Have the recent terrorist attacks on the United States changed the way we do Missions? It seems that most Americans are preoccupied with the troubles at home since the attacks. This is understandable, but the fact of the matter is: we need to maintain our mission base.
The church in the U.S. for many years has been a foundation and a sending base for world missions. Any house or organization that doesn’t have a strong foundation will crumble when the storm pressures come.
What are the missionaries throughout the world saying? “Don’t forget about us and the Lord’s work in the Nations!” Wars and conflicts are always a hindrance to the spread of the Gospel. These types of things tend to close the hearts of the people involved.
Here are three types of hindrances:
- The Devil uses UNFORGIVENESS AND HATRED to harden the hearts of people. The Muslim world needs Jesus and they are not running to the Christian church to find Jesus.
- Wars and conflicts hinder COMMUNICATION. The flow of information in regards to mission work is slowed down or sometimes stopped. Depending upon which nation the missionary is living and working in, the government may listen in or discontinue electronic mail, telephone faxes and etc. They may even hinder the flow of finances that support the mission work.
- Another hindrance is TRAVEL. The boarders get tighter and security increases. Not too many years ago when a missionary left the States, he would not return for a furlough for about ten years and would have very little communication with family and supporters.
Missionaries travel much more nowadays. We at JHM had a church team scheduled to come from the U.S. to Minsk, Belarus to evangelize, work with orphanages and do children’s ministry. Their departure date was just a few days after the September 11th attack. They decided to cancel because to the possible danger of air travel.
When a short-term mission team comes from the U.S. or Canada it means more souls in the Kingdom and advancement of the church. In this case we are planning for them to come next year. The work will get done, but only with a short delay.
As for the Russian-speaking world, we have great favor. Since the attacks many nationals have come to me personally to express their sympathy. Many in the Russian church are now inquiring more about Bible prophecy and what will happen next.
Some people in the States say “our lives will never be the same.” I believe “the way we do missions will never be the same.”
Jim has been an active leader in the local church for many years. Some of the areas he has worked in include pastoring, teaching, altar counseling, singles ministry, youth ministry, prison ministry, ministry to the deaf, evangelistic outreaches, church building projects, hosting mission teams, and church planting.
Jim ministers with an emphasis on teaching and facilitating unity among believers. For many years now his heart has been stirred to serve the Lord abroad with a calling to the Russian-speaking people wherever they may be. Jim has helped many in this people group to know Christ and grow in their relationship with Him. Jim has also worked in the Far East of Russia. There he assisted the Christian churches in the areas of growth and unity by giving counsel conducting seminars and leadership schools.
Jim Harper is married to Tanya and they have three children: Anna Marie, Natasha Joy and Jimmy Andrew.