Central America: Poverty Reduction and At-Risk Women

The successful applicant(s) will have numerous opportunities to work closely with Central American Alliance churches to develop programs that work to reduce poverty in the community while also strengthening the local church and the community. Women have especially been impacted by the effects of poverty, leading to issues with human trafficking and violence. The successful applicant(s) will get to apply their own creativity and experience to develop programs in cooperation with local churches to address these areas.

Position Type:

• CAMA worker
• Partially funded (requested to raise partial support)
• Single or couple

Responsibilities:

• Train local leaders
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners in Central America
• In cooperation with local partners, develop programs to address poverty alleviation and/or women at risk of trafficking and violence

Required Qualifications:

• A recognized bachelor’s degree
• Perspectives Mission Course or another comparable mission course
• Alliance Polity course
• A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 20

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in urban development
• Experience in mentoring or coaching
• Leadership skills and an entrepreneurial spirit
• Experience in small business development

Biblical Characteristics:

• Ability to articulate personal conversion and call to gospel ministry
• Demonstrated heart for the poor and marginalized (Micah 6:8)
• Theological alignment with The Alliance
• Demonstrated flexibility and grace in all aspects of life
• Vibrant spiritual life with consistent practice of spiritual disciplines
• Ability to learn and recover from failure

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:

No country links have been provided because the successful applicant(s) could be placed in multiple different locations, including Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, or Costa Rica.

Language Expectations:

Language is an essential part of ministry. The successful applicant(s) will receive one year of intense Spanish 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.

Health Considerations:

Quality health care is available in the capital cities of all the Central American countries but varies in rural locations.

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 team objectives, depending on the nature of the family roles, children, etc.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options:

Bilingual private schools are available in the capital cities of every Central American country being considered. Homeschooling is also a viable option in any location.

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.

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.

Whole-Life Health

CAMA Services is the relief and development specialized structure of Alliance Missions. 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.