Articles and books
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New book released in April 2025!
Vulnerable Mission for Practitioners
A Simple—yet Challenging—Guide to Cross-cultural Service without Dominance
Edited by Deborah Bernhard and Marcus Grohmann
This little book in non-academic language is an introduction to vulnerable mission that is both comprehensive and compact. The short chapters, written in accessible language, present clearly how vulnerable mission differs from other approaches to mission. They explain why (more of) vulnerable mission is important. The book closes with some simple and concrete steps towards more vulnerable weakness in cross-cultural ministry.
Book Availability
- Paperback & PDF eBook – via our website, offered on a donation basis.
- If you’d like a copy, simply email us with the version and quantity you require, and we will arrange to send it via email or post.
- Please note: The paperback version from our website is only available for postal delivery within Europe.
- Kindle Edition – Available on Amazon for $5.50 / £4.20 / €5.00.
- Paperback Edition – Coming soon on Amazon.
An exploration of the thought and practice of ministry in vulnerable weakness
Paul Planted, Apollos Watered, but God
Vulnerable Weakness in Ministry and Mission
Edited by Christopher Sadowitz and Jim Harries
The book comes in three parts. The first five chapters lay the biblical-theological foundations for vulnerable weakness in ministry and mission. The second part considers culture and vulnerable weakness in ministry and mission, and the last part provides a number of case studies. A book suitable for those wanting to dive deeper into the theology, philosophy and practice of vulnerable mission.

Book Availability
- Paperback, Hardcover & eBook – Via the publisher Wipf & Stock.
- Paperback and Kindle Edition – Available on Amazon.
Further articles and books on vulnerable mission
Harries, Jim. “How Western Anti-Racism Harms Africa and How We Can Do Better“. Chichester: Faithbuilders, 2021. (See on Amazon).
Sadowitz, Chris and Harries, Jim (eds). Paul Planted, Apollos Watered, but God: Vulnerable Weakness in Ministry and Mission. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2023. (See on Amazon).
More works by Jim Harries on Vulnerable Mission, from shorter articles to books, can be found on his personal website as well as on Amazon.
The case for using local resources
Maranz, David E. African Friends and Money Matters, Second Edition: Observations from Africa. 2nd ed. Dallas, TX: SIL International, 2016. (See on Amazon).
The case for using local languages
Harries, Jim. Communication in Mission and Development. Relating to the Church in Africa. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock, 2013. (See on Amazon).
Vulnerable mission in practice
Harries, Jim. African Heartbeat and A Vulnerable Fool. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2019. (See on Amazon).
Horst, Willis, Ute Paul, and Frank Paul, eds. “Mission without Conquest: An Alternative Missionary Practice“. Carlisle: Langham Global Library, 2015. (See on Amazon).
Grohmann, Marcus. “A Foolish Proposal? Vulnerability as an Alternative Attempt to Contribute to Decolonisation and Reconciliation in Post-Colonial South Africa“. Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies 37, no. 2 (April 2020): 140–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265378820910452 (free manuscript available here).
Johnson, Jean. “We Are Not the Hero: A Missionary’s Guide to Sharing Christ, Not a Culture of Dependency“. Sisters, OR: Deep River Books LLC, 2012. (See on Amazon).
Johnson, Jean, and Darryl Meekins. “We Are Not The Hero – The Participant’s Guide“. CreateSpace Publishing, 2018. (See on Amazon).
Further reading
Texts and books we find inspiring
Bessenecker, Scott. Overturning Tables: Freeing Missions from the Christian-Industrial Complex. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2014. (See on Amazon).
Brown, Brené. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Reprint Edition. New York: Avery, 2015. (See on Amazon).
Corbett, Steve and Fikkert, Brian. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014. (See on Amazon).
Lidstone, Julyan. Give Up the Purple: A Call for Servant Leadership in Hierarchical Cultures. Langham Global Library, 2019. (See on Amazon). – available also in Arabic, Farsi, German, Mandarin and Turkish. For an eBook-Version in Arabic and Farsi, please send a request via email.
Oblau, Gotthard and Währisch-Oblau, Claudia “Invite into your learning community!” What the “Great Commission” really says. In: Währisch-Oblau Claudia (ed.) Mission – still on? Why we need postcolonial perspectives’. United Evangelical Mission, 2025, pp. 43–57. (Download here).
Reese, Robert. Roots and Remedies of the Dependency Syndrome in World Missions. Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library, 2010. (See on Amazon).
Schwartz, Glenn J. 2007. When Charity Destroys Dignity: Overcoming Unhealthy Dependency in the Christian Movement. AuthorHouse. (See on Amazon).