Navigator leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are seeking pioneering missionaries to join existing teams in two countries, both of which are among the least reached nations in the world.
In both countries, the religious context is primarily Muslim, but each has unique cultural and demographic characteristics that create both challenges and opportunities for the advance of the Gospel.
Country 1
Foreigners comprise the majority of this nation’s residents, including a large number of Arab expatriates. The transitory nature of this population creates opportunities to invest in expatriate Arabs who are eager to develop new relationships and who are asking significant life questions. As Navigators seek to establish them as followers of Christ, the Gospel can flow naturally to the nations from which they came.
Country 1 also has a predominantly middle- and upper-income population of permanent citizens. No known fellowship of disciples exists among these people. A small team of conventional income Navigators has been working among these families for the past decade and seeks additional laborers to work with them.
Among permanent citizens, members of our MENA team run a successful youth soccer academy, which is a remarkable platform for relating with Arab families. To assist with this effort, the MENA team hopes to find a female, part-time soccer coach, who can train the girls and engage meaningfully with their families.
For both tracks (Arab expatriates and permanent Arab citizens), candidates would need to work in a flexible profession such as soccer coaching, teaching, business, or financial advising. MENA leaders are praying that God would lead singles and/or couples to serve for at least two years, but preferably long-term. There is a particular need for young professionals who could initially work part-time while developing language and culture proficiency.
New missionaries would not need to speak Arabic immediately, because many people speak English. But, upon entry, the new team members would begin part-time Arabic classes at a language school.
Country 2
This nation has the lowest level of Gospel penetration in the world. New pioneering missionaries would join an established team to support existing work among predominantly Muslim students, families and professionals. The MENA team is seeking people who are willing to serve long-term. Learning the local language is required and essential, as few people speak English.
The Navigator ministry in this nation has strong foundations and mature leadership. Our MENA leaders need additional support to replace a small number of missionaries who are returning to their home countries. They also hope to expand existing ministries to additional large cities in the country.
New missionaries could enter as business professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs or other mainstream roles. The government, however, is not eager to give visas to foreign doctors and engineers in order to protect these positions for its own people. One strategic way to gain natural access to people is to pursue a master’s degree or Ph.D. at one of the nation’s excellent universities.
“We are on the verge of seeing a Gospel movement,” said one Navigator leader in MENA. “God is shaking this nation in many ways. So, we need new people who are passionate about prayer.”
Do You Fit?
Our Navigator leaders in the MENA region emphasize that new missionaries should be humble men and women who are willing to enter under the leadership of existing teams and learn from nationals. Candidates should be team players, not “lone rangers,” and be adept at relating well with people in humility and love.
Candidates should have an ongoing, deep relationship with Christ from which attitudes of love and humility flow into relationships with the team and with the locals. Because nationals in both countries give high priority to family and friends, the missionaries should make building friendships a top priority. Understanding of the culture, religion, and history of each nation is helpful, but humble character and eagerness to learn is most important.
Finally, new missionaries should not be attached to Western forms of Christianity. The goal is to help new believers in local contexts to remain in their existing relational and family networks without creating religious barriers that hinder the organic spread of the Gospel.
Interested?
If you, or someone you know, is interested in these pioneering missionary opportunities, please write to Glenn at glenn.ilc.communications@gmail.com.
