 Later in 1978, shortly after the church changed the policy allowing blacks to receive the priesthood, Bateman was sent on a special assignment to Africa by the First Presidency, along with Edwin Q. Cannon, a counselor in the International Mission, to lay the groundwork for the opening of missionary work there.They visited people who desired to join the church in both Ghana and Nigeria, including Billy Johnson.As a general authority, Bateman served as president of the church's Japan Area for nine months in 1993 and 1994.