Mid-month news November 2026
jimoharries@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
On language use interculturally in Africa, see my new substack post.
Intriguing Result – Bible study at Spiritual Church …
There is a certain large spiritual (Roho) church, with whom I have been relating for around 30 years (it is the biggest Roho church I am aware of in this area). That means, that I visit them, often for a mid-week fellowship, every two or three months, and occasionally on a Sunday (perhaps once or twice per year). Almost invariably when I visit them, I used to be asked to share from God’s Word.
In the last couple of years, I have been prohibited from sharing if I attend a mid-week fellowship, and not always given opportunity to share on a Sunday. I continue to go, and take the ‘rebuff’. To me, that is showing love to a people, rather than putting a notch in my stick – how often I get to preach, and to how many. I don’t know why I am no longer asked to share. There’s a few possibilities.
I was thoroughly amazed, when I attended their fellowship at the end of October. I was, again, told to introduce myself and greet people, but not to share a message. … Then I overheard talk about ‘Bible Studies’. I’d never known about any ‘Bible studies’ at Roho churches. (That does not mean there aren’t any. There may be, but I’ve not come across them.) “What?!” I thought … while saying nothing. “These days we start our Sunday services early, and start with a Bible study, and so and so (I don’t seem to know them) comes every Sunday and leads us through it,” someone explained, unprompted by me!
Humanly speaking, I want them to say “Your communication of a love for the Bible is what has made us now want to have Bible studies every Sunday.” Then I get the credit, and it’s a ‘foreign’ thing. Actually much better, that they, through appreciation of my Bible teaching, but via asking me to discontinue, then initiating their own thing, are 100% the owners!
I think much of my influence is of this ilk. People are inspired by my life and by the messages I share. This encourages them to do the same for themselves. Well, isn’t that actually BY FAR THE BEST outcome? What I know is, that those Bible studies, will be in local tongue, and will be engaging deeply with the local culture. My role – a seed that falls into the ground and dies.
Published Evaluation of Jim’s Work
Go here to read an article entitled “Decolonial or Paternalistic and Eurocentric? Jim Harries’ Concept of Vulnerable Mission in Light of His Critics”. This article has been written by the Director of the Alliance for Vulnerable Mission, Dr. Marcus Grohmann. It goes into great academic depth. It points to weaknesses in widespread criticisms of vulnerable mission.
Interviewed by Egyptian, and Vice-versa.
An Egyptian Coptic servant called Riad, who was here in Kenya for a while, recently interviewed me for a course in which he provides theological education to orthodox church leaders. Give thanks! God willing, I will make this podcast available at the end of the year. Pray for our plan for me to interview Riad in a podcast to give him opportunity to tell of what he is learning on his ongoing missionary journey. We plan to do this in December. Riad recently completed a PhD in Oxford, and is very involved in theological education across three or more continents
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Pictures above: a funeral I attended on 7th November 2026.
Losing the Battle against Chickens at Home
Some years ago, recalling the mighty stink in the house when a hen sitting on eggs released 24 hours’ worth of poo in one go, brought me to the conviction that chickens do not belong in a house with people.
One of the lads staying here is pleading to be allowed to look after chickens. Neighbours’ chickens are constantly around my house, often wanting to get into the house and frequently succeeding. I recently over-heard a household member commenting “The problem is that when visitors come it is hard for them to believe that we have a good reason for not slaughtering chicken for them, because neighbours’ chickens are all around!” (It is customary to slaughter a chicken to feed visitors.)
A couple of months ago, there was a broody hen sitting on eggs in a basin in our kitchen. I said nothing. She looked pretty harmless, lying there day in day out, minding her own business. Now we have a hen and chicks walking around all corners of the house. I seem to have lost the battle, and living with chickens in my house has become the order of the day.
Novel-writing Partnership
Give thanks for expert help I am getting in the writing of my proposed new novel. Justin Thayer, an accomplished fiction writer, is assisting me. Pray for this process, that we will be able to produce a novel that will be glorifying to God.
Justin Thayer teaches at a Christian high school in Ontario, Canada. He is passionate about science, math, and politics. He has four children, a wife, a rabbit, and two guinea pigs. He lived in the UK for 10 years. He met Jim at his local church during Jim’s visits to the UK.
Tanzania, Theological Teaching
I am due to begin my next Tanzania trip on 12th November, due back home 30th November. On my way there I am to visit one of my children, who is studying at a government university half-way to the Tanzanian border. In Tanzania, I am to teach on the New Testament, and on church history.
My Parents
Pray for both my parents, who are becoming more and more frail as a result of ageing. Mum is in a home. She is quite active, walking around, which is good, but she is as a result apt to bruise herself.
Best wishes,
Jim
Key Information
Jim is: Chair of the Governing Board, Alliance for Vulnerable Mission
Koordinator des Erweiterten Vorstands, Allianz für Verletzliche Mission
Jim’s Research output
Jim’s Personal website
Jim’s You tube channel
Jim’s Partnership with Stewardship Services, UK
Jim’s Membership of VDM (Vereinigte Deutsche Missionshilfe)
Jim’s link to Donate to Jim using pay pal