Mid-month news October 2024
Jim Harries
Glasses Found!
My glasses slipped out of my pocket, months ago, as I was riding in a matatu (local minibus, means of public transport). I knew I would never see them again … Meanwhile, someone kept shouting at me to stop as I cycled through our local market centre. I ignored him. (Unfortunately, 99% of times, when people want me to stop, they ask for money, and often are drunk.) Then I heard him say the word ‘ngolo’ as he shouted at me. (In the Luo language, glasses!) I stopped. He went to one of the matatus sitting there, reached into a glove department, and brought out and gave me my battered old glasses case, with the glasses in them!
Review of: The Air we Beathe: how we all came to believe in freedom, kindness, progress and equality. Highly recommended book!
Full review posted on amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1M72A1WDWE3IY/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Glenn Scrivener shows that Western values, that are today drawing immigrants from around the world to Europe, originate in the West’s historical devotion to the Christian faith. […] Read in reverse, the book represents the message that missionaries from the West ought to be carrying ‘to the rest’ of the world. It even tells them how to carry it; by persuasion, as Jesus did, not using money to buy them.
Worth the Miles
The underlying aim of my work here in Kenya, is to make Jesus known to people. Of course there are many means one can use to do this. Many these days spread the word using the internet. My means is often more ‘hands on’. So, on 25th Sep. 2024, I called a friend to ask where a midweek fellowship was to be held. It required about 12 miles of cycling. When I got there, I was told it was another 5 miles further on. On my way back home, I got soaked with rain. But, it seems to me, it was all worthwhile. I had 20 minutes to share to an attentive audience of about 12 women and 5 men in someone’s home, about Jesus, using their own language. What a privilege!
Missionary-Guide
Please pray for my anticipated ‘guiding’ a group of 10 to 12 American missionaries on 17th October. They are come here to Maseno, where they’ll be given a tour of the Coptic Orthodox Church. After that, I plan to accompany them on a visit to the Yala waterfalls. (I hope, some time before the end of the month, to host some Coptic and perhaps Americans missionaries at my home in Yala.)
What an Honour!
I was ‘forced to reflect’ on Saturday, what an honour it is, to be in a position in which I can simply show-up in such a variety of gatherings within a 10 mile-plus radius of my Kenyan home, and be given opportunity to share God’s word. On Saturday 28th, I actually cycled about 28km to get to a gathering. I have known the bishop to this church for many years. It is always encouraging when it happens – as on this occasion, that one gets the impression that people are very attentive and very challenged by what one shares!
Alliance for Vulnerable Mission – New Leadership Structure
Many of my supporters will know, that I have since 2007 been the chairman, and effectively ‘chief executive officer’, of the AVM (Alliance for Vulnerable Mission, vulnerablemission.org). I have very much valued the many openings this role has given me to encourage particularly Westerners to take global mission seriously. The AVM promotes what to me is vitally important – for some missionaries from the West to Africa to be ‘vulnerable’ (people who can, and do very carefully, listen to those with whom they do ministry). I have also been honoured to have worked together with a lot of very dedicated and competent people in the leadership of the AVM, as we have planned events, published materials, attended conferences, and so o
The AVM is now to go to a new level. Within weeks or months, the AVM is to be registered as a Verein in Germany. (Something like a charity in the UK, or a non-profit in the USA.) As it becomes a Verein, we have a new leadership structure. I am effectively handing over leadership of the Alliance to a colleague, Dr. Marcus Grohmann, a generation younger than me. He is to be the new Executive Director. (From Germany, he is a missionary who is heavily invested in academics, currently doing post-doc research in South Africa.) Deborah Bernhard, from the USA, is to be the deputy director. She has experience as a church planter among unreached Buddhists in Thailand. The new team taking over are, in my valuation, extremely well qualified to do so. The new team in a Verein will be able to get the word of vulnerable mission ‘out’ more effectively. Meanwhile, I hope that handing over will allow me more time to engage in field ministry here in East Africa. (Plus probably more writing, and less administration.) Please give thanks! Please pray for us in the transition. (More details in the days and months ahead.)
Report of South Africa Visit
Children practicing singing and dancing
Watch a 1-minute video, of children drumming and singing before the beginning of a Roho Church service in Gem, Siaya, Kenya, in October 2024. This was at a church that I attended on Sunday 29th September 2024.
Missions’ Conference, 4th to 5th October 2024
Give thanks for my participation at a mission’s conference held in Dallas, USA, 4th and 5th October 2024. I gave a presentation on the 4th, which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/29OdUrcdgYc It was a valuable time of learning and connecting with friends. (The conference is run by the EMS, Evangelical Missiological Society. It is basically an academic conference, attended primarily by Missions’ professors of universities.)
Give thanks for long-term influence
A young man (well, now not so young any more) had some participation in the local Bible teaching programme in which I was involved from 1994 to 2011. He approached me. ‘Jim, I want to open a Bible class’, he said, ‘and you are welcome’. I’ve been able to follow something of the discussions that have been going on from reports on the internet. It seems that much discussion occurs using English. This excludes me from participation. Nevertheless, I must rejoice, that my putting myself out to teach the Bible in my home area for 18 years, 20 years ago, is a part of the inspiration for this young pastor to endeavour to educate his colleagues in contemporary times.
Following Google Maps
I sometimes follow google maps, to find shortcuts, going to Churches or fellowships. Doing so can be pretty hazardous, as I discovered yet again on Sunday 6th October, when the path I was on suddenly descended almost vertically, to the level of a deep stream, in a surrounding of mud. This required me to man-handle my bicycle down to the stream, then pretty much to carry it on uncertain footing, back up a steep incline on the other side.
Best wishes to all,
Jim