Tijuana

Tijuana, Baja California

God is working mightily among the people of Tijuana. Could He be calling you to be part of the team?

General Information

Tijuana needs Christ! You will mobilize national church planters to evangelize, minister to, and reach their world! Your active, personal involvement will model ministry and missions. Even more, Tijuana and the other megacities hold an important key to reaching not only the country, but having impact throughout North and Central America. We never know how long this window of opportunity will last. Now is the time to act! Be a part of our megacities' team!

Tijuana is a megacity on the important California/Mexico border. Population estimates are around 3 million; this number is very hard to know due to migratory patterns along the border. The border megacities have very unique circumstances due to the proximity to the US. Crime is a major concern as drug traffic wars continue. Tijuana shares the border with San Diego, California and has a temperate climate.

Tijuana is a hilly, coastal city located at sea level with a temperate climate. Air conditioning is not necessary. Winters are mild with extreme lows in the 40s. Summers are mild with highs in the 80s. Ocean breezes keep smog levels low. Excellent healthcare is available.

Tijuana is located on the California/Mexico border just south of San Diego. Population estimates are around 3 million; this number is very hard to know due to migratory patterns along the border. The border megacities have very unique circumstances due to the proximity to the US. Crime is typical for any city of 3 million, but violent crime primarily occurs among the drug-traffickers. Precautions should be taken to protect oneself from petty theft, and common sense should be used at all times.

As it is within all the megacities of Mexico, ample shopping is available. US style malls and discount stores are available at prices somewhat higher than US prices. Within the target population, most dress informally, yet neatly. Men rarely wear shorts, except at home or while playing sports. Women tend to wear slacks or dresses and rarely wear shorts outside the home. Grocery shopping can occur at the supermarkets or in neighborhood stores. Mobile markets or traveling vendors may be available near your neighborhood at least once or twice a week. A neat and kept appearance is expected from the missionary. A mission vehicle will be provided. Public transportation is available, generally reliable, and inexpensive.

Estimates indicate that between 4% and 8% know Christ at this time. Some existing churches show traditionalistic tendencies that inhibit the kind of multiplication and growth necessary to reach Tijuana, however there are national partners that are open to try new methodologies. Responsiveness to clear Biblical expressions of the Gospel is expected to be high. We must be thoroughly Biblical in all we do. Tijuana is a strategic city that, when reached, will have a tremendous impact on the entire country and beyond due to the mobility of the people living there.

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Urban Strategy Coordinator job filled

Tommy and Beth Larner
Serving in Tijuana since 2007
Currently on field

Church Planting Equipper job available

Job Description: (IMB Job # 87449)

Long-term (career or associate after apprentice term)
Single Male or Couple only

You will work directly with national church planters, training and equipping them for a breakthrough in urban church planting movements. As an integral part of the Iniciativa Transformación Urbana (ITU "Urban Transformation Initiative"), you will directly relate to your Urban Strategy Coordinator, while working alongside extremely capable nationals. Your acquired knowledge of church planting processes within the ITU context will greatly enhance your task of training and equipping national church planters and church planter teams with innovative materials and methods in a “doing-based” atmosphere. As you focus on your assignment, you will be involved in front-line church planting, demonstrating a lifestyle of personal evangelism and discipleship. As part of a new initiative in the MAC Region, it is urgent that this request be filled ASAP. Each missionary will begin the mentoring process (PACE) while in language training.

The spouse's job description is the same as the primary job description above. The missionary calling of the wife as an individual and as a part of the church planting team is very important. Your special skills, training and spiritual gifts will be put to good use as the team is used by God to ignite a church planting movement in this megacity. The missionary wife is given the freedom necessary to strike the appropriate balance between ministry and family needs.

Spanish language proficiency is required to perform assignment. The missionary must reach the level of Intermediate High by the OPI Standard during on-the-field language learning. Language training is part of a three year mentoring plan for new missionaries.

Spiritual Formation Mentor job available

Job Description: (IMB Job # 87450)

Long-term (career or associate after apprentice term)
Single Male or Couple only

You will work directly with national church planters in a mentoring relationship that aims to ensure their sound conversion and helps them to develop a solid Biblical theology. As a mentor, you will call national church planters to truly abide in Christ and therefore keep Him first in their lives. Your detailed knowledge of biblical theology will instill church planters with solid grounding, affirming what is good and equipping them to face the pull toward legalistic tendencies, excesses, and cult-based deviations often found in this field. Additionally, you will be personally involved in front line church planting. While fulfilling these duties, you will relate directly to your Urban Strategy Coordinator. As part of our Urban Transformation Initiative (ITU "Iniciativa Transformación Urbana") in the MAC Region, it is urgent that this request be filled ASAP. Each missionary will begin the mentoring process (PACE) while in language training.

Urban Transformation Mobilizer job available

Job Description: (IMB Job #87461)

Long-term (career or associate after apprentice term)
Single Male or Couple only

You will work directly with the mobilization of national church planters, instilling in them an Acts 1:8 'DNA' as well as a healthy application of urban ministry. This mobilization is into "doing" and not simply "knowing." This is needed from the start for them to successfully start new churches within the context of the Iniciativa Transformación Urbana (ITU "Urban Transformation Initiative"). As an Urban Transformation Mobilizer, you will relate directly to your Urban Strategy Coordinator. You will use creative strategies to ensure that church planters understand the necessity of going into all of the earth, including them in what may well become the greatest urban church planting movement breakthrough ever. As you focus on your assignment, you will be involved in front-line church planting, demonstrating a lifestyle of personal evangelism and discipleship. Each missionary will begin the mentoring press (PACE) while in language training.

Community Missions and Ministry job filled (on field in mid 2009)

Job Description: (IMB job #88746)

Short-term (ISC, Journeyman, Masters)

You will work directly with the mobilization of national church planters, instilling in them an Acts 1:8 'DNA' as well as a healthy application of urban ministry. This mobilization is into "doing" and not simply "knowing." This is needed from the start for them to successfully start new churches within the context of the Iniciativa Transformación Urbana (ITU "Urban Transformation Initiative"). As a Community Ministry and Missions missionary, you will relate directly to your Urban Strategy Coordinator. You will use creative strategies to ensure that church planters understand the necessity of going into all of the earth, including them in what may well become the greatest urban church planting movement breakthrough ever. As you focus on your assignment, you will be involved in front-line church planting, demonstrating a lifestyle of personal evangelism and discipleship. Each missionary will begin the mentoring process while in language training.

Spanish language proficiency is required to perform assignment. On-the-field language study will be provided. You will begin the mentoring process while in language school.

Families accepting this job assignment will be required to home school their children. Complete home school materials and support are provided for families. The region has a home school support person that will help missionaries with matters related to home school (i.e. materials, curriculum, special needs, etc.) Children are a vital part of their family's witness to the lost. The entire family will model life in Christ before a lost community. All older children must enter into this assignment with a positive attitude and a cultivated desire to know Mexican culture, language, and especially the people. They should be walking with Christ in a way that is appropriate to their age.

Urban Missions Apprentice 2 jobs available NEW for 2008!

Job Description: (IMB Job #88747)

Short-term (ISC, Journeyman, Masters)

Do you feel called to serve in Mexico but are not sure how God can use your spiritual gifts and talents? Then consider this opportunity to explore urban missions. You will initially support the work of missionaries serving in the Megacities of Mexico. You will be mentored and trained to carry out all aspects of urban missionary work such as: witnessing to the lost, discipleship, survey work, developing creative plans to gain access to gated communities and apartment buildings, church planting, leadership development, hosting volunteer teams, community development, and seeing dysfunctional families transformed by the gospel as they become an active part of a new testament church.

You will work directly with your Urban Strategy Coordinator and be involved in evangelism, church planting, and training the next generation of leaders for the churches that will be planted. Many of these churches will be started from home Bible studies. These new churches will have the vision, desire, and be taught to reproduce themselves and start more new churches in adjoining neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and to the ends of the earth. You will also be mobilizing Mexican Baptists to become involved in the task of planting multiplying churches in the city in which you are serving. You will choose a job request based on your geographic zone of preference. The North zone cities include Ciudad Juarez, Hermosillo, and Tijuana. The specific city will be determined from the list of cities in your selected zone at the completion of language school in consultation with the Strategy Associate, Urban Strategy Leaders, and language school mentor.

If you are the mother of young children your first responsibility will be to your family. Their care and education will take up a significant amount of your time. As time permits you will participate in the team ministry of evangelizing the lost, discipling women, and helping to plant churches and train leaders. Much of your ministry will be using the gifts of hospitality and fervently praying for your family and team members.

Spanish language proficiency is required to perform assignment. On-the-field language study will be provided. You will begin the mentoring process while in language school.

Home schooling is the preferred method of MK education for this job request. Private schools and national schools are available but not at U.S. standards. Complete home school materials and support are provided for families. The region has a MK consulting team which includes a home school support person that will help missionaries with matters related to home school (i.e. materials, curriculum, testing, special needs, etc.) Children are a vital part of their family's witness to the lost. The entire family will model life in Christ before a lost community.

Additional Information

To excel at this job, the missionary should exhibit these characteristics (among others):

Have a strong personal spiritual life and commitment to the vision and to prayer.
Be a team player.
Be a trainer.
Be intensely interested in improving language skills (i.e. Spanish)
Be flexible, able to work in chaos!
Have the ability to stay focused on the main task.
Know when to say no to people or things that are off-task.
Do nothing to create unhealthy dependencies among our national brothers.
Be a lifelong learner--there is much to learn about cell and house church strategy

If you think God might be calling you to join the Tijuana team, write us at

info@nwmegacities.org

Tijuana Page

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