Live and serve among the unreached Neem* people group in Chad, modelling gospel proclamation and incarnational living in order to encourage local believers to share the Gospel with their neighbours.
Background
Chad became independent from France in 1960. It is a secular state with freedom of religion. Muslims are dominant in government, trade and the army, although they are only just the majority religion (approx 53%).
AIM began work in Chad in 1987, following 25 years of turmoil since its independence and at a time when war, once again, was escalating. The work began alongside other mission agencies who’d formed a cooperative fellowship linked with the Eglise Evangelique au Tchad (EET). Four and a half years on AIM reported 181 peoples in Chad, speaking 135 languages. Of these peoples 115 lacked a church.
Today there are still 73 unreached people groups in Chad. That’s around 6,898,000 people who currently have no opportunity to hear the gospel. The Neem* are one of these UPGs. The presence of a local church in their area also means we have the opportunity to encourage and mobilise believers to also take part in this work.
Ministry and type of work
A main role for the intern will be taking part in caring ministries in the local community and hospital as a way of showing the love of Christ. You will be helping to lay a foundation and open doors for future long term mission as there has been practically no prior missionary presence in this area until very recently.
As a short termer there is an understanding that verbal witness will be limited due to a lack of language. French is not the mother tongue of any local people in this part of Chad, but it can be used in the local church setting and amongst the educated who work as nurses and doctors in the local hospital, as well as among teachers and authorities so it would be helpful for short termers to have a reasonable level of French before they arrive. Where there are opportunities to share the gospel and disciple others, and one has the language ability to do so, it is encouraged.
The other key part of this short term role will be to model gospel proclamation and incarnational living to the local church and encourage church members to take part in such work.
Experience and Qualifications
- A professional qualification which would create an opening either in the hospital or in other caring ministries would be desirable but not essential
- L2 Level French
Other information
Though located in a remote setting, we will ensure that all team members live in housing that is sufficient for their needs – this would include: tin roof, cement floors, inside kitchen and a long drop toilet. Unless otherwise desired, team members would have their own walled in concession like the local people, and thus have privacy.
In this remote setting we are looking for an intern who is:
- Willing to live simply, there is no town electricity and access to fresh food is limited
- Willing to adapt to cultural norms – women must be willing to be covered up as a way of respecting the local culture.
- “Hardy” – workers who can live with the extreme heat of Chad as well as simple conditions – no running water in the house, sleeping outside in the hot times of year etc
Duration: 6-12 months (possibly up to 18)
