Youth and Student Ministries

Job Description

OMF seeks to establish ministries in Taiwan's technical (vocational) schools and colleges. Students in these schools frequently have a sense of failure, low self-esteem and not much interest in study. We focus on placing workers in these schools as the students tend to come from more working class backgrounds, and most other student ministries focus on the top academic schools.

Students tend to be more open to the gospel. They also have lots of personal needs are are responsive to those who are willing to listen to and love them. Outreach to these students is not only a way to bless them, but can also be a bridge into their unreached working class families and communities.

Missionaries will live in apartments in the neighborhood where they are serving, mostly in urban environments. Taiwan is wealthy and advanced, so the standard of living is relatively high. Communications and transportation are excellent. The culture, language, food and values of the people are primarily Chinese.

Responsibilities

There are a number of different methods that can be used:

1. Running a club for students during their school's compulsory club time. This can cover almost any topic (e.g. music, drama, craft, sports, relationships, etc)

Apart from club activities, outside of school time there are opportunities to form friendships with students and for personal evangelism and discipleship.

2. Serve as a counsellor for the school's Christian fellowship. This involves leading, training and encouraging students in evangelism; leading Bible studies to disciple and train students; organizing and leading evangelistic and discipleship camps during vacation time.

3. Establish a gospel/activity center which can provide activities for local students to attend. The center can run classes, assist with homework and be a safe place for students between classes and home. Evangelism and discipleship activities grow naturally out of the contacts made.

Qualifications

* Some experience with student or youth ministry would be beneficial.

* An ability to do personal evangelism, one to one discipleship and to lead Bible studies and discussion groups.

* Must be humble, teachable and able to work as part of a team.

* Must have a lot of stamina and energy, which is essential in mixing with young people

* Some formal Bible college training is necessary. The government also requires incoming missionaries to have recently spent one to two years in Christian ministry.

* Flexibility, open to new ideas and able to function well in an unstructured situation with a lot of freedom.

Living Situations

* Willing to learn Mandarin to a high level in order to communicate effectively.
* Need to adjust to a busy, crowded, and often noisy environment. Life in Taiwan is often exciting but also exhausting.
* Oral methods of communication (e.g. Bible storying, testimonies, music, drama) are most effective in evangelism and discipleship. A willingness to learn these ways of communicating the gospel is essential.
* Taiwanese people are deeply religious. Spiritual attack and demonic activity are not uncommon. Spiritual maturity is needed to deal with these situations.
* Practical skills or training in areas that can be used to serve young people are a plus. e.g. music, drama, craft, sports, dance, etc.