Ximen Loft {Taipei - Taiwan}
Just about anyone in Taipei knows Ximen Ding as the main youth shopping district, full of entertainment, food, and fashion. In Ximen, anything goes, so youth feel complete freedom of expression. Among the many ordinary youth, we also find the “outcasts” and “rebels” (just the sort Jesus sought out because they had been rejected by the religious establishment).
You and your peers from the United States will live in a community house above a clothing store in the middle of Ximen Ding. The streets of Ximen are jammed with high school students and 20-somethings every evening, and your house is right in the midst of the commotion. You are bombarded with noise and lights and crowds any time you walk home, making it a great place to keep you focused on the target group for ministry.
The Ximen Loft is an intentional community where life and ministry collide. As a part of this community, you will be working toward planting a church in Ximen. Your involvement includes prayer walking in the community, planning occasional large outreach events, serving in a weekly coffeehouse ministry/fellowship, helping to lead small groups for Christians and seekers, and attending one-on-one meetings with one of the team leaders.
Weekly team and prayer meetings will be held to plan logistics and seek the heart of God for the community around us. Additionally, you will spend an hour a week with one of the team leaders, as an opportunity to be encouraged and encourage. These times are the planned aspects of the community, but be ready to spend intentional time together eating meals and learning about ministry around the island of Taiwan by meeting missionaries living in various contexts.
We hope to have a weekly coffeehouse ministry and a Christian fellowship to which we will invite people from the community in order to build relationships and introduce people to Christ. These outreach ministries will give you opportunities to serve in structured events. Beyond that, you will spend intentional time out in Ximen every week, praying and building relationships with workers and shoppers in the area.
Another helpful aspect of the ministry is teaching English to raise your support, mostly to elementary aged children (We are currently seeking information about the possibility of working with adults). There are many opportunities awaiting native English speakers who have a bachelor's degree in any field, with the potential of being paid as much as $600NT (around $17US) per hour. Some schools will pay a salary rather than an hourly rate. Either way, there will be unpaid preparation and grading that need to be done. You will begin the job search online with guidance from your team leaders before you arrive in Taiwan.
While teaching English in a paid position is not the central focus of our ministry, it is a key aspect for two reasons. First, it allows you to enter into the workforce and gives you an instant connection with the working class and the greater community of Taipei. As the Apostle Paul did, you will use your tent-making situation as a ministry opportunity to 1) reach out to your coworkers, 2) plant seeds among your students, and 3) learn about Taiwanese culture. Second, your English job pays the equivalent of $15—18US per hour, and working 20 hours a week should allow you to pay for the program fee and help with your student loans. After taxes, insurance, tithe, and program fee, you will have some spending money each month. Depending on the amount of your student loans, you may also want to ask for monthly support from family and friends.
In addition to being a part of a community, doing outreach in Ximen, and teaching English, you will have the opportunity to study Chinese. While you speak English at work daily and many people speak English in Taipei, you can practice Chinese every day if you are intentional about immersing yourself in the language and trying to use what you know.
Qualifications
We’re looking for 21—30 year olds who are willing to commit to a year serving the Lord with us in Ximen Ding. If you are outgoing or have a heart for evangelism and outreach, this is the place for you. People in Ximen are eager for friendships. They can be shy at first, but when you intentionally reach out, they are glad to be your friend. Many of the people in Ximen have some English and are excited to befriend English speakers so they can practice.
Please understand that this ministry will require much sacrifice. While the physical aspects of living here may seem easy (Taipei is one of the most modern cities in the world, and you can get just about anything you want), there are challenging social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of living in Taiwan. This ministry is not for the faint of heart. You will be living in a place where you don’t always have your privacy, and you must learn to juggle working, living in community, personal life, and a newly established ministry. However, if you are willing to rely on God for strength and reach out to people who desperately need Jesus, you will see God move and will find countless opportunities to grow personally while being a part of the vision to see the church in this bustling district. You will be stretched and strengthened by new opportunities in terms of culture, language, team ministry, pioneer missions, and more. It is a great chance to get your feet wet serving the Lord in a missional context.
Timeline
Each term is a little over one year. We ask you to commit one year of your life and stick with it. You will join the team around July 20th, 2009 to be a part of some early vision, culture, and team training. First, we’ll meet in Los Angeles for an extended layover where we’ll meet Matt Peace and Jason Ostrander, two key players in the beginning of Alliance ministry in Ximen. Then, we’ll proceed to Taiwan for three days of team, culture, and ministry training. After the training, you’ll jump into some intense Chinese lessons along with specific daily tasks that include meeting new friends and connecting with Ximen in general. During this time, you’ll also be finalizing arrangements for your one year contracted English teaching position (some last until August the following year). By September 1 you will begin a teaching routine of about 20 hours a week (plus preparation) at a school most likely outside of Ximen.
Throughout the year, besides the normal routine, our team will occasionally host big events for the community. Additionally, you will be involved in leading and facilitating short-term teams from the States in May, June, and July.
Initial Costs
Initial costs include $3,500 plus airfare to help pay for training in the States, Chinese tutoring, and your first few months of living in Taiwan. You will also have to obtain insurance before you begin working. Beginning October 15, you will pay a monthly program fee of $785. This covers rent, housing costs, and two hours per week one-on-one with a Chinese teacher. By October 15, you should have received at least one paycheck from the English school where you are teaching, as most schools pay monthly.
Contact
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact the on-site facilitators Chris O’ Dell (also on Facebook) or Jamie O’ Dell (also on Facebook).
You can also check out our website or our youtube channel if you want to get an idea of what Ximen looks like. Or you can talk to Emily Ballinger, a current intern, about her experience.
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