posted on January 1, 2023
aXcess: Pastor in Africa
Join an international team of clergy ministering in a creative-access location. The church in this region has a long and rich history and is looking to expand. The church consists primarily of French-speaking sub-Saharan Africans with a few locals. We need your help to disciple young believers, develop leaders, and reach out to the communities around us. You will be partnering with a government-recognized church in the country, with the possibility of receiving a clerical visa through them.
Position Type
- International worker (IW)–aXcess–Clergy Track
- Church planting, discipleship, leadership development, theological education
- Creative-access country (CAC)
- Couple
Responsibilities:
- Disciple young believers in the church
- Seek out and empower leaders
- Edify the congregation through preaching
- Live as a blessing to the community
- Lead times of worship
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 of successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience
- A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 65
Preferred Qualifications:
- A background in French
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:
Our region is a beautiful place to live, rich in history and culture. The host nation for this position is 99.9 percent majority religion, although religious diversity is tolerated. Living conditions are decent. There are supermarkets, online stores, and Western-style restaurants. Certain products are difficult to find or are lacking in quality.
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 main language is a local dialect. International workers in this language group typically receive two years of intensive language and cultural study. French language study or studying the local language (or both) will be based on several factors, including ministry assignment, and will be determined in conversations with the team.
Health Considerations:
Medical care is close to the same as that of the U.S., although there are some obscure medications that are not available in the country.
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.
Due to the cultural implications in this country, the husband needs to be ordained and serving in the pastor role.
Children’s Educational Plan and Options:
There are several local and international schools available for education in French or the local language as well as a few English or bilingual options in some areas.
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].