Community Development and International Coordinator

ADE Overview

ADE (Association for Development through Education) is a Christian non-profit organization that uses holistic education to share the love of the Lord with communities without creating dependency. ADE’s vision is to create a network that will send people to serve in other countries, supported by the work of their own hands within the receiving community. We work alongside local community members to develop educational initiatives and other partnerships (local, national and global) that fulfill the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:34-40) and the great commission (Matt. 28:18-20).

Join our multicultural staff in living Matthew 10 and gain valuable experience in missions and development.

Job Description:

• Work and live in community serving the Lord through education and development.
• Market, plan, and direct educational trips with national and international students in Costa Rica.
• Recruit, hire, and oversee interns and volunteers serving on our community projects.
• Maintain the ADE website and the organization’s online presence (twitter, Facebook, blogger, etc).
• Work with local community projects, national organizations, and ADE's National Director.

Position Requirements:

• Mature Christian faith.
• Desire to learn and grow in community.
• Commitment to the mission and vision of ADE.
• English and Spanish speaking and writing abilities (or willingness to learn both)
• Good interpersonal and networking skills.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• This job is ideally intended for a married couple due to community needs but we are willing to consider other applicants if they have the needed qualities.

Qualifications:

1. ADE staff are professionals in their respective fields yet we actively choose to live a simple life style in the communities where we work as a witness that development (social, economic, etc.) does not depend upon outside resources as it is commonly practiced today. We believe development is understanding the process of how to do things in your life and not having things. Thus we would not support the pursuit of funds for our community development projects or even for our basic living costs. We choose instead to work with our hands and use education as a tool to empower others and to provide for our means seeking to become a model that is easily reproducible by all. Thus the name ADE, Association for Development through Education, an emphasis on development through our education (and not "aid") as a different model for assisting communities. This is a call to simple living. If you are in need of acquiring economic wealth please do not apply. If you desire to acquire skills and practices to live a simple yet full life consider applying.
2. ADE staff members have an active personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, personal study of the Bible, communion with other believers, acts of service, forgiveness to others, and a process of continually dying to oneself (passions, pride, ego, consumerism, etc.) so that God can be more alive in our lives. Understand that discipleship is a natural outpouring of their faith.
3. As a practical consequence of our faith and our critique of current development models, ADE staff do not work for a salary. We all work and are active economic producers in our community and everything we earn we put into a common purse. From the common purse we pay for our basic needs (food, housing, transportation, medical costs, personal spending, etc.) as well as funding our different community development projects (organic farm, local high school, educational activities, etc.). We are committed to living a simple life yet we lack nothing and live well. The idea is that anybody that has a call to "go" can simply just do it. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, it is a transparent model that anybody can reproduce. The way we live in the community can be reproduced by any member of that community and in fact, we actively invite others to come and live as we do with the intent that they will one day go out and reproduce the model in other communities of need. The idea is to be completely sustainable, transparent, and reproducible.

Personal Qualities:

1. Secure in their faith and salvation by the Grace of Christ (Romans 6:22-23) and and understand the need to be in active daily pursuit of Christ through the reading of the Word, prayer, and praise.
2. Willing to grow in discipleship of self and others (Matthew 28:19-20)
3. Committed to a simple life that reflects the walk of Jesus. All of our needs are met (healthy food, shelter, work place, transportation) and there is a small stipend for personal needs (Philippians 4:11-13)
4. Basic writing and organizational skills to follow up on contacts
5. Desire to inspire, to assist the organization grow and be relevant to people around the world

Compensation:

All ADE staff live a very simple life style as a witness to our community and our model of encouraging all believers to follow Christ regardless of their access to economic resources. All ADE full time staff are provided lodging, food, work resources, and a living stipend of around $100 in order to cover personal expenses. We live simply but lack nothing and are able to enjoy many of the natural wonders of Costa Rica and the region.

This is NOT a paid job; it is a sustained position. Your living cost's will be covered and there will be a modest monthly stipend. All of our needs are provided for including housing, healthy meals, transportation, work expenses, plus a monthly stipend for personal needs.

English is essential and Spanish is a definite plus but can be learned on site.