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. Endorsements: "Dependency comes in many
shapes and sizes. In this provocative work, Jim Harries deals with
them all, . . . not only . . . issues of financial dependency but
also those that come in linguistic, communicative, translational,
and theological forms. Harries writes with both theological and
missiological depth but also great personal wisdom . . . Theory to
Practice in Vulnerable Mission is a must-read for anyone concerned
with empowerment, indigeneity, dependency, and mission."
--Christopher Flanders Associate Professor of Missions Abilene
Christian University "Jim Harries's analysis of LIFE Outreach
International and his prophetic warnings of Christian development
work is a voice that the Majority World has been waiting for to
emerge. The practical suggestions assist us to open our eyes wide
so that in our praxis we do not become unwitting agents of
neo-colonialism in the twenty-first century but rather more
effective disciples of Christ . . . in our now globalized
community." --Tomas Enrique Dozier Founder and Community Director
of the Association for Development through Education (ADE) Author
Biography: Jim Harries (PhD, University of Birmingham) is the
chairman of the Alliance for Vulnerable Mission
(vulnerablemission.org). He lives in Siaya County, Kenya.
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