mid-month news December 2025
Mid-month news December 2025
Jimoharries@gmail.com
News-archive: jim-mission.org.uk
Dear Friends,
Last Message in German
Last Days in Germany
In my last days in Europe, I joined my cousin for a walk near the Czech border. I was staying in Dresden. It was fun exploring the countryside walking through an inch of snow. The German authorities had put together some ‘adventure trails’ that we traversed together on foot. (Yes, I did wear my sandals throughout.)
Here is where we were: https://www.basteibruecke.de/kuhstall-saechsische-schweiz/#google_vignette
Africans Should …
It was interesting while in Europe, periodically to be told what Africans ‘should be’ doing, and ‘shouldn’t be’ doing. They should be understanding theology and other things as Europeans do, and they shouldn’t be giving any credence to their ancestors.
Usually, as you may guess, I struggle to see things in quite such a straightforward way! To me, when Africans seem to do theology as Europeans do, look out; they may be pretending.
On the second point, I don’t see how they can, while in their communities in Africa, just release themselves from their ancestors so simply. I look at it like this: One cannot live without guidance from rules and customs. People in the West are replete with these. Some written and recognized (e.g., how to legally get married), others not written but simply practiced, (like when standing at someone’s door, ring the bell). We pick these things up from daily life, TV, newspaper, internet, informal conversations, written records and so on.
We should remember that traditionally African communities are oral. They know what to do from conversations or oral declarations. Aside from recently the Bible, they often have no written law codes or recommendations. Older people guide them. The older people base what they know from people older than them, and so on, i.e., the ancestors. For this not to happen would require an alternative replacement that fits or is fitted to people’s contexts. Such a comprehensive replacement seems to be unavailable.
Hitting the Ground
While in UK and Germany, I periodically told people what happens to my understanding of Africa when I’m in Europe. It very soon gets twisted. There are things that folks in Europe are determined to believe about African people. The pressure to conform with what Europeans think when in Europe is almost unassailable. The longer I stay in Europe, the more my head gets twisted into European shape.
Then when I get back to my home in Kenya, things fairly soon turn around again. 30th November, my first full day back at home, our preacher cited Joshua 3:5 as his key text. The NIV says: “Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” In place of consecrate, the Luo has ‘puodhori’. In place of ‘amazing things’ it has hono. Puodhori so as to get hono sounds very different from the English version. It is deeply cloaked in Luo history and traditions. Puodhori (cleanse yourself) from curses arising allows thriving and prosperity. Puodhori, for Luo Christians, arises from the blood of Jesus. ‘‘We’ need to take advantage of the blood of Jesus in order to thrive (prosper)’, was the resultant message. This seemed to be taken 100% seriously by all present. From what were they wanting to be cleansed? Certainly from ways in which their ancestors were troubling them for their failures to keep traditional law. So, when the Bible is translated, a lot changes!
For people who are supposed to believe in rationality and cause and effect, Europeans have their heads firmly in the sand when it comes to understanding others around the world. This is far from adequate in our day of globalization. Things change slowly. So, how can we expect African communities to suddenly, in one or two generations, line themselves up to be ‘the same’ as European people? This is totally impractical. When people in Europe and America say ‘people are like x, y, z’, they should not be believed. They ought to specify ‘We European people are like’ … The assumption that others are the same as European people, is often plain wrong.
This issue does not only apply to Africans. There are many different cultures around the world. Some of those cultures are deeply influenced by what some call ‘religions’. An author called Mark Durie picks up on this issue for Islam. “The blindness of Western people to certain features of Islam can be because they project their understandings of Christianity onto it.”[1] The same applies to African ways of life. Western people can be extremely naïve. Naivety can be dangerous. Naivety can misinform. There is an urgent, if not desperate, need for Christian mission and other intercultural endeavours to take the reality of who other people are seriously. This is one of the things we are promoting in the AVM (Alliance for Vulnerable Mission).
Anticipated Presentation – Bible Translation
I recently got an email from the coordinator to the anticipated Bible Translation conference to be held in Germany in May. He tells me that as things stand, we have too few contributors. Pray for more to come forward to share papers. It was encouraging to receive the following comments on my proposed paper, that I recently submitted to him: “Thank you so much for your always excellent contributions. The topic you are proposing this time is also extremely interesting, and I truly appreciate your willingness to be involved.” (Bible Translation is an important ministry in which I take a lot of interest.)
‘Under Local Leadership’
A colleague and I are to be involved in a discussion at a webinar in April 2026. The topic is, missionaries coming under local leadership. I find it is vitally important to come under local leadership. But also extremely difficult. Please pray for our preparation for this webinar. (for more information on our quarterly webinars go here.)
Evangelistic Ministry
As I write, I have been back in Kenya for 11 days. In those 11 days I have attended 9 evangelistic events. I have taught or preached at 7 of them. Six of my messages were in the Luo language, one in Swahili. Give thanks and pray for this ongoing ministry.
Mum
Mum was admitted to Basingstoke hospital with a lung infection just over 2 weeks before I came to Kenya. The NHS is searching for a new home for her to go to, that has the capacity to help her given her situation and outstanding issues.
Thanks for your prayers.
WISHING YOU ALL A GOOD AND MERRY CHRISTMAS, REMEMBERING THAT JESUS’ COMING MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
Jim
[1] Durie, Mark. UK Grooming Gangs and Islam. Christian Concern, 2025. PDF. https://christianconcern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CC-Resource-Report-Grooming-Gangs-Mark-Durie-2511112.pdf 9
