Theory to Practice in Vulnerable Mission: An Academic Appraisal - Hardcover

Harries, Jim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1498263003 ISBN 13: 9781498263009

Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2012

Synopsis

Missionaries from the West like to hit the ground running to solve as many of other people's problems as possible in the increasingly short term they have available for service. Hang on, says Jim Harries! After twenty-four years in Africa, observing how poverty, traditional practices, dependency, and misunderstandings continue, Harries asks, what is the point of bringing solutions that local people cannot reproduce? Harries challenges missionaries and development workers to counter dependency on the West by engaging in sustainable ministry that local people can imitate. This requires some Westerners to work on the basis of local languages and resources, a practice known as vulnerable mission. Rooted in personal experience, founded in a postmodern appreciation of language, drawing on anthropology, based in Christian theology, Harries provides a case for the necessity of vulnerable mission in the twenty-first century.

About this title

About the Author

Jim Harries (b. 1964) has a PhD in theology (Birmingham, UK) and degrees in Biblical interpretation, development and agriculture. Following a call to serve God in Africa, Jim has lived in Zambia then Kenya since 1988. Jim's ministry to indigenous churches, which includes bible teaching and relationship building, is engaged using the Luo and Swahili languages. Jim has many published articles related to his work in Africa. Jim chairs the Alliance for Vulnerable Mission.

My talk on Vulnerable Mission

Edition details

• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1498263003
• ISBN 13: 9781498263009
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 142