posted on January 18, 2022
aXcess: Church Planting and Disciple Making in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Are you interested in working in a multi-ethnic country? What about one with a post-war environment—even though the war ended in 1995? Or one that has very few believers? Are you spiritually prepared to live in a place where Satan’s strongholds are as ancient as the incredible mountains? Are evangelism and disciple-making part of your gifting?
Explore the opportunity to share the love of Christ in central Bosnia where the door is opening to the gospel. Consider joining a regional team that is establishing healthy churches—a team that is in it for the long haul. It’s hard work that requires determination and perseverance, and it just might be a perfect fit for your skill set.
We will mentor you as you learn the language and culture. As a team, we work closely with the national church to change Bosnia’s future one heart at a time. Feel inadequate? Powerless? Jesus is simply asking you this, “Can you tell them I love them? Can you tell them that I see what they have been through, and I have not forgotten them?”
Position Type
- International worker (IW)—aXcess—Clergy or Vocational Track
- Church planting, discipleship, evangelism, and holistic ministry
- Partially funded
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Learn the local language and adjust to local culture
- Build relationships with people from the local culture, usually in a café or during home visits (80–90% of the adult population smokes, so this isn’t always the most pleasant atmosphere, but the relationships are worth it)
- Be an active part of building and leading the local church or gathering of believers by attending, contributing to, and possibly leading weekly Bible study discussions or other types of events as a part of the church planting/development effort
- Communicate effectively with supporting churches and individuals
- Share the gospel on a regular basis and disciple new believers
- Participate in holistic ministry as determined by the local team
Required Qualifications:
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Completion of at least 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies
- Note: The spouse must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree, have strong ministry experience, and have completed the C&MA Polity course and at least 18 hours of Bible/theology and 15 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of six hours in cross-cultural or missions studies).
- A minimum of two years of successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience
- Completion of Alliance ordination/consecration (all single applicants or one partner per couple)
- 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 50
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ministry experience working in either education or women’s wellness
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:
Bosnia-Herzegovina is a cultural melting pot where East and West collide. Furnished apartments, public transportation, and Wi-Fi are all available in areas where team members live. Team members normally live in urban areas but may travel regularly to more rural areas within a few hours’ drive from their homes. The countryside is breathtaking, and local people pride themselves on their generous hospitality. Approximately 25% of Bosnia’s population lives within a half hour of Sarajevo.
World Factbook—Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Joshua Project—Bosnia-Herzegovina
Language Expectations:
Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive two years 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.
Depending on individual skill and determination, Bosnian will likely require several years to master.
Health Considerations:
Hospitals, pharmacies, and public and private clinics are available for most health-care needs.
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.
Children’s Educational Plan and Options:
There are both local and international schools in several major cities. Parents can choose which option will best fit the needs of their children. For children in high school, Black Forest Academy in Germany is a great option.
Compensation Package
The successful applicant(s) will receive a full compensation package with the expectation that, once appointed, efforts will be made to raise a portion of support costs through the applicant’s network of friends, family, local church, or other resources. Information on support costs will be made available upon application. Training and/or coaching in fundraising is available.
Importance Clarification
Applicant(s) should be aware that serving in the international world often requires a higher degree of grace and flexibility. For example, overseas teams can be suddenly and unexpectedly impacted by illness, government decisions, financial realities, team changes, or other factors beyond the team’s control. The challenge for applicants is that these factors can sometimes necessitate the sudden redefining of a position, which may take place before, during, or after the application/interview process has begun or is completed.
Questions?
Please email the IPO office at [email protected].
Whole-Life Health
As part of an evangelical denomination, we are committed to biblical holism, which is modeled and reflected through our work. Due to this commitment, part of the required qualifications includes optimal emotional, spiritual, and physical health. These will be assessed during the application process.