Cross-Cultural Missionary Training
Make an impact
Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? Want to make a difference for Christ on his mission field? Want to be immersed in a new culture and new language? Want a real and extended taste of missionary service in a safe environment, with constant mentoring and support by long term missionaries on the field with you?
We are looking for mature Aussie Christian young adults to join in the missionary work at Talua. By spending 11 months rubbing shoulders with ni-Vanuatu ministry candidates, sitting in the same classes, living in the same quarters, having those thought-provoking discussions between breaks, discussing the big questions of life while working the gardens together, you will both learn mission and do mission.
Learn Mission
Through our training year, you’ll learn all the essentials skills of cross-cultural missionary work through reflective, on-the-ground, practical training:
Be immersed in ni-Vanuatu life and culture
Learn a new language (Bislama)
Receive hands on training and experience in kids ministry, service leading, preaching, and other ministry skills, all in a cross-cultural setting
Observe a range of missionary work across Vanuatu, such as: theological education, chaplaincy, IFES university student ministry, aid & development, medical missions, evangelism and church planting
Study alongside a cohort of ni-Vanuatu pastors-in-training, make lifelong friends in the process
Be trained, mentored and supported every step of the way by Aussie missionaries, Rob and El Falls.
Do Mission
Through our training year, you will help us shape the next generation of gospel leaders in Vanuatu through one of the most important ministries on campus: peer-to-peer discipleship. What TTTI students really benefit from is godly peers, fellow classmates / friends who, through word and actions, can model to them what a deep relationship with Christ looks like, and help them to think critically about their experience of ministry and Church. While the Falls can teach and model a gospel-shaped life from the front, we need you to help model it by their side.
Model Christlikeness
Challenge spiritual apathy and syncretism
Help students’ with English in formal and informal settings
Serve the Talua in a range of ministries (kids, Sunday worship, etc.)
FAQs
-
The 11 month training program is approximately $15,000 to cover all program expenses (flights, visa, insurance, accommodation, pre-departure training, personal living expensense, etc.).
Your missionary training will start before you even arrive in Vanuatu, with the Falls providing online training (through Zoom) in Partnership Development. With ongoing support from the Falls, the hope is that you will be able to fundraise most (if not all) of what you will need before leaving home.
-
You will be:
between 18-35 years old
mature Christians, with a deep love for Jesus, and a godly, humble character.
servant-hearted, with a passion for mission and considering the possibility of serving in long term cross-cultural mission.
willing to live without first world comforts (hot water, electricity, fridge etc.).
happy to push themselves outside their comfort zone, especially in social situations.
-
You will live alongside local students and/or staff in campus accommodation (or married flats if coming as a couple). You will cook in their kitchens, eat their food, dine with them on a daily basis. Of course, the Falls will frequently host you for meals, ensuring you get your fix of Aussie classics too.
-
The Core: You will support ni-Van students in the degree program. While you will listen in on their classes, and the learning will be helpful in providing some basic theological formation, the real gold will be immersion amongst ni-Vans on campus, and reflecting on this rich cultural experience with the Falls as mentors. Although not a formal qualification, you will receive on-the-ground, practical cross-cultural missionary training.
Flexible Online Learning: We are open, and have the facilities, to support you in studying remote, part time courses that may help in future missionary contexts. For example: you might think about completing a CELTA Certificate. Or if you are keen to get formal theological qualifications, part time online Bible College could be a good complement to our training.
-
Everything! You will be involved in all the activities that local students are involved in, including:
Helping with their subsistence agricultural practices (gardening, spear fishing, etc.)
Worshipping through Choir, Devotions, prayer triplets, morning and evening Sunday worship, etc.
Participating in Langham preaching workshops
Weekly mentor groups and Presbytery Groups
Participating in student body activities
Weekly Sports, and then regional comps if you’re interested
-
You will be immersed in Bislama from Day One, with the expectation of being able to speak, lead bible talks, pray, and be fluent in everyday conversation by the end of the year. Thankfully, almost everyone understands English, so it’s a very forgiving place to learn a new language.
-
This training program is incredibly challenging. You will face significant levels of culture shock, live without many of the essentials of western society, and have your worldview and preconceptions of life deeply challenged. Consequently, the application process is rigorous.
Before completing application forms, you will have an informal zoom chat with the Falls family. This is an opportunity for you to ask any of your questions of the program, and for the Falls to paint a realistic picture of life and ministry at Talua. Once application forms have been submitted, you will be interviewed by a panel. If Talua staff are happy, approval will follow!
Also note, we can only take a very small number in the program each year, so the earlier you apply, the better.
