posted on November 5, 2021
aXcess: Disciple-Makers Needed in the Middle East/Central Asia
The openness of the people in our city will give the applicant(s) opportunities to build friendships and share their faith. An active church life will offer discipleship for new believers and further development of spiritual gifts.
Responsibilities
- Learn to speak the local language fluently and adapt to the local culture
- Make new contacts and develop relationships that will create opportunities to share your faith
- Disciple new believers
- Lead/participate in Bible studies, team meetings, outreach events, etc.
- When applicable, participate in ministries to the few hundred internally displaced peoples that the churches regularly serve
Required Qualifications
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Completion of at least 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies
- Note: If a couple, one spouse must meet this requirement. It’s preferable that the other spouse holds a recognized bachelor’s degree, has strong ministry experience, and has completed the C&MA Polity course and at least 18 hours of Bible/theology and 12 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of six hours in cross-cultural or missions studies).
- Minimum of two years of successful Alliance licensed ministry experience
- Completion of Alliance ordination/consecration (all single applicants or one partner per couple)
- A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 60 or above
Preferred Qualifications
- Passion for developing relationships and sharing your faith with seekers
- Training and experience in discipling new believers
- A teachable, flexible spirit
- The desire and ability to work on a team
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
This country was the center of the first Slavic state and a member of the former Soviet Union. Today, it is struggling with an economic crisis and worsening relations with a neighboring country. However, the people are warm, friendly, and open to talking about spiritual matters.
Language Expectations
Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive one year 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.
Most of the formal language learning will be done in a classroom for about 20 hours per week. Additional homework usually takes another 10 hours per week. We expect that each language student will speak the local, native language with nationals and develop relationships that will allow for more advanced language learning.
Health Considerations
Our city has good health-care facilities. However, since transportation, apartments, sidewalks, and public buildings are usually not handicap accessible, physically challenged applicants may find it difficult to live here.
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 local Christian international academy is an international K–12 school. Also, many local schools can provide a quality education with excellent opportunities for children and whole families to integrate into the host culture.
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.
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].
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.