IW ABCs
As a District family of churches, we have 43 IWs — in all four branches of Alliance missions, plus “Special Assignment” and Envision residency & apprentice programs. So, how many types of IWs do we have in the Alliance? Well, we have tall ones, and short ones…
Seriously, this is a valid question, because we have IWs doing all sorts of things — community development to theological training — under a variety of classifications. Ministries are diverse yet focused on bringing gospel access & impact to the least-reached peoples of the world. To achieve our mission, we engage peoples through 3 strategic themes: Serving Communities; Multiplying Church Networks; and Developing People. This is accomplished as we leverage all 4 structures to advance the gospel — CAMA, Marketplace Ministries (MM), aXcess and Envision International.
Allow me to explain some of the categories, or the terms that “label” them:
IW Clergy Track (IWCs) — IWs who have fulfilled ordination or consecration requirements, who are directly involved in church planting, evangelism, theological education and similar ministries.
IW Vocational (IWVs) — IWs who use their training in education, finance, healthcare, logistical/disaster response, community development, business, or similar vocations in ministry. Neither ordination, nor consecration, is required.
Envision Site Coordinators (ESC) — international site coordinators are IWs appointed by the C&MA Board, and employed under Alliance Ministries.
International-Worker-In-Residence — IWIRs are IWs who are temporarily assigned to one of our US C&MA colleges, or seminary campuses, as representatives.
MM Professional (MMPs) — credentialed by the C&MA, via Alliance Ministries (AM) these skilled professionals are serving as Marketplace Ministries (MM) Associates or Tentmakers. They can hold clergy qualifications, but are generally lay professionals who are, mostly, secularly employed in international cross-cultural situations with the motivation & ministry to make disciples and engage them in a local church.
IWs on Special Assignment — these are people licensed by the C&MA (either Church Ministries or Alliance Ministries), approved to minister with another organization. An example would be a pastor of an international Alliance church in France.
The majority of our IWs are considered employees of the C&MA, with a few exceptions (such as with some in Marketplace Ministries). A note for clarification: US-based Envision workers are employees of their own site’s US district.
Each of the four branches (or structures) of Alliance missions ministries have their own websites, resources and leadership structures. Equally, all of them are immersed into strategies, denominational leadership and processes of the C&MA. In other words…aXcess is Alliance. CAMA is Alliance. Marketplace Ministries is Alliance. Envision is Alliance.
Most of Alliance IWs are listed on the C&MA website. About half are not…these would be Creative Access IWs (CAC - those in countries with religious restrictions, and/or for security reasons). You’ll find update profile information, prayer requests, and most likely, a photo of your IW friends.
To financially support an IW by name, you and/or your church treasurer can use the C&MA Give page. You may also select a specific project connected to an IW, team or field on this page. Or, give to the Great Commission Fund.
To stay current on prayer requests, there is an Alliance app and the webpage from which you can curate weekly prayer updates. Of course, there’s our own monthly Prayer Update on the NCD page, and the IW’s own blogs, webpages and regular prayer news.
This month, would you…
“Test” the online giving option to the GCF, or an IW of your choice?
Identify a prayer warrior in your church and introduce them to the Alliance’s weekly prayer requests?
Email one of our IWs and encourage them?
Dave Manske
Missions Mobilizer
North Central District of The C&MA