posted on January 18, 2022
aXcess: Missional Community Developer in Paris
This is a great opportunity for a highly relational person or couple who have a heart to reach lost people in an urban context. As a team member, this individual or couple would be responsible for training disciple-makers and making a strong contribution to evangelism and leadership development efforts that go into the forming of new missional communities of faith that will multiply themselves. Missional communities will contribute to and help advance the national church’s vision to plant and multiply churches.
A “missional community” is a gospel-centered group that gathers regularly with evangelistic intent. They create a space where non-believers are hospitably invited to experience Spirit-filled, biblical community. It is a place to discover God and His Word through dialogue. People are discipled, mentored, and developed into leaders there. Missional communities multiply into additional communities. In our context, these groups would meet outside of church buildings, have an element of “breaking bread together,” and each would be led by two units (couples or singles).
Position Type
- International worker (IW)—aXcess—Clergy Track
- Church planting, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development
- Partially funded
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Build relationships intentionally and disciple new believers
- Participate in creative ministries and model Christ in word and deed
- Work closely with the other Alliance workers in Paris through ministry and community
- Seek and develop intentional relationships with people from the local culture on a regular basis
- Do evangelistic outreach regularly through building relationships, creative connections, and events
- Build a gospel-centered community where people are loved and transformed into Christ’s image
Required Qualifications:
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Completion of at least 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies
- Note: The spouse must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree, have strong ministry experience, and have completed the C&MA Polity course and at least 18 hours of Bible/theology and 15 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of six hours in cross-cultural or missions studies).
- A minimum of two years of successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience
- Completion of Alliance ordination/consecration (all single applicants or one partner per couple)
- Completion of Alliance Polity course
- A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 50
- Evangelism and discipleship experience
Preferred Qualifications:
- Previous experience in missional communities and/or church planting
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:
Like most places where The Alliance has a presence, France is a very challenging environment to work in. It is a post-modern society, which generally shows solid resistance to gospel communication. Our experience of ministry in France has shown that people are responsive to the gospel when invited into a deeply relational and Spirit-filled community. The location of the ministry will be Paris, but other specific ministry details will be discussed during the interview process. Final strategy details will await the completion of a two-year language study period in the country.
CIA World Factbook – France
Joshua Project – France
Language Expectations:
Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive two years of intense language study, followed by ongoing language and cultural acquisition. The goal will be to speak, read, and write the language at a functional level in order to mentor, teach, and train others.
In addition, the successful applicant(s) may need to learn a second language at some level of proficiency.
Health Considerations:
France offers excellent health-care options in both the private and public sectors.
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. Family ministry is important in this context as the people being reached value family highly.
Children’s Educational Plan and Options:
Local schools are available, as well as some bilingual schooling options. Homeschooling is not an option in France. Black Forest Academy in Germany is an option for children in high school.
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.