posted on January 1, 2024
aXcess: Community Center Ministry in Kosovo
Join a multicultural team working to reach Kosovars in a strategic urban neighborhood through a variety of community-focused programs. These include English courses, a “Mom & Me” group, creative arts, youth clubs, senior activities, special needs outreach, and other engaging events.
We are looking for individuals who thrive in a large city environment and enjoy building meaningful relationships through coffee and conversation, community programs, and outreach initiatives. Ideal candidates are flexible, creative problem-solvers with a heart for ministry and a passion for sharing the gospel through intentional, long-term relationships rooted in trust, presence, and everyday life.
Position Type
- International worker (IW–aXcess–Vocational Track
- Church planting, community center, community development (urban), discipleship, education, ESL/TESOL, evangelism, leadership development, NGO
- Partially funded
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Participate in, lead, and develop programs and projects with the goal of relationship-building and gospel conversations
- Maintain healthy working relationships with a local non-governmental organization (NGO), the Alliance Missions team, partner mission organizations, local believing communities, and team interns
- Model Christ in word and deed
- Work as a team player in daily the functioning of the community center
- Work with children, youth, and adults in a variety of settings
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 60
- Be willing and able to work in a diverse team setting
- Be willing and able to work independently on projects
- Have leadership experience in a ministry or marketplace setting
- Be self-motivated and demonstrate grit during hardships
- Be flexible and low maintenance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience collaborating in partnership alongside local churches, ministries, or community groups
- Experience in working with children, youth, and adults
- Experience teaching, leading, coaching, or mentoring in individual or small group settings
Biblical Characteristics Desired:
- Kingdom-minded
- Biblically grounded
- Spirit-dependent
- Competently skilled
- Self-aware
- Self-disciplined
Timeline for Deployment:
Summer/fall 2027. All appointees are required to attend a cross-cultural and language acquisition program and pre-field course/experience prior to deploying.
General Information:
IWs usually rent a modest, fully furnished apartment or house within a few kilometers of the community center. Internet is widely available. Electricity and water service are fairly stable with occasional rationing or outages. IWs will work primarily in an active community center environment but will also spend time connecting with people in the community in various locations. Hospitality is a high priority, and the Kosovar people value relationships over tasks.
World Factbook – Kosovo
Joshua Project – Kosovo
Language Expectations:
Language is an essential part of ministry. Those who do not know the language will attend a language study program. The goal will be to speak, read, and write the language at a functional level in order to mentor, teach, and train others.
Language study will be completed in-country and is done through private tutoring, individual language helpers, personal study time, and community practice. One year of formal language study in Albanian is required with an additional year if necessary.
Health Considerations:
Basic health care is available including private clinics, dentists, etc. Specialized treatments such as chiropractic care have limited availability and are below Western standards. Cigarette smoke inside restaurants and poor air quality in the winter can exacerbate existing respiratory problems. Climbing stairs and navigating uneven ground is unavoidable in Kosovo.
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:
Educational options in Kosovo include local Albanian-language public and private schools, as well as international schools that offer instruction in English. These include Prishtina High School (K–12), an accredited international school that follows an American curriculum.
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.
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.
Important 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].