The Essence of iServe Africa Apprenticeship Programme
iServe Africa is committed to serve evangelical churches and projects in Africa. We are clear about our evangelical basis which proclaims the Sovereign, triune God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit who has spoken infallibly to us through a clear and sufficient word, the Bible, and who has acted to rescue His people through the penal and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. We are a Bible believing, cross preaching people. It is an evangelical, gospel faith which we seek to promote in its support of churches in the lives of our apprentices.
The ministry of iServe Africa is incarnational. We place apprentices to be immersed in the life of the local Christian community. We encourage apprentices to be part of the small, the ordinary, the routine and the long term of Christian ministry. One of our implicit aims is to expose young Christians from large, lively churches to the life of the average local church and vice versa. This has a vital contribution to offer to the apprentices – they can immerse themselves in, and identify with, communities of all ages and all backgrounds.
The ministry of iServe Africa apprentices is sacrificial. We do not follow an essentially secular model of self fulfillment. There are great gains for those involved with iServe Africa as apprentices. But great gains come not by right but by grace and not through seeking fulfillment for ourselves but through joyful obedience to God and willing sacrifice for others. We believe iServe Africa has a task to encourage a counter cultural vision of sacrificial service.
The ministry of iServe Africa is pastoral. We hold our placements and apprentices in very high esteem and seek to provide quality support through the MTA staff and the conferences, regular visits and other resources. Our determination is to enable our apprentices both to grow in their knowledge and understanding of God and of His plans and purposes for their lives and also to contribute effectively during their year on their placements.