posted on January 1, 2023
aXcess: Diaspora Church Planting Among Immigrants and International Students in Manchester, England
With 17,625 international students studying at the University of Manchester in a city where nearly 80,000 residents identify as the majority religion, Manchester is one of the most strategically located cities in Europe.
Position Type
- International worker (IW)–aXcess–Clergy Track
- Church planting, community center, discipleship, ESL/TESOL, evangelism, leadership development, refugee or immigrant ministry
- Single or couple
With 17,625 international students studying at the University of Manchester in a city where nearly 80,000 residents identify as the majority religion, Manchester is one of the most strategically located cities in Europe. Join the Alliance Word Fellowship (AWF) and The Alliance of Great Britain to plant churches in the heart of Manchester, England. The ministry is centered in a historic property called the Giving Tree Ministry Center on the edge of the University of Manchester on a busy pedestrian crossroads. This property houses a vibrant coffee shop and meeting space and is the location of a growing Alliance international church. The vision is to plant daughter churches throughout the city of Manchester with a focus on Diaspora peoples. See The Giving Hub.
Responsibilities:
- Be involved in evangelism among diaspora peoples
- Disciple new believers—both individuals and groups
- Plant small church groups throughout the university and city
- Participate in community center outreach and bridge-building activities such as teaching English and working in the coffee shop
- Encourage pastors and help build the Alliance Church of Great Britain
Required Qualifications:
- 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
- Ability to demonstrate a current and fruitful practice of personal evangelism and discipleship
Preferred Qualifications:
- A TESOL certificate or equivalent would be helpful
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:
Manchester is a crowded city with ample public transportation that is suited to a pedestrian lifestyle. Appointees would be required to live within or near the heart of the city. There are many English school options, both public and private, for TCKs (third culture kids).
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.
This ministry will be conducted in English. Although many languages will be represented in the city, this ministry does not require language study, nor will it be provided.
Health Considerations:
There is high-quality medical care in Manchester.
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 good TCK educational options in Manchester, both public and private.
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.
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]
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.