This is an opportunity for single men to be partnered with Malagasy single men in a training programme in missions which is in partnership with other mission organisations. For six weeks you will live and breathe missions in the midst of the Sakalava people group. You will be taught, discipled, mentored in missions and engage with the Sakalava on a daily basis.
Background
From 2013-2015 an AIM TIMO team began ministering on the island of Nosy Be off the northwest coast of Madagascar, building relationships and learning the local Sakalava dialect, breaking the ground for a future church plant. The Sakalava combine traditional African spirituality, where life and community are dependent on the relationship between the living and their ancestors, with elements of folk Islam and Christianity.
The TIMO team was involved in children’s ministries, English teaching, a music ministry, Sakalava Bible translation, and a regular outreach event. All of these ministries shared the common end goal of forming a Sakalava church. Some ministries focused on providing resources for a future church (e.g. music ministry providing Sakalava worship music, translation providing Scripture in Sakalava). Other ministries focused on providing examples and opening doors for a future church (e.g. the outreach event and children’s ministries). All of the ministries started through relationships formed by the team and their commitment to living in and with the community.
Vision and Strategy
As local churches are established, the team will continue discipling Sakalava Christians as they discover their true identity in Christ and become catalysts for change in their families and communities. Part of the ongoing ministry among the Sakalava is to run FUEL teams of local Malagasy and international short term missionaries who receive training and experience of cross-cultural mission on Nosy Be. This is an opportunity for western single men to be partnered with Sakalava single men in a training program in missions. For six weeks these men live and breathe missions among the Sakalava people. They will be taught, discipled, mentored in missions and engage with the Sakalava on a daily basis.
Ministry and type of work
This is primarily a discipleship and training programme, but there will be opportunities daily to engage with the Sakalava. Participants will work on learning the local language and have opportunities with local church and partners to serve in different ways as they witness in word and deed amongst the Sakalava.
Qualifications and experience
University students who speak English.
What are the personal (not academic) characteristics required?
Men with a desire to learn more about missions, who are interested in or open to cross-cultural mission work in the future.
Other information
This team will run for 6 weeks in July-August 2023 (exact dates to be confirmed). Participants must attend for the full duration of the team. Housing will be provided, and will be basic huts with wooden floors.
