FI/CUI International Student Ministry Ireland Project Team Leader Job Description Overall Job Purpose: To work towards achieving the vision of "by 2021, churches and Christian Unions partnering to develop sustainable, complementary and effective ministries so that international students on campuses throughout Ireland will be welcomed and befriended, evangelised, discipled and equipped to serve Christ wherever they go next." This is the long term vision, and the job will focus primarily on consolidating and developing the work in Belfast in the first 2 years while gradually building an understanding of existing and potential ministries in other parts of Ireland, consolidating a support base and recruiting a team in order to expand the work.
Background Friends International (FI) is an evangelical mission agency dedicated to encouraging and equipping churches to reach out to the approximately one million international students in the UK. Its vision is to see international students transformed by the good news of Jesus so that they fully engage with the mission of the Church in the world. Friends International has field staff and associates working in 30 university towns and cities across the UK. Christian Unions Ireland (CUI) is an interdenominational student-led movement that is resourced and guided by staff and supported by the wider church. Its vision is to inspire and equip students to become passionate, lifelong followers of Christ, by nurturing the growth of student-led, missional Gospel communities on every campus in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). The International Student Ministry Ireland Project Team Leader (ISM TL) is jointly appointed, initially for a 5 year term, by Friends International and Christian Unions Ireland and the work will equally prioritise ministry with Christian Unions (CUs) and local churches. The joint appointment flows out of a keen desire for effective, grace-filled partnership for the sake of the gospel.
Accountability and support relationships Accountable to: The CUI Ireland Director for day-to-day ministry and operational priorities and decisions and the Friends International Regional Development Director (RDD) for personal development, pastoral oversight and wider FI responsibilities. Note: The strategic aims and priorities of each year will be agreed between the FI RDD, the CUI Director and the ISM TL at the start of each year and reviewed together at a mid-point
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in the year, bringing to bear the combined wisdom and expertise of both organisations and maintaining cohesion between all parties. Responsible for: Overseeing any FI Staff workers, Reach Volunteers, Interaction volunteers or Relay ISM volunteers appointed in NI or ROI (though not necessarily as their direct supervisor). Primary Working Relationships: Primary working relationship locally will be with Christian Unions Ireland – The ISM TL will be part of an all-Ireland team, but working particularly closely with team members based in Belfast (they will be part of the Northern team). The exact level of involvement in Belfast team meetings and activities will be decided in conjunction with the Director. Another key local relationship will be with the Project Development Group (Belfast) – a group of representatives from local churches who share a common vision for developing ISM in Ireland and who will partner actively with the ISM TL to achieve this vision locally (i.e. in Belfast). All employment matters, including support, salary and expenses will be handled by the Friends International Support Centre and the ISM TL will need to liaise regularly with staff there. The ISM TL is encouraged to draw on and contribute to the experience, training, resources, contacts and returnee links of the FI family through electronic networks and regular contact with their RDD. They will be required to attend the FI annual staff conference. Location: Belfast. Home based. The ISM TL will need to be able to arrange their own transport to churches and campuses whose ISM work they are supporting. Some travel to other ISM centers in Ireland will be necessary as the work develops.
Main responsibilities: 1. Support of existing ministries •
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To invest in the leadership of individual ISM ministries (e.g. church-based international student workers/leaders, CU international secretaries, and/or coordinators of a church or campus-based cafe): §
Mentoring, encouraging, training and resourcing them
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Helping them to develop their ministry from year to year to reflect growing maturity in cross-cultural evangelism, discipleship and returnee ministry
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Providing resources and helping them plan and develop training for their team
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Linking them into the networks they need for inspiration, advice and support (e.g. other ISM workers, mission agencies and returnee networks)
To train volunteers from local churches and CUs
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Providing opportunities for ongoing training in cross-cultural friendship, evangelism, discipleship, returnee ministry and the integration of Christian international students into local churches and CUs.
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To ensure the coordination of city-wide ministries, for example, the Welcome Programmes and prayer networks in Belfast, and the Christmas Weekend Away and Summer Outreach in Dublin.
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To encourage harmonious relationships between the various ministry teams.
2. Pioneering new ministries In terms of church-based work, •
To identify and prioritise potential opportunities for growing the work, and mobilise churches to seize these ministry opportunities.
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This will involve relationship building with church leaders, vision casting, speaking in churches, careful listening and creative suggestions, as well as training and resourcing.
In terms of CUs that do not have an international student ministry, •
To develop trust and credibility with the CU committees and to offer training, resources and practical help so that the CU is increasingly equipped and motivated to reach out to international students.
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To help each CU discern the most realistic and effective way for them to be involved in ISM, i.e. how best to befriend, evangelise, disciple and/or integrate international students into their CU.
3. Building and leading a team •
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To recruit for and build an island-wide ISM team, which could include: §
Short term volunteers on discipleship and training programmes such as Reach, Relay and InterAction
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Friends International workers (staff workers or associate staff workers)
To oversee the team in carrying out the ISM strategy.
Note: While points 1-3 potentially cover a huge scope, we envision a gradual growing of the work, with the first 2 years focusing primarily on supporting and developing ministries within Belfast, with some time spent to establish contact with the leaders of ISM ministries in Dublin and be involved in key partnership events there where possible. As a team is built up, the ministry can gradually expand to other centres. 4. Personal work • To set aside some time for personal work with a few international students – befriending them, looking for opportunities to present the gospel to them in culturally appropriate ways, bringing them to maturity in Christ and equipping them to thrive as Christians upon their return to their home countries. www.friendsinternational.org.uk
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Although the ISM TL's primary role is to enable others to do personal work, setting aside some time to do this themselves sets a helpful example and ensures freshness in the work. 5. Liaising with others •
To maintain good relationships with church leaders and CU committees.
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To maintain a relationship of trust with universities authorities, SUs, chaplaincies and (where applicable) language schools so that church and CU access to international students can be maintained wherever possible.
6. Serving within the wider CUI ministry •
To be part of the CUI Northern and All-Ireland teams
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To develop an island-wide strategy for ISM within the CUs in conjunction with the CUI Director
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To assume responsibility at an island-wide level for the training of staff and student volunteers in ISM.
7. Serving within Friends International’s national ministry •
To attend the January staff conference and where appropriate, other training events
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To share resources with other Friends International workers.
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To have oversight of FI staff workers or Reach volunteers if they are appointed.
8. Support raising This position is self-funded and the ISM TL will therefore be expected to raise 100% of their budget through a system of developing personal support. In addition to partnering with their personal network of supporters, an important part of the ISM TL's job will be to encourage and inspire local churches and individuals concerned about/involved in ISM to give regularly towards the ministry, i.e. to build up a stable local support base. The establishing of a Project Development Group (initially in Belfast) will be a key priority in order to grow local ownership and partnership. Christian Unions Ireland and Friends International will work alongside the ISM TL in this by promoting the project with their networks of supporters, particularly as the project is launched.
Person Profile The ISM TL will demonstrate most of the qualities below and a desire to develop where there is any lack in the areas described. Key issues As a visible leader in the Christian community the ISM TL should demonstrate the following: www.friendsinternational.org.uk
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a desire to glorify God in all they do
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an agreement to FI/CUI's statement of faith (appendix 1) and a commitment to having their beliefs and behaviour continually shaped by the Word of God
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a trust in God to provide for all their material needs
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a dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide and equip them
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an attitude of humble service to others, both Christian and non-Christian
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flexibility on secondary doctrinal and cultural issues (see FI Statement on Divergent Views, appendix 2)
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to demonstrate commitment to the life of their local church
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a passion for cross-cultural mission and international student work in particular
Experience • Educated to graduate level or its equivalent • Cross-cultural mission experience in particular among students • Suitable theological/missiological training • Experience of taking overall charge of a programme, so able to do advanced planning, see the whole picture and move things forward • Experience of leading teams • Experience of training and mobilising others • Experience of working inter-denominationally • Experience of leading bible studies and 1-1 bible ministry Skills • Able to be a self-starter, working in an unstructured environment • Encouragement - ability to enthuse and motivate others in a team • Sensitivity and diplomacy – to relate well to church leaders from a variety of denominations • Strategic ability – to wisely analyse the church landscape and discern opportunities to develop the work in a sustainable way • Presentation - gifts in public speaking/preaching • Team-building – demonstrating a pastoral heart for their team members, gifted to inspire and encourage, to listen and develop others • Communication - ability to relate well both to Christian and secular organizations • Administration - administratively efficient • IT - computer literate and able to competently handle new media Attributes • Love for international students – a desire to see their spiritual and social needs met • Imagination and innovation – able to see opportunities and challenges • Diplomacy and sensitivity – to understand the church scene in the region and pursue unity across the evangelical spectrum • An example of servanthood and a proven trustworthiness of character
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Appendix 1
THE FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT OF FAITH / IFES IRELAND DOCTRINAL BASIS IFES Ireland: The Christian Unions is founded on the central truths of biblical Christianity as outlined in our doctrinal basis. We are a non-denominational organization that brings together Christians from all cultures, language and Christian traditions, and as such, the doctrinal basis of the Fellowship shall be those fundamental truths of Christianity as revealed in Holy Scripture set out in this clause:
The various clauses of this statement are intended to be consistent with the chief confessions of faith of the churches in the British Isles, such as The Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England and the Westminster Confession. All staff and Trustees of Friends International are required to agree with and sign this basis of faith on appointment, and thereafter at yearly intervals. The basis of faith shall be the fundamental truths of Christianity, as revealed in Holy Scripture, including:
1.
the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead;
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the sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement;
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the divine inspiration and infallibility of Holy Scripture as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct;
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the universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the fall, rendering all subject to God’s wrath and condemnation;
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the full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God; His virgin birth and His real and sinless humanity; His death on the cross, His bodily resurrection and His present reign in heaven and earth;
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redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of our representative and substitute, Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and people;
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justification as God’s act of undeserved mercy, in which sinners are pardoned all their sins, and accepted as righteous in God’s sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, this justification being received by faith alone;
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the need for the Holy Spirit to make the work of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting them repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ
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the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all those thus regenerated, producing in them an increasing likeness to Christ in character and behaviour, and empowering them for their witness in the world;
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the one holy universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong;
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the future personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge all people, executing God’s just condemnation on the impenitent and receiving the redeemed to eternal glory.
I agree with the Friends International Statement of Faith / IFES Ireland's Doctrinal Basis.
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Appendix 2
THE FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT ON DIVERGENT VIEWS 1.
Friends International is an evangelical Mission that works with a cross-section of denominational and independent churches. Furthermore, its trustees, branch officials, staff and volunteers also represent a considerable diversity in their church backgrounds.
2.
The Statement of Faith contained in the Trust Deeds represents the essential truths of the Gospel that are basic for the ministry of Friends International. As such, it is the doctrinal base to which all trustees, branch officials, staff and volunteers must assent, and the grounds on which Friends International is in fellowship with churches and other mission societies.
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Friends International does, however, recognize and respect the divergences of biblical interpretation and practices amongst evangelical Christians, including those of churches overseas to which international student Christians may belong. As long as these differences do not conflict with the Statement of Faith or cause undue divisiveness, they are not a barrier to becoming a staff member, a trustee or a branch official.
4.
Being non-denominational in doctrine, Friends International expects its trustees, branch officials, staff and volunteers to be mutually respectful regarding teachings not covered by the Statement of Faith. Such teachings should not prejudice their advice when counselling a new believer regarding church affiliation, nor affect the churches and mission societies with which they have contact.
5.
When working in a single church context, whether one's own or another, Friends International expects its trustees, branch officials, staff and volunteers to operate with respect towards that particular church's viewpoints on matters not covered by the Statement of Faith. However when working within an inter-church context, trustees, branch officials, staff and volunteers are able to make decisions, where needed, on matters not covered by the Statement of Faith and where discretion is permitted by Scripture. Whether applying their own viewpoints or deferring to the viewpoints of others, their practice should be motivated by a desire for the optimal cooperation of the group and not by a sense of loyalty to their own theological convictions.
6.
Friends International believes that God has called the trustees and staff to concentrate unswervingly on evangelism, discipleship and preparing students to help in the development of churches in their own countries upon their return, according to Christ’s mandate (Matthew 28 v18-20). Therefore, all are urged to concentrate on these goals and to exercise care in all conversation and correspondence so that no offence is unnecessarily caused to anyone, be they colleagues, local churches or students on any matters, whether doctrinal, political or racial. Whilst the cross may be an offence to some (Galatians 5.11), we are called to be the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2.15).
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I agree with the Friends International Statement on Divergent Views
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