JIM HARRIES' WORK

From 1988 to 1991 I worked in Zambia under the AEF (now combined with SIM). Since 1993 I have been based in Kenya, near Kisumu. I am seconded to Church of God (Anderson, IN) Outreach Ministries through Kima International School of Theology. I am also affiliated with Serving in Mission and an adjunct faculty member of William Carey International University, Pasadena, Los Angeles, USA.

My work is primarily in Bible teaching. I am involved in three programmes:

a) Kima International School of Theology (KIST), affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson IN). KIST Board members represent Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, America and Canada. The school offers a three year Diploma and a four year BA programme in Bible and Theology. The enrollment is currently more or less 100 students.

b) Yala Theological Centre (YTC) based in a nearby village.

c) Siaya Theological Centre (STC) in the district centre of Siaya.

Both YTC and STC offer Bible training to people in villages and local churches using the Swahili and Luo languages. Classes are held weekly in various locations, most of which are reached by bicycle or on foot.

My outreach efforts are focused on indigenous churches. These include Roho, Singruok Tek, Roho Msalaba, African Israel Nineveh, Legio Maria, Zion Harvest Mission, Fweny, Wuoth e Chieng and many others. My activities include regular visits to these churches.

The support and encouragement of many Christians in the UK, Germany and the USA help to make this work possible. These include Andover Baptist Church, New Farm Chapel (Alresford), Wantage Baptist Church, Norwich Central Baptist Church (Norwich), Acomb Baptist Church (York), Freie Bibel Gemeinde, Worpswede (Germany) and Bruder-Gemeinde Osterholz Scharmbeck (Germany) and various friendships and relationships formed with Americans, particularly since coming to Kenya. I am very grateful to all these people and many others for their encouragement in this ministry.

In addition to these 'field' activities, I am in the process of arranging conferences on 'Vulnerable Mission' in the USA and Europe on behalf of the Alliance for Vulnerable Mission. For details contact jim @ vulnerablemission.com and see Alliance for Vulnerable Mission. The conferences promote the use of local, non-foreign, languages and resources in mission.