posted on January 1, 2024
aXcess: Community Outreach Director in the Middle East
Coordinate community outreach efforts among local people group in partnership with a local church in the outer suburbs of a large modern Middle Eastern city. Opportunities among the unreached are available within both rural and urban contexts and potentially include medical, ESL, sports, entrepreneurship, as well as youth and children’s programs.
Position Type
- International worker (IW)–aXcess–Vocational Track or Clergy Track
- Business development, community development (rural), community development (urban), ESL/TESOL, evangelism, medical
- Partially funded
- Creative-access country (CAC)
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate, participate in, and sometimes lead outreach efforts in the community
- Facilitate the recruitment of volunteers from the local church as well as like-minded international workers
- Assist in the hosting of interns and teams involved in the outreach
Required Qualifications:
Clergy Track
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Completion of at least 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies
- Spouse must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree and have completed at least 18 hours of Bible/theology, 12 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of 6 hours in cross-cultural or missions studies)
- Completion of Alliance Polity course
- Completion of Alliance ordination/consecration
- Minimum of two years successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience
- A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 40
Vocational Track
- 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 40
Biblical Characteristics Desired:
- Kingdom-minded
- Biblically grounded
- Spirit-dependent
- Competently skilled
- Self-aware
- Self-disciplined
Timeline for Deployment:
Summer/fall 2025. All appointees must attend a cross-cultural and language acquisition program and pre-field course/experience before deploying.
General Information:
You will be living within a modern Middle Eastern context with most Western conveniences and easy access to quality health care. While nearly all of local society is committed to the majority belief system, Western workers have a long history of engaging in this context, and The Alliance has an established local presence. There is a lot of freedom to share, but it must be done with sensitivity to local dynamics.
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 to mentor, teach, and train others.
After two years, part-time language study will be provided until one can maintain intimate relationships in Arabic.
Health Considerations:
Good hospitals, pharmacies, and public and private clinics are available for 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:
Various options exist for quality education: British-system international school in the immediate context, American IW school in the area, and Alliance boarding school in the region.
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.
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].