Congo: Community Development Work Among a Receptive People Group

Join in community development work with an existing Alliance Missions aXcess team to reach the Vili, a formerly resistant people group that is now more receptive to the gospel. God is opening the ears and hearts of the Vili to His story, and they are anxious to grow and share the good news with the rest of their people. Along with the established team, you will help the Vili develop strategies to thrive as individuals and as a community of believers in a challenging economy.

Position Type:

• CAMA worker
• Partially funded
• Couple

Responsibilities:

• Work with village orality-based outreach centers the team has established in conjunction with the local church
• Help local churches develop plans by which they can self-fund the centers and help villages develop needed services such as agricultural, animal husbandry, fisheries, or clean water

Required Qualifications:

• A recognized bachelor’s degree
• A degree in development and/or relevant life experience
• Completion of World Perspectives Mission Course or another comparable mission course
• Completion of Alliance Polity course
• A minimum Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) score of 40 or higher

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or graduate level degree in the field of international development and/or agriculture, animal husbandry, creating handicrafts, or small business enterprise
• Orality training helpful
• Prior knowledge of French

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:

Housing accommodations will be in Pointe Noire, while the primary work will be carried out in various Vili villages outside that city.

World Factbook – Congo 

The Joshua Project – Congo

Language Expectations:

Language is an essential part of ministry. For those who do not know the language, one year of French language study in Albertville, France, is required, possibly followed by the study of the local languages of Kituba and/or Vili, depending on the length of service.

Health Considerations:

Medical care is limited in this country.

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’s needs, etc.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options:

Homeschooling is available for grades K–7 as well as boarding school options for grades 8–12.

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.