Strategic Areas of Ministry
Wherever CMS sends missionaries, they work in partnership with a local church or Christian organisation, to see God’s Church grow as lives and communities are transformed by Christ. We focus on five areas of ministry, as part of our strategy to give everyone the opportunity to meet a Christian, and to hear the gospel of Jesus.
While we try to fit every ministry opportunity into one of these five categories, there is frequently overlap, and many roles fall into more than one strategic area.
Mission in Muslim areas
Almost 20% of all people have a Muslim background. We place professionally trained personnel in Muslim contexts where they can live and work to display the grace of Christ, and share the reason for their hope.
Like the apostle Paul, who was a tentmaker by profession, you’ll usually need a secular occupation to work in the Muslim world. Rather than waiting for a job that fits, you may need to be prepared just to go, learn the local language and culture, build relationships, THEN find a role you can take up.
Student ministry
Tertiary and secondary student numbers continue to grow, especially in the ’developing‘ world. CMS works with local student movements (such as those affiliated with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students), and churches with specific student ministry programs, to evangelise and disciple students as they make decisions that will shape the rest of their lives.
Church-based ministry
Around the world there are evangelical churches of many denominations seeking gifted people to work with them as they multiply and mature their Christian witness to the world. We can work with such churches by sending trained people to serve alongside them in their strategies to grow God’s Church as lives and communities are transformed by Christ.
Church-based ministry includes pastoring, church planting, discipling, training, evangelism, and youth and children’s ministries.
Leadership training
Where the Church is growing fastest, there is the greatest need for well-founded Christian leaders. CMS places people who are skilled and experienced, especially in theological and pastoral areas, in roles where they work with international church leaders in equipping the next generation for leadership in the local Church and society.
Leadership training generally encompasses Bible and theology training at Bible schools, colleges and universities.
Development and caring ministry
Many churches and Christian organisations around the world run programs that match strategic action with clear gospel presentation. The needs and opportunities are almost limitless. We look for appropriately trained people who can be part of a holistic program that addresses genuine need, adds credibility to the gospel and the Church, and introduces people to Jesus.
Development and caring ministries include agriculture and development projects, income generation schemes, social uplift programs, Bible translation and literacy, media ministries, school and university teaching ministries (other than Bible teaching ministries), teaching English as a foreign language, and a huge range of other holistic ministries.
To find out more about current opportunities in each of these strategic areas, click here.