The successful applicant(s) will serve alongside experienced international workers and local believers to break through to another unreached people group in this area. The team creates gospel access by fulfilling practical needs within the community in ways that can be replicated by local believers, with the goal of church planting and multiplication.

Responsibilities

• Engage in the church’s current general ministries, which involve people from the target people group.
• Develop new outreach efforts that specifically focus on the target people group in surrounding villages with the goal of planting churches
• Collaborate with the team and local church to develop a church planting model that can be easily replicated using local resources
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with believers, national church leaders, and pastors.
• Instill church-planting DNA in local believers by involving them in all church planting efforts

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 55 or above
• Openness to team-guided continuing education
• Ability to work with and, at times, under the authority of local church leaders
• Experience in evangelism and discipleship

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with various cross-cultural church planting strategies
• A working knowledge of/sensitivity to the majority religion culture and beliefs
• Willingness to use or develop practical skills to help create access for outreach
• Previous cross-cultural experience
• A vision trip to the ministry site

Biblical Characteristics Desired

• Kingdom-minded
• Biblical 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

Though housing in this city lacks many of the amenities of western homes, most ex-pats find the situation comfortable. In order to respect the local culture, the team has accepted a policy of mandatory alcohol abstinence while in Senegal; they also often dress in local clothing.

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.

IWs in Senegal receive one year of French language study in France and one to two years of local language study as needed at the ministry location with primarily local language helpers. There may also be a period of one to three months spent in a local home for language immersion. Successful applicants will need to reach proficiency in both languages to be able to thrive and live in Senegal for the long term.

Health Considerations

Local hospitals may not be considered adequate for some health issues. Higher quality medical care is available four hours away in Dakar, Senegal. Many medications, blood work, and medical tests are available in local pharmacies and labs. Climate conditions may not be ideal for those with respiratory issues due to the high levels of desert dust.

Expectations for Spouse

Spousal roles vary based on the spouse’s gifting, 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

For younger children, homeschooling, local French schools, a Christian French/local language school, and a homeschool co-op are available. For older children, homeschooling, a homeschool co-op, and an American boarding school in the capital city of Dakar (four hours away) are options.