Bane and Barbara James: World Class Joy

Effective ministry flows from a network of connections linking God's people to his purpose and to each other in a team effort. The human- “Earth”  team must partner with Heaven should it hope to accomplish any eternal good. This is God’s Kingdom, his church and his project. Therefore, the Lord instructed his disciples to first wait in Jerusalem and be empowered by the Holy Spirit before taking the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.

They waited on Him in prayer. As they prayed together they forged deep unity. In the fullness of time, on the day of Pentecost, they were filled with the fullness of God. Immediately they moved into the streets of Jerusalem. From that powerful evangelistic beginning the church was born and what we know today as “missions” was begun.

What was the definitive sign that something had changed for those early missionaries? The onlookers thought the upper room folks were intoxicated. Such was their joy and boldness, people were amazed. In fact, one might title Peter’s sermon, (the first message of the Christian era) “the Reason for our Joy: the presence in us of the Holy Spirit”).  “…and in your presence, there is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11b)

Bishop B.E. Underwood was a great visionary. When he was executive director of World Missions, he formally recognized the importance of prayer to global evangelism by establishing the World Intercessors Network (WIN) as a foundational ministry of IPHC WMM. Bane and Barbara James were the founding directors of WIN. They exemplify the joy, power and influence that flow from the presence of God. True intercession while experiencing moments of brokenness, is characterized by abounding joy. In fact, I believe joy is the principle evidence of the Pentecostal Christian, church and missionary. Bane and Barbara have “world class joy”. 

I used a blue-green and purple background for the painting. The textures suggest movement, tension and even conflict. I believe the supernatural is a place of great activity and intercession means entering into the tension without becoming overcome by it. Purple is the priestly color. Remember the robe they placed on Jesus (Mark 19:1-2)? The blue-green suggests eternal life: it is the color of evergreen trees. These colors suggest eternal life and priestly influence.

Against that background in the gap are the 2 intercessors. They are painted in flesh tones of pink, orange and red. There are no textures, drawing the eye to their faces and giving it a place to rest. That is what Spirit empowered joy does, it draws the troubled soul to itself and offers it rest in the presence of God.

No one does that better that Bane and Barbara James. How important must be prayer and Pentecostal empowerment to filling the earth with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea!