End-month news October 2026
jimoharries@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
Missionaries as Mediators Between Donors and Recipients
This article of mine has just got published. It will be publicly available in 3 months or 12 months’ time. It is in the EMQ (Evangelical Missions Quarterly). I argue, in this 3,000 word very ‘practical’ article, that in African contexts, wise Western missionaries who want to do effective work, should be the ‘sole’ link between those in the West who send and support them, and the people they work with on the ground.
Lecture Given at the Trellis International Training College
The title of my lecture was ‘’How to Understand African Languages’. It looked at the contextual dependence of language. The event was engaged entirely using the Swahili language. A total of about 50 people attended, including six Trellis college lecturers. I recorded the lecture, that took 3 hours (including a lot of interaction with students), and it is posted as a you tube here. (Just 1.5 hours long as I have cut out discussion times. Translation into English by you tube is pretty poor!) The intention, was to prepare students for sessions that should begin in January, that are to research African traditions and ways of life. We uncovered ways in which use of African languages in research can be very enabling for African people to understand themselves.
There were a lot of changes to when I last taught at this college in Kima in 2011. There are now a lot of nursing students, much fewer resident theological students, different dining arrangements, a very different ethos!
Uganda Trip
I left for Uganda on 14th October, then returned home on 17th October. In Uganda, I was able to participate in some activities at Uganda Christian University, in Mukono, just this side of Kampala. I was glad to be hosted by good long-term friends, Paul and Alison Bosson, for times of rest, a discussion or two, some swimming in a small pool, and some eating and drinking.
AVM Webinar
While in Uganda, I attended a webinar run by the AVM (Alliance for Vulnerable Mission), on 15th October. A lady reported on her work amongst Asian Muslims. What was striking to me, was the emotional content of what she presented. To her, Jesus was the refuge to whom deeply troubled Muslim women could retreat. She, and others, were ready to lend listening ears to stories of trauma, and thus to endeavour to lead women to a knowledge of Christ, without them having to abandon or be abandoned by, their families. Pray for this kind of patient work going on around the world, seeking to show the love of God to Muslims.
Egyptian Colleague
An Egyptian colleague (here seen crossing the Yala footbridge over the river Yala) came to visit my home on 21st October. We had good fellowship, together with a Bible study of 1 Corinthians chapter 2. He was doing visiting around a Coptic church that is near Yala before he came.
Amazing What’s Going On
Attended a church recently. A newish church plant, Few people. They need more people. One means of getting them, was to collect money from them, in anticipation of a donor handout. The blurb says, that everyone who donates 30p to sign up (equivalent to 30p of English money that is) will, in due course, received a £50 donation from the UK. There are scores of sign-ups …
Novel Revisions
Give thanks for the professional help I am being given assisting me to revise my two novels, African Heartbeat, and To Africa in Love. Pray for the whole process of revision, and of publication of second editions. Pray also for the new novel I am writing, and give thanks for the professional help I am getting there also.
Class for Missions’ Students
I am to tomorrow (26th October) be interviewed by a Missions’ professor, in English, as a basis for a class for missionaries and prospective missionaries in orthodox churches that he is teaching.
Furlough 2027
This is to remind folks, that God willing I am to be in Europe in March and April of next year. I am to reach Germany last day of February, then be in UK 8th March till around 25th April. The first half of that, I should be in Norwich, the second half in Andover. In-between times, with mum and other family.
Finance
Give thanks that my brother-in-law, Steve Cresswell, is now looking after my finances in the UK for me. I remain very grateful to all the generous donors who continue to contribute to my being able to stay on the field and do the valuable work in which I am engaged. For those who are able to contribute: I do really need an increase in income. Contact me for details, or see how to donate to Stewardship Services, through VDM, or through paypal, below.
Mum
Mum continues, mostly without much change, to hopefully be enjoying her time in a home in Fareham in Hampshire. Give thanks that other family members are able to visit her frequently. It is impossible to know how she finds life, as mum doesn’t talk. Her comprehension of things seems to be very minimal. She does like to walk around a lot, and I suspect enjoys having a lot of company, even though she doesn’t actually say that.
Yours,
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
