posted on January 1, 2024
aXcess: Disciplemaking Among a UPG in Southeast Asia
The team in this location is looking to grow with like-minded individuals, couples, or families who have a heart for the marginalized and to be a disciplemaker to a UPG (unreached people group). Our team’s current project centers around youth who are/have been incarcerated and their families. We are passionate about applied anthropology that seeks to create and facilitate context-fitted responses to social needs. Those looking to join a passionate team who love this place and its people, please apply!
Position Type
- International worker (IW)–aXcess–Vocational Track or Clergy Track
- Church planting, discipleship, evangelism, leadership development, work with incarcerated youth
- Partially funded
- Creative-access country (CAC)
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Join or begin transformational community development initiative(s) or a social enterprise
- Live in a community of the majority faith and build relationships that lead to the demonstration and proclamation of the gospel
- Learn two languages: the national language and the local language of the UPG
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 60
- Intercultural studies/missiology degree or certification
- Cross-cultural and international experience
- Experience in transformational community development work and discipleship
- A deep heart for unreached peoples and a creative, contextual approach to ministry
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 60
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in missiology or a development-related field (adult education, community development, international economic development, tropical agriculture, public health, etc.)
- Current involvement in ministry or social work; interest in exploring topics of culture and anthropology, topics of interest for the majority religion, and pursuing learning language in creative ways
Biblical Characteristics Desired:
- Kingdom-minded
- Biblically grounded
- Spirit-dependent
- Competently skilled
- Self-aware
- Self-disciplined
Timeline for Deployment:
Summer/fall 2025. All appointees are required to attend a cross-cultural and language acquisition program and pre-field course/experience prior to deploying.
General Information:
IWs in this location live in a growing city of one million people, surrounded by rice paddies, beaches, and hills. Workers live in rented homes in a strategic location and participate in the life of the local community where some Western-style amenities are available. The weather is famously hot and tropical, and the food is delicious and spicy. A small community of cross-cultural, ministry-focused believers (both expat and national) meets regularly, but no established international church exists. This will necessitate building deep relationships with nationals, intentional self-care, and off-site mentoring. Currently, there are limited visa options, and the team will work with the applicant, who would be expected to play a key role in creating a pathway for their first visa.
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 school is usually one year for the national language. Extra schooling will be needed for the local language.
Health Considerations:
The city has adequate health-care facilities and doctors, and most medications will be readily available. Serious health issues are typically handled in the country’s capital, Malaysia, or Singapore.
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.
It is expected that both spouses will be fully involved in growing and maintaining the team’s meaningful and impactful presence in this location.
Children’s Educational Plan and Options:
Local schools, homeschooling, and secondary boarding schools both inside and outside the country are available. There is no international school in this location. A regional educational consultant will be available to work with the successful applicant(s) as needed.
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].