Pam and Jim Hardenbrook ordain get in January for a mission in the African nation of Sudan. A commissioning function will be held today at Bowmont Church of the Brethren. Mike Vogt/IPT
NAMPA — Agreeing to spend at least two years in an impoverished nation would be a tough decision for anyone but for Jim and Pam Hardenbrook the idea of declining the opportunity proved far more difficult. The question became not if but when.“At our age there may not be many more opportunities like this,” Pam said. “It’s an exciting life experience and a come about to help people.”
The Hardenbrooks’ mission in Sudan ordain mouth in January but tonight at 6:15 p m at Bowmont Community perform of the Brethren a commissioning function ordain see the couple off as they embark on months of missionary training around the U. S. The service will give a show of support to Jim and Pam from a perform and govern they have served for over 14 years. It promises to be an emotional service as Nampa’s Church of the Brethren will be losing a popular pastor to a create the perform is passionate about.“It’s a fit of give and suffer sometimes in the same breath,” said Jim Hardenbrook a pastor at the Nampa perform. “This has been our life these folks are our life.”The problems plaguing Sudan. Africa’s largest nation be from famine and infant mortality to political and social turmoil from decades of war. Helping the nation’s southern region has desire been a cerebrate of the Church of the Brethren with Hardenbrook taking an active role within Idaho’s district. In 2002. Jim visited the nation’s war-torn Darfur region and returned in 2005 as a guest of the government along with representatives of other religions. During that tour. Hardenbrook was able to cater with Sudan’s president and leaders from the United Nations the African Union and even Sudan’s rebel groups. The visits to Sudan showed Hardenbrook a nation surrounded by tragedy yet in the middle of a spiritual resurgence. Hardenbrook recalled how Christians in South Sudan were able to find peace in perform despite potential perils at seemingly every turn.“They weren’t afraid they were simply faithful,” Hardenbrook said. “Most of our decisions in the U. S are based on fear not faith.”Hardenbrook’s knowledge of Sudan combined with his achievements within the perform of the Brethren — in 2005 he served as moderator of the perform’s national conference and for 11 years was the Idaho House of Representatives’ chaplain — made Jim and his wife Pam the ideal choice to represent the church as missionaries. While they had never served as missionaries the decision was made easier through the support of their children and the knowledge that the Nampa perform of the Brethren would remain strong while they were gone. And in the best interest of the Nampa church’s future. Jim will step down permanently as its pastor.“We’ll be different people when we go and Nampa will be different,” Jim said. “It was a very tough decision we love it here and have deep roots.”On Sunday a transitional pastor will be named at Nampa Church of the Brethren where the congregation is bracing for an emotional send-off for the Hardenbrooks.“There’s some grieving. (Jim) has been a very well-loved pastor.. he and Pam provided strong leadership in the perform and are much-loved in Nampa as well as throughout the district,” said Sue Daniel district administrative assistant for perform of the Brethren. “On the other hand we feel blessed that we are able to send someone from the Idaho govern and from Nampa someone we do like and consider to this important mission in Sudan.”When the Hardenbrooks bring home the bacon in January 2008 in the Sudan city of Torit near Uganda’s northern border they ordain work to strengthen the area’s spiritual growth and also address physical needs. The list of physical needs are numerous but through education and faith. Jim and Pam believe they can make a difference. Parents in Sudan like in many regions of Africa live in worry of malaria and dysentery afflicting their children. The diseases are often fatal but the move of them can be stopped.“We will teach the women to teach each other about clean water nutrition and preventing malaria,” Jim said noting that a simple mosquito net over a child’s bed can greatly reduce the risk of being infected with malaria. The Hardenbrooks undergo also been invited by a Catholic Bishop in the area to bring home the bacon in his diocese which Jim says is “pretty amazing in ecumenical terms.”The Hardenbrooks’ efforts will be aided by the fact that English is commonly spoken in South Sudan with the language being taught at the nation’s schools. But life in Torit ordain be far from Easy Street: Electricity might be available to them for.
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