Responsibilities:

• Language and culture study
• Evangelism and discipleship—both during work and outside of it
• Establish, run, or join a business that will be a meaningful presence in our community

Required Qualifications:

• Completion of Alliance Polity course
• Completion of the World Perspectives Mission Course (minimum of Certificate level) or equivalent
• A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 65
• The applicant must be meaningfully invested in their home church through the use of whichever giftings the applicant holds

Preferred Qualifications:

• Gifting in evangelism
• Gifting in church planting and discipleship of leaders

Biblical Characteristics Desired:

• Kingdom-minded
• Biblically grounded
• Spirit-dependent 
• Competently skilled
• Self-aware
• Self-disciplined

Timeline for Deployment:

Summer/fall of 2024. Following appointment, and once fundraising goals and other qualifications are met, the appointee is required to attend a cross-cultural and language-acquisition program and pre-field orientation prior to deploying.

General Information:

Our work is based in an urban area in an African country. The government is stable, and our city has a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Despite some economic growth in the past, the country grapples with poverty, unemployment, and high illiteracy rates, particularly post-Covid.

There is a national religion, and while there is a stated civil tolerance of other religions, familial and cultural persecution (as well as, more rarely, government persecution), follows conversion. It is estimated that 0.1% of this country is evangelical, although some are becoming disillusioned with the majority religion and the evangelical growth rate is estimated at 4.6% (for reference, the global growth rate is 2.6%).

Language Expectations:

Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive one year of intense language study followed by ongoing language and cultural acquisition. The goal will be to speak, read, and write the language at a functional level in order to mentor, teach, and train others.

The primary spoken language in this field is the national dialect. This dialect is a requirement for candidates filling this MOD. We expect all new team members to be in full-time language study for two years. We have a very good language study option in our city.

French can be helpful in this context (it is an official trade language), but is not a requirement.

Health Considerations:

There is access to adequate medical care in our city. We do, however, recommend traveling to Europe for major procedures.

Expectations for Spouse:

Spousal roles vary based on the spouse’s gifts, training, and abilities, as well as the needs of the team. It is expected that both spouses will be meaningfully involved in meeting ministry objectives, depending on the nature of family roles, children, etc.

Both spouses are considered vital parts of our team, and as such (following the leading of God and wise counsel) encouraged to engage in ministry. Each family unit is responsible to find the right balance of work, family investment, and rest for themselves.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options:

We have several options for schooling within our city. Private (French) schools, as well as an American and Canadian school, are available. Homeschooling is also an option.