is almighty, all powerful, and able to do all He has promised.

God’s word is infallible and it is the basis of our faith. It is the sure rock on which we stand, the compass that guides us, the currency with which we can tap into His resources. Without God’s word our faith is just wishful thinking, and wishful thinking can only take us so far. Therefore, everything we do must be deep-rooted in Scripture and not on what is popular or necessarily makes sense to us.

We have our five senses to connect to the physical world. Our five senses have their place in our day-to-day lives. But mankind is body, soul and spirit. The only way the spirit-man can come alive in us is through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. When this faith transaction takes place, Jesus Christ comes to live in and through us, making living by faith an essential aspect of our lives.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -Galatians 2:20

Therefore, our walk of faith is not based solely on our ability, but on the faith of Christ, who lives in us. We follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and take one step after the other. After all, God does not always show us the complete picture. He paints one part, followed by the next and the next. Our faith

Reviews for Coming to America

[Ed Ruyter Sr. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I feel truly blessed that I decided about a week ago to do an internet search which led me to an article written by Dr. Eric Tangumonkem...many of us feel that we are experiencing difficulties in our lives...but the truth is, we ain't seen nothin'...Eric has endured hardships of the kind most of us can barely manage...but with a faith in God that surpasses anyone's that I know, he not only survived but prospered...from beginning to end, "Coming to America" is a testimonial of the miraculous works of our heavenly Father...