What sort of placements does iServe Africa work with?
iServe Africa usually works with churches and Christian organizations with a passion to raise future gospel workers and to reach and serve their local community in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that apprentices are placed with churches and Christian organizations and projects in towns and rural areas.
Do you only have placements based at churches?
No! iServe Africa also works with Christian organizations, businesses, mission agencies,NGO's, CBOs and projects where there is a ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. This includes mission agencies, Bible translation projects, Christian charities working with the vulnerable in the society such as the homeless, HIV/AIDS programmes, the elderly, those with addiction difficulties, those with learning difficulties and physical disability as well as ministry in informal settlements.
What sort of things do iServe Africa apprentices do?
Our placements involve their apprentices in a wide variety of Christian ministry including work with children and youth of all ages; local schools – clubs, outreach, assemblies; local community action and church pastoral work; engaging in cross cultural ministries, Compassionate ministry among the elderly and other vulnerable groups, evangelistic Bible study, practical work in the church, administrative support etc.
How will the apprentices needs be met?
Although our apprenticeships are voluntary in nature, apprentices will be faciliateted with a stipend/living alllowance. This partly comes from gifts given by an apprentice's mission partners. Placements will normally provide accommodation or pay a nominal rent for the apprentice while iServe Africa will arrange for a medical and personal accident cover with an insurance company.
Are all iServe Africa placements in the Kenya?
Yes, we presently only place apprentices in Kenya but we are continually exploring opportunities in other parts of Africa and beyond. We second apprentices to other countries like the UK every year.
When does a normal iServe Africa placement begin?
Apprentices usually begin their assignments in September each year and agree to spend a full year on the placement up to the following August.
Can apprentices do a second year with iServe Africa?
Yes. Arrangements can be made either for an apprentice to stay on in the same placement or move on to another placement locally or overseas. A second year is much more intensive and rigorous programme for those who are thinking more about longer term involvement in gospel ministry.
Is the placement expected to provide training for our apprentice?
Placements will want to give their apprentice any training essential to fulfilling their job. Such training is ideally provided within the locality. However, the hallmark of iServe Africa is that it enables apprentices to have a hands-on experience of Christian ministry and service while giving them apprpriate ministry training and experience.
What contact will we have with iServe Africa during the year?
iServe Africa maintains links with both supervisor and apprentice throughout the year as we are very keen to exercise a relevant pastoral and training role with both parties. We will visit all placements at least thrice during the year to ensure everything is going well.
What charges do iServe Africa make to placements?
There are no charges that iServe Africa levies on placements. However, we welcome our placements to make a donation towards our central running expenses during the year, besides providing accommodation and stipend to the apprentice.
How much should Placements pay to support the apprentice?
The placement is required to pay KES 10,000 per month. The money is paid to iServe Africa which operates a hybrid fundraising and support system on behalf of the apprentices. This goes towards the apprentices upkeep, training costs as well as admin costs.
Do Apprentices have to raise support?
We encourage our apprentices to engage in Partnership Development (PD) in order to help them appreciate the important role played by partners in ministry. We believe that gospel ministry in whichever context is done and resourced through partnerships. We therefore ask our apprentices to build a support network of individuals and churches that will be committed to pray for, encourage and give towards the apprentice during their year. The apprentice will commit to keep his/her mission partners informed and involved in their ministry on a regular basis through prayer newsletters.
Can a placement pay the full cost of the apprenticeship?
Some placements feel that they would want to exempt an apprentice from the responsibility of support raising and are willing to meet the full cost of apprenticeship. Whereas this is acceptable in certain circumstances we are careful not to let the apprentice miss the valuable ministry skills that come with partnership development.
So, what happens when a placement applies for an apprentice?
A member of staff will contact you by phone and, if appropriate, agree a time to visit you to talk through your application in detail. A decision will be made as soon as possible and we will then recruit an apprentice for you. After that, we will sign a memorandum of understanding in order to formalize our partnership.
How do you screen possible apprentices?
iServe Africa carefully screens all applications from those wishing to be apprentices. Applicants have an initial interview with us and then we commend a potential apprentice to a particular placement, and send on copies of all of their papers. The final choice is then made by the church who may even invite the applicant to spend time with them. We do not put our apprentices into competitive interview situations and we do not expect placements to do so either.
Does iServe Africa run any courses during the year?
Yes. We’ll expect apprentices to be released to attend the Nairobi Ministry Training Course which will runs for a week every quarter – September, December and April . There will also be expected to attend an end of year debriefing retreat in early August.
What if there are problems?
In the event of conflict, we suggest that problems be dealt with locally on biblical principles and iServe Africa be called upon only as a last resort. However, should there be gross character issues; the placement should contact us immediately.
Whereas we anticipate a year of cordial working relationship, there is always the possibility of terminating a partnership. The grounds upon which such termination may occur include: Gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds, Gross insubordination, serious character issue or seriously incompatible theological/moral position that may hinder the faithful performance of Christian ministry. The due process to follow in such eventuality is to contact us and invite us for a tripartite meeting where the issue would be discussed at length and an exit procedure agreed upon. Oftentimes, such an exit procedure is captured in our partnership agreement with the placement (MOU).