Responsibilities:

• Be a great team member
• Organize leadership and vision of the church
• Organize weekly services, including assuming the bulk of the preaching load
• Initiate Bible studies, small groups, and service projects
• Make disciples who make disciples

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 ordination/consecration
• Minimum of two years successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience

Vocational Track

• Completion of the World Perspectives Mission Course (minimum of certificate level) or equivalent

Both Clergy and Vocational Tracks

• Completion of Alliance Polity course
• A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 40
• Ordination
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and complete ministry tasks
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent relational skills
• Positive and healthy family dynamics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree with at least some focus in intercultural studies
• Cross-cultural experience, having lived and ministered in that context

Biblical Characteristics Desired:

• Kingdom-minded
• Biblically grounded
• Spirit-dependent 
• Competently skilled
• Self-aware
• Self-disciplined

Timeline for Deployment:

Fall 2024. All appointees are required to attend a cross-cultural and language acquisition program and pre-field course/experience prior to deploying.

General Information:

This is a stable region of a country not known for stability. This city of 800,000 is known for being more progressive and open to new ideas compared to other cities in the region. The church-planting team has been in the city since 2008. 

The region is very mountainous. Summers are very hot and dry. Winters are moderately cold, and snow typically falls 2–3 times in the city each year. There are a growing number of Western-style stores, cafes, restaurants, malls, grocery stores, parks, amusement parks, a bowling alley, and a cinema.

There are 100–200 believers in our city of 800,000 who are involved in some sort of Christian fellowship. There are others who have confessed Christ but are not connected with other believers. There are three small locally led churches in our city and several other small local-language churches that are led by foreigners.

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.

The pastoral couple is expected to spend at least 15 hours per week for the first six months in language study. There is no formal language school in our city. Language learning is typically done with individual tutors and periodically as a group with others in the city. 

Health Considerations:

Teammates should be in good health to thrive in this environment.  There is a local foreign-staffed private hospital and a few good specialists, but public health care in general is sub-standard. Pharmacies carry most medicines, including some name brands. Any routine procedures can be done locally. Any major non-emergency surgeries should be done abroad.

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.

Full participation in language learning is expected. Both spouses are expected to use their gifts and abilities to help build up the church. They should both be involved in personal evangelism and discipleship. Both spouses are expected to participate in team life (meetings, retreats, etc.).    

Children’s Educational Plan and Options:

Local public schools are available but do not offer a great education and are not recommended. There are many private schools, most of which educate in English. Homeschooling is also an option. There is a home school co-op.