Several months ago I had the chance to interview Kent Annan about his new book “Following Jesus Through The Eye Of The Needle: Living Fully, Loving Dangerously” and his work with Haiti Partners. I was inspired by the Annan’s devotion to follow Jesus into a very costly life of service and mutuality. As part of the promotion for the book, IVPress and Haiti Partners held a writing contest, offering a 5 day trip to visit the ministry in Haiti as a prize for 6 winners. I eagerly threw my hit in the ring.
It was not long after I submitted my entry that the earthquake devastated the island nation. Needless to say, the contest was the last thing on my mind. In the last few months, people like Kent (and other champions of mercy and justice I greatly respect) have done their best to help all of those devastated by the quake. After the initial emergency aide was in place, Haiti Partners and IVPress decided that, while they would continue with the contest, the visit to the country would obviously have a different focus.
Yesterday afternoon my cell phone rang and, on the other end, was Kent Annan. Having expected the announcement a day earlier, his call took me off guard. However, I was thrilled to hear that I was one of six people selected to join Kent for 5 days in Haiti. I did not anticipate winning the writing contest, especially since my entry was submitted before the earthquake. Here is an excerpt:
Two days after the events of September 11th, 2001, I joined a group of fellow missionaries in Vancouver to pray for all those impacted by the acts of terror. When we arrived at our office, we were met by police and the coroner. In the night, beneath the under hang of our parking spot a young man over-dosed on heroin. His body lay cold and alone until someone spotted his body.
While in no way diminishing the importance of why we had gathered to pray, that moment disrupted the rest of my day and eventually my very life. The death of this nameless man- hungry, thirsty, lonely, naked, sick and in the prison of addiction- forced me to realize that, while I had come to the city to “bring Jesus”, He had died under my nose without my ever knowing His name…
I would ask that you keep me in prayer as a prepare for this journey. Our hosts have made it clear that this is no tourist vacation, but a welcome into the very beautiful, yet struggling life of the every-day Haitian. While all expenses are paid for, I do have to cover the cost of flying to Florida. Please prayer that I can raise the $500 or so to secure a ticket.
Not everyone gets a chance like this and I am humbled and honoured. Even without going, you can make an impact on these peoples lives, just as they will undoubtedly make an impact on mine. Check out Haiti Partners for more information (and Haiti Partners Canada).
As a missionary, it is perhaps odds that I have never been a fan of reading missionaries biographies. The title of Kent Annan’s new book, however, immediately got my attention. “Following Jesus Through the Eye of the Needle” (Likewise Books / IVPress) is not your typical missionary story. What set it apart is the honest and frank way Kent tells his story. After all, if someone as human as Kent can do what he did, it leaves little excuse for us.
However, rather than me try to tell you, I decided to let Kent put it in his own words. I hope you enjoy the interview. Be sure to check out the video at the end and get involved in the exciting contest connected to this great book.
Jamie Arpin-Ricci: In brief, what is the story you tell in your book?
Kent Annan: My wife and I got on a plane one day in the middle of winter, took our jackets, hustled into the airport, and, sight-unseen, moved to Haiti. Within 24 hours we were living with a Haitian family–subsistence farmers out in the countryside, with no running water or electricity. We had one small room in their tin-roof house. We started learning the language quickly–because there was no other choice! More importantly, we started learning more about how to serve. We lived with this family (who dear friends to this day) for seven months, then moved to Port-au-Prince to work on education issues. Meanwhile the country was spiraling toward the ouster of the president. A volatile time. The external story is working to help our friends in Haiti during societal upheaval and danger. The internal story is how do I (and whoever reads it) try to follow Jesus seriously–while being honest and often quick to laugh at the stumbles along the way.
KA: Jesus meets this rich young man who really wants to know God and salvation. But then Jesus tells him the cost…and he slumps away, unable to give away all he has and follow Jesus. I’ve been that young man many times in my life. If you’re a middle-class (or higher) North American Christian, you too might have slumped away at times from Jesus’ call and our neighbors’ needs. So this is my story of trying to follow–not perfectly–that invitation Jesus gave to the rich young many in Mark 10. The cover of the book is a really powerful photo of a boy in a slum of Port-au-Prince. It’s provocative too–his alleyway is the eye of the needle, with the boy standing in the way. And I believe Jesus is inviting us not because he wants us to be uncomfortable–but because he wants us to lead a better life of discipleship. So the title is about Jesus’ invitation toward what’s hard but good!
JAR: What do you want readers to walk away with when they finish reading?
KA: I want them to have a hard time putting the book down–that is, I want you to really enjoy good sentences and wanting to finding out what happens next. Also, I want you as a reader to feel like I’ve been really honest with you–this is not a typical ministry or missionary book. It’s warts, doubts, stumbles, fears, and all (which includes laughter and joy too!). Finally, I want you as a reader, to feel like this connects with you right where you are (not just in Haiti). I want it it to connect with your experience of faith and finding your way toward justice and helping others.
JAR: Which contemporary writers have been most influential and helpful to you on your faith journey?
KA: I admire the honest faith of people like Philip Yancey. I admire Kafka’s search for truth and creative way of communicating it. Same with Flannery O’Connor. Doestoevsky puts doubt and deep faith on pages right next to each other. Memoirists like Anne Lamott, are deeply faithful but brutally honest about the bumps along the way. A completely different list could pop into mind tomorrow night! These weren’t all contemporary, but they come to mind now. In my faith journey, I’m influenced by writers who I find profoundly honest, ready to laugh (first of all at themselves and then in general), and also approach literature more as a way to take me (as a reader) along on an interesting, faithful journey rather than preaching at me.
JAR: Tell us about the writing/video contest connected to the book (see video below).
KA: Hope you can join us! This book is about active faith–so we thought we’d give people a chance come to Haiti with me and experience the world and ideas of the book. Unfortunately, we can’t take everyone along. So there’s a contest. People can write a brief essay or make a video to enter. The trip is active and personal, just like the book. We’d love to have you enter.
JAR: Tell us about Haiti Partners. What is it? How can we get involved?
KA: 100% of my author proceeds from this book go directly to education in Haiti. Specifically, Haiti Partners helps Haitians change Haiti (because ultimately the change comes from them, not us) through education. In a place where only 50% of children are able to attend school and 80% of people live on less than $2 a day, our education work is focused on four main groups of people: students, teachers, leaders, and disciples. So the first way people could get involved is (if you like it!) is to share the book with your church, read it together in a small group, and let others know about it–because people will hopefully benefit from reading it and the book benefits education in Haiti. Second, I’d invite you to check out http://www.haitipartners.ca (or http://www.haitipartners.org for Americans). If what we do resonates with you, then we’d love for you to get involved. We give specific ways that can make it possible for more Haitian children go to school or helping a church get Bibles. All of this–the book and this work–is about wanting to follow Jesus and do justice. And it seems together and as individuals, we’re supposed to be humble in our approach, but bold in our vision and commitment.
JAR: Tell us something unique about yourself that would never know unless you told us.
KA: Hmm, you’ll learn lots about me in the book, since I didn’t think it was valuable or interesting if I glossed over things about the experience! I always joke with Haitian friends about learning to climb a coconut tree by just bare hand and feet, but I watch friends do it and it’s way too scary for me. So I can’t claim that unique (for a North American) skill. Is it unique that I’ve recently regained my skill at Chutes & Ladders (it was Snakes instead of Chutes when I was a kid, but maybe that’s too scary now) with my daughter? Sorry, I don’t have a great response on this one. I guess “lived in Haiti” is my final answer.
