Serve cross-culturally among refugees in a humanitarian center. This is a strong administrative position in which the individual/couple will be responsible for developing programs and volunteer staff and will help lead the new community center that is reaching out to hundreds of local families and thousands of refugees. This role also involves helping grow a church from the people reached in the center ministry.
Required Qualifications:
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- Completed a minimum of 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of Intercultural Studies (ICS)
- The wife must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree and have completed a minimum of 18 hours of Bible/theology and 15 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of 6 hours in cross-cultural or missions studies).
- Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 60 or higher
- Two years of successful Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience (ALME)
- Alliance ordination completed
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading cross-culturally
- Experience in international development and/or community-center based ministry
- Master’s degree in applicable field of study
Responsibilities:
- Teammates will spend 24 months in full-time language study in the city, simultaneously developing relationships and assisting in Arabic ministry opportunities
- Serve at the community center and national church, seeking to establish meaningful contacts, attending services, and ministering alongside local believers in and outside of the church
- Help the team and volunteers lead sports camps as well as teach English, computer classes, sewing projects, and more
- Establish discipleship groups that can multiply with those of the majority faith
- Upon completing language study, administrative duties will include: assisting the local pastor in applying development best practices to program design, human resources manager of the volunteer staff, and liaison with local and international NGOs who implement their projects through the church (e.g., World Relief Deutschland, Pinnacle Teaching, etc.)
- Teammates will be expected to serve the local church and encourage them in outreach
Timeline for Deployment:
Late summer 2017
General Information:
This Arab city has more than doubled in population as a result of refugees. Our Alliance church there has been at the forefront of serving these displaced peoples. Though war and chaos reign in the region, this country has experienced relative peace. The majority of the population in this country is Sunni Muslim, yet there is freedom for those of Christian heritage to worship freely.
Work and Living Environment:
This is a high-stress and challenging work environment. Flexibility is a must. With the influx of refugees, there has been significant change. There is consistent electricity and Internet. The small city has little to offer as far as entertainment. An hour’s drive takes you to the capital city with numerous restaurants, movie theatres, and a variety of things to do.
Status of Christian Witness:
Conversion of faith is illegal, as is sharing the gospel openly. Still, God is at work, and as relationships built on trust are developed through love in action, proclamation does authentically take place.
Language Expectations:
Language fluency is an essential part of this ministry. International workers will complete two years of full-time Arabic language study, while engaged in Arabic ministry in the center and church. This time will be followed by one to two years of additional part-time study. The city is an excellent place for Arabic language and cultural immersion as few residents know much English. The goal will be to speak, read, and write the languages at a functional level to accomplish your ministry and to share the good news of Jesus.
Health Considerations:
Teammates should be in good health and have energy to deal with long days and extremes of weather. Local health care is very weak, but the capital, an hour’s drive away, provides quality health services.
Expectations for Spouse:
The successful applicant’s wife is expected to engage meaningfully in fulfilling ministry objectives based on her gifts, training, the team’s needs, and her family’s needs.
Children’s Educational Plan and Options:
Currently there are no solid schooling options for children. A decent international school has opened 40 minutes from the center and may be an option down the road. Black Forest Academy in Germany is a good option for high-school students.
Compensation Package:
This position is designated to be fully funded through the Great Commission Fund (GCF). Please visit our compensation page for details on how U.S. C&MA international workers are compensated. You will see there a comprehensive package that would be offered with this role covering all costs related to a monthly living allowance, housing, travel, children’s education, and full benefits. GCF-funded workers share corporate responsibility for raising GCF dollars from among Alliance churches and other possible sources.