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Risks & Rewards

Aired December 30, 2002 - 14:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, while the risks seem to increase every year for humanitarian missions, groups say they're not going to be deterred. The needs are just too great. Joining us now, Dr. Jim Jennings, founder of Conscious International.
Jim, good to see you.

JIM JENNINGS, FOUNDER, CONSCIENCE INTL.: Hello.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's, first of all, talk about this hospital in Yemen. You've been there before, right? What can you tell us about this hospital?

JENNINGS: Yes. I visited the hospital, and it's been there for many, many years. And they have served, with incredible devotion, the people of Yemen. And I think they served 40,000 patients last year with 80 beds. These missionaries are such heroes. They are incredibly devoted. They go back, time after time again, even though there may be risks. And yet, they're not foolish; they are very cautious about their operations there. It's just that the American presence throughout the Middle East is now coming in conflict with a 300-year-old tradition, a fierce tradition, that has exploded in our faces, and that's the problem we're facing right now.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about preparations for missionary work. I mean, times have changed since 9/11, that is for sure. And, you know, even as journalists, Jim, we have to go through training now. We have to go through war school, before we go over into the area because, you know, there's a greater fear of something that could happen to us. Missionaries take the same risks. You know the threat of terrorism. You know how volatile these areas can get. What type of preparations do missionaries take part in? Do you have any type of war school training now, before you go?

JENNINGS: Well, the International Mission Board in Richmond has missionaries all over the world. And they are one of the best, I think, in terms of training their people. They train them for cultural sensitivity; they have to have that before they can go out into the field. Then they train them for security issues. And I think that's been heightened and upgraded, since September the 11th. But you know, there was -- in November 21, there was an American nurse killed in Lebanon and that is going to happen, I think, throughout not just the Muslim world, but throughout the world, unless we address the root causes of this problem and deal with it more effectively. But yes, they do have training. You can always look, in hindsight, and say we wish they had had more. PHILLIPS: Now, you go to Afghanistan quite regularly. I know you just got back from Baghdad. You are constantly doing mission work. What kind of preparations or how have you been maybe acting differently since this war on terror has taken place when you go overseas now?

JENNINGS: Well, one of the rules that sometimes are broken and people get killed because they don't follow them, is you don't go out and meet strangers. You don't go out and make yourself a spectacle in society. You try to keep a low profile, be as unobtrusive as possible. For women, in particular, they should dress modestly, according to the pattern of the country that they're in. They shouldn't get in a taxi alone, if they don't know the driver. Usually, you shouldn't meet people even who are strangers, no matter how friendly they may be, unless you have been introduced by a trusted friend. Once a trusted friend hands you over to that person, then you can trust your life to them.

And it's simple things like that. But every person who works in these parts of the world is always primarily aware of security concerns. They have to be looking over their shoulder at all times. They have to always be aware of who's around them, what clothes they're wearing, what tribe they may come from, what their intentions are. And you're not safe, unless you know what's in their mind and hearts. You can only do that by long association, by cultural relevance to the situation.

PHILLIPS: Well, I want to ask you another question, too. Not only are you a missionary, but you have degrees in Middle Eastern history. You have your doctorate. You know the whole cultural side, too. And this Muslim extremist who's now being held as the primary suspect in these killings says, quote, unquote, he did this "to get closer to god." Now, you understand the Muslim culture. Can you somehow add some insight to this?

JENNINGS: In fact, this goes all the way back to the time of George Washington. And if you go back and trace from about that period of history in the 18th century, the Wahabe movement started with a vengeance in what is now Saudi Arabia. And there's been a converging trajectory of ideologies from the West and from that particular section of the Muslim world, for about 300 years. So it takes some time for it to flower or develop. But right now, the radicals have been taught these mistaken doctrines.

And I think the way that we solve this problem is to make friends of the moderate Muslim countries and not really to go around with preemptive strikes and military muscle, as if we're going to do evil and then good will come. No, if you do evil, then evil will come. And I think the broader context says we have to look at the Wahabe movement in Arabia and how it started, and its modern disciples, and convince them. We won't be able to convince them, but the modern Muslim leaders will be able to convince them that they shouldn't do that and change their ideology. It's just going to take some time.

PHILLIPS: Now, from an intellectual standpoint, you have very strong feelings. Now from that passionate side, I have to ask you, as a missionary, why do you keep going back into these areas?

JENNINGS: Well, it's a compulsion that we and many people have. And there are many denominations, not just this particular denomination that are serving around the world with the heart of love for people. And that comes from our own personal religious experience. We're motivated by that. And these missionaries are absolute heroes. They are doing everything to show the people their true feelings of love. Add believe me, the people in Yemen know this, and they will be very angry, many of them, with the radicals for doing this action because it's shameful to them and they can see the acts of love that these missionaries do and, really, they appreciate it very much.

Dr. Jim Jennings, founder of Conscience International, thanks so much for your time.

JENNINGS: Yes, indeed.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 30, 2002 - 14:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, while the risks seem to increase every year for humanitarian missions, groups say they're not going to be deterred. The needs are just too great. Joining us now, Dr. Jim Jennings, founder of Conscious International.
Jim, good to see you.

JIM JENNINGS, FOUNDER, CONSCIENCE INTL.: Hello.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's, first of all, talk about this hospital in Yemen. You've been there before, right? What can you tell us about this hospital?

JENNINGS: Yes. I visited the hospital, and it's been there for many, many years. And they have served, with incredible devotion, the people of Yemen. And I think they served 40,000 patients last year with 80 beds. These missionaries are such heroes. They are incredibly devoted. They go back, time after time again, even though there may be risks. And yet, they're not foolish; they are very cautious about their operations there. It's just that the American presence throughout the Middle East is now coming in conflict with a 300-year-old tradition, a fierce tradition, that has exploded in our faces, and that's the problem we're facing right now.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about preparations for missionary work. I mean, times have changed since 9/11, that is for sure. And, you know, even as journalists, Jim, we have to go through training now. We have to go through war school, before we go over into the area because, you know, there's a greater fear of something that could happen to us. Missionaries take the same risks. You know the threat of terrorism. You know how volatile these areas can get. What type of preparations do missionaries take part in? Do you have any type of war school training now, before you go?

JENNINGS: Well, the International Mission Board in Richmond has missionaries all over the world. And they are one of the best, I think, in terms of training their people. They train them for cultural sensitivity; they have to have that before they can go out into the field. Then they train them for security issues. And I think that's been heightened and upgraded, since September the 11th. But you know, there was -- in November 21, there was an American nurse killed in Lebanon and that is going to happen, I think, throughout not just the Muslim world, but throughout the world, unless we address the root causes of this problem and deal with it more effectively. But yes, they do have training. You can always look, in hindsight, and say we wish they had had more. PHILLIPS: Now, you go to Afghanistan quite regularly. I know you just got back from Baghdad. You are constantly doing mission work. What kind of preparations or how have you been maybe acting differently since this war on terror has taken place when you go overseas now?

JENNINGS: Well, one of the rules that sometimes are broken and people get killed because they don't follow them, is you don't go out and meet strangers. You don't go out and make yourself a spectacle in society. You try to keep a low profile, be as unobtrusive as possible. For women, in particular, they should dress modestly, according to the pattern of the country that they're in. They shouldn't get in a taxi alone, if they don't know the driver. Usually, you shouldn't meet people even who are strangers, no matter how friendly they may be, unless you have been introduced by a trusted friend. Once a trusted friend hands you over to that person, then you can trust your life to them.

And it's simple things like that. But every person who works in these parts of the world is always primarily aware of security concerns. They have to be looking over their shoulder at all times. They have to always be aware of who's around them, what clothes they're wearing, what tribe they may come from, what their intentions are. And you're not safe, unless you know what's in their mind and hearts. You can only do that by long association, by cultural relevance to the situation.

PHILLIPS: Well, I want to ask you another question, too. Not only are you a missionary, but you have degrees in Middle Eastern history. You have your doctorate. You know the whole cultural side, too. And this Muslim extremist who's now being held as the primary suspect in these killings says, quote, unquote, he did this "to get closer to god." Now, you understand the Muslim culture. Can you somehow add some insight to this?

JENNINGS: In fact, this goes all the way back to the time of George Washington. And if you go back and trace from about that period of history in the 18th century, the Wahabe movement started with a vengeance in what is now Saudi Arabia. And there's been a converging trajectory of ideologies from the West and from that particular section of the Muslim world, for about 300 years. So it takes some time for it to flower or develop. But right now, the radicals have been taught these mistaken doctrines.

And I think the way that we solve this problem is to make friends of the moderate Muslim countries and not really to go around with preemptive strikes and military muscle, as if we're going to do evil and then good will come. No, if you do evil, then evil will come. And I think the broader context says we have to look at the Wahabe movement in Arabia and how it started, and its modern disciples, and convince them. We won't be able to convince them, but the modern Muslim leaders will be able to convince them that they shouldn't do that and change their ideology. It's just going to take some time.

PHILLIPS: Now, from an intellectual standpoint, you have very strong feelings. Now from that passionate side, I have to ask you, as a missionary, why do you keep going back into these areas?

JENNINGS: Well, it's a compulsion that we and many people have. And there are many denominations, not just this particular denomination that are serving around the world with the heart of love for people. And that comes from our own personal religious experience. We're motivated by that. And these missionaries are absolute heroes. They are doing everything to show the people their true feelings of love. Add believe me, the people in Yemen know this, and they will be very angry, many of them, with the radicals for doing this action because it's shameful to them and they can see the acts of love that these missionaries do and, really, they appreciate it very much.

Dr. Jim Jennings, founder of Conscience International, thanks so much for your time.

JENNINGS: Yes, indeed.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com