posted on January 1, 2024
aXcess: Vocational Role
Bringing the gospel to the hard places requires workers from all different walks of life. God has given each of us spiritual gifts, yet we also have learned skills, areas of expertise, and natural abilities utilized in work environments. God calls future workers to have a meaningful, impactful presence in cities, towns, and villages with little or no access to the gospel as they bring these skills, gifts, and passions. As a vocational international worker, your gifts and abilities further gospel advance in conjunction with aXcess clergy staff committed to multiplying new faith communities in strategic locations where aXcess workers are located. Your passion for evangelism and discipleship, and your commitment to empower new local believers to build and sustain the newly established local churches, may take years; yet each seed planted brings light to dark places, and your skills and call can be a part of this vision. You will serve on an aXcess team in any of our five regions. In a vocational role, you will serve in a support role for the church-planting work that is being done.
Position Type
- International worker (IW)–aXcess–Vocational Track
- Business, business development, community center, community development (rural), community development (urban), education, ESL/TESOL, evangelism, leadership development, medical, NGO, refugee or immigrant ministry
- Partially funded
- Creative-access country (CAC) and non-creative-access locations
- Single or couple
Responsibilities:
- Learn and grow in understanding of new culture and language
- Utilize experience and area of expertise to bring meaningful, impactful presence to ministry location
- Participate in ministries consistent with the team ministry strategy, and model Christ in word and deed
- Seek opportunities for evangelism and discipleship through building relationships, creative connections, and events
- Partner with local ministries (Alliance churches, other Alliance international workers, and other key ministries)
Required Qualifications:
- 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 20
- A bachelor’s degree in area of expertise (or equivalent work experience)
- Demonstrated proficiency in a vocation
Preferred Qualifications:
- Commitment to and experience in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting
- Regular ministry involvement in home church or community
- Cross-cultural ministry experience
- Experience in mentoring or coaching
- Leadership skills and an entrepreneurial spirit
- High level of interpersonal and cross-cultural skills
Biblical Characteristics Desired:
- Kingdom-minded
- Biblically grounded
- Spirit-dependent
- Competently skilled
- Self-aware
- Self-disciplined
Timeline for Deployment:
Summer/fall 2027. All appointees must attend a cross-cultural and language acquisition program and pre-field course/experience before deploying.
General Information:
Details vary depending upon location. As you continue in discussion with the International Placement Office and aXcess leaders, we will share information regarding potential locations and settings for ministry. Our aXcess workers are located all over the world and are divided into five regions: Africa, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East/Central Asia.
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 to mentor, teach, and train others.
Language expectations depend on the location. When language is required, study could span two years, part or full-time. Language aptitude test scores help give informed direction to potential locations of service.
Health Considerations:
Health considerations depend on the location. Once a location is narrowed, we will share information regarding accessibility to health care and details regarding any location-specific health requirements.
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:
The education plans for your children depend on your location. Field/team leaders and Alliance Missions ECs (Educational Consultants) will help inform you about available options and consult with you regarding the best course of action for your child’s/children’s educational needs. In some instances, boarding school may be an option for some middle and high school students.
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.
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].