Area Facilitator, Latin America

Organization Profile

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world.  

The Office of International Mission, which relates to the Board for International Mission and implements its policies, is responsible to the President of the Synod through the Chief Mission Officer for the work of the Synod in foreign countries as stated in the Bylaws. 

Emphasis for Office of International Mission: Spread the Gospel, Plant Lutheran Churches, Show Mercy.

Reporting Relationships

• The position reports to the Regional Director for the region.

Essential Job Functions

• Commit to an ongoing schedule and strategy for ministry support raising, (Network Support Model) Orientation and initial support building is typically six (6) months.
• Communicate via monthly newsletter to and maintain a relationship with the sending church that includes Together-In-Mission (TIM) congregations as well as other supporting churches, groups, and individuals.
• Serves as an advisory member of the regional Management Team (EMT) under the leadership of the Regional Director. 
• Assist other missionary endeavors within geographical proximity of residence in church planting and connecting people to Word and Sacrament ministry. 
• Assist the RD in the development of a Strategic Plan with an emphasis in church planting, (in each country of responsibility) and provide leadership required for the implementation of the plan.
• Monitor projects in assigned area of work and solicit appropriate reports from missionaries-national churches.
• Facilitate planning and implementation of yearly FORO meetings, including communication with FORO participants, and provision of accurate project reports in conjunction with the strategic plan.
• Provide information and recommendations for the annual budget for each subregion of responsibility.
• Be the main communication conduit between RD and missionaries assigned to the subregion including, but not limited to, giving a monthly executive summary report to RD on missionary activities and church partner relationships.

Missionary Supervisor

• Provide for area team formation, missionary development, skill giving, conflict management, crisis intervention, and annual review as required for the effective implementation of the area Strategic Plan.
• Mentor and advocate on behalf of missionaries with regional human care staff spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.
• Support EMT in recommendations for on ground logistics including, but not limited to, housing, education, language acquisition and transportation.
• Assist and coordinate with visa process and acclimatization of missionaries and their families as requested by the EMT.

Church Partner

Encourage the development and raising up of indigenous pastors and deaconesses by coordinating and mentoring national candidates with on-line and/or residential theological education in OIM by:                                                      

• Communicating regularly with the sending church and individual supporters.
• Give one monthly report on church partner relationships within the subregion to RD (should be included in monthly executive summary reports of missionary activities).
• Be involved in local ministry such as pericope studies, preaching and teaching as assigned-called upon.
• Additional duties as assigned.
• Assists the Regional Director in the coordination of communication between partners and OIM leadership.

Education and Experience

• Active, in good standing, member of an LCMS congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws and policies.
• Rostered member status with the LCMS as a minister of religion – ordained, required.
• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent required.
• Experience as a cross-cultural missionary, preferably overseas through the ministry of the LCMS.
• Previous experience in administrative leadership skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A deep commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions as the correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures.
• Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility to live and work in a second culture.
• Demonstrated fluency (ILR2 or higher) in Romanian or a willingness to participate in a language learning program to achieve proficiency.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that facilitate initiating and maintaining relationships with people both within and outside the church.  Ability to initiate and maintain relationships with people of another culture.
• Ability to function effectively in a team setting.
• Demonstrated resilience and ability to effectively complete a project.
• Good physical, emotional, and spiritual health that facilitate carrying on sustained work in international environments.
• Demonstrated leadership and diplomatic skills.
• A demonstrated ability to travel extensively and maintain performance expectations in diverse cultural contexts, psychologically stressful environments, and physical hardship conditions with limited resources. 
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the email functions and calendar functions of Microsoft Outlook.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Deployed staff in assigned subregion.
• Assisting the Regional Director in oversight when working with partner churches.