Our multinational team works with existing believers from a local people group, which were responsible for much of the spread of the majority religion throughout the region. These believers have a desire to see a church-planting movement take place among their people. We work out of a major urban center in support of an emerging regional network and often travel to encourage and build relationships between believers in more remote locations. We hope to establish a training center in the city or its outlying areas to serve as a hub for training, discipleship, fellowship, and church planting.

Responsibilities

• Learn the national language, French, and the language of the target people
• Disciple individuals and small groups as they grow in their likeness to Jesus and work through the challenges of ministry
• Teach individuals and small groups church-planting methodology and walk with them through implementation
• Build relationships with non-believers and begin study groups or connect them to existing groups/disciple builders, as fits best
• Pray and help foster a movement of prayer to accomplish our mission

Required Qualifications

• A recognized bachelor’s degree
• Completion of at least 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies
  o 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 singles or one member per couple)
• Some understanding of and a desire to work among Muslims
• Willing to work collaboratively on a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with current church-planting strategies, such as T4T, DBS, and oral storying
• Experience in discipling believers in spiritual growth and ministry
• Willingness to travel by car in remote areas and appreciate rural hospitality
• Specific training or experience in working with those of the majority religion

Biblical Characteristics Desired

• Kingdom-minded
• Biblically grounded
• Spirit-dependent
• Competently skilled
• Self-aware
• Self-disciplined

Timeline for Deployment

Summer/fall 2022. All appointees are required to attend a cross-cultural and language-acquisition program and Pre-Field Orientation prior to deploying.

General Information

This major urban area often defies expectations of life in Africa. The weather is cool much of the year, beaches abound, modern supermarkets and goods are available and there are lots of options for eating out. On the flip side, many find it harder to build relationships, and battling traffic is always an issue. Dress is more conservative, especially for women.

Joshua Project – Fulani

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.

The applicant(s) spend one year in French language study in France in a formal language school. Upon arrival in the country, the applicant(s) will study the language and culture of the target people group for a year before taking on full team-member responsibilities. The team will guide and help new workers develop a participant-driven, local language program with local language partners.

Health Considerations

Our city has a milder climate than interior regions, which annually can be extremely hot from May through October. There are high levels of air pollution at times, which can affect those with respiratory issues. All typical healthcare specialties are well served, though people have often chosen to seek very specialized care elsewhere.

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.

This ministry is a part of a larger team with other work in urban church planting, reaching urban professionals through business and leadership training and medical ministry. A spouse also could serve in one of these areas.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options

Some team members’ children attend private, bilingual French schools that use the French system. Most of the children’s classmates are the children of people from around Africa and Europe, as well as local children. Other members’ children attend a Christian international pre-K-12 school following the American system, with all courses in English and taught mostly by Americans, as well as some foreign English speakers. Boarding is available for students in sixth grade and up.

For applicant(s) who choose to live outside the city, a nearby Christian school offers teaching in English that follows two systems from England and also offers boarding.