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Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church: English Teaching Ministry

Getting Here: As Easy As 1-2-3

Airplane Taking Off

 
Application Deadlines: 
August 2008 for April 2009-March 2010 teaching position
December 2008    for August 2009-July 2010 teaching position
Usually it takes about one year to complete the steps it requires to get to Shimonoseki as a PIONEERS short-term missionary. 
 
STEP #1: Check Out the Position and Apply Online 
 
As an English teacher for Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church's English language ministry you will serve as a church staff member.  It will be important then that your beliefs, life-style, and ministry vision match-up with what this church believes and how it does ministry.  Below you can download a sample teaching contract (PDF File) that will cover these topics and delineate the responsibilities you would have and explains the monetary compensation you would receive.  Please read it carefully and share this missions opportunity with your home church pastor(s) or missions leader.  If you and your church sense that we are a good match for you and that God is in this, then take a few minutes and fill out our online application:

Download Sample Contract

 
STEP #2: Have Your Church Send You Through PIONEERS
 
Find your country's PIONEERS office below and either e-mail them or download their preliminary information form and mail them the original and post a copy to Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church (see address below).  The PIONEERS office will contact you and begin to assist you in getting to the field.  Above all else, seek the counsel and assistance of your church leadership throughout the entire process.
 
 

PIONEERS Canada

PIONEERS New Zealand

PIONEERS USA

 
STEP #3: Raise Support, Get Your Missionary Visa, and Pack
 
Your PIONEERS office will help you get going in raising the funds you will need to pay for about half of your living and ministry expenses in Japan.  You will need to have 90% of these funds raised before you can purchase a ticket to come to Japan.
 
Its always helpful to get an early start on your visa (at least four months before departure).  You can visit this Japanese government site for the official details if you are one of those who like to have as much information as you can get.  However, here is a basic overview of what you will need to do in simple English in order to receive permission to enter Japan.  The materials you need to prepare or have PIONEERS prepare are in red and the items we will prepare are in italics):
 
1) PROVE THAT YOUR HAVE A PASSPORT: Post a copy of the main pages of your country's passport (make sure it will not expire soon) with two 40mm X 30mm (NOT passport size) photos to the church's address below.
 
2) PROVE THAT PIONEERS IS A REAL MISSIONARY ORGANIZATION THAT IS SENDING YOU: Have PIONEERS mail to the Japanese church address a letter of guarantee that shows their missionary organisation is sending you and will take responsibility for your welfare (we have a sample letter that we can send by request).  Have PIONEERS also include in that envelope brochures, financial reports, etc. that prove helpful in showing that they are a real missionary sending organization. 
 
3) PROVE THAT YOU HAVE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE SUITED FOR A MISSIONARY: Write and e-mail us your resume that focuses on your training and experience in promoting "religion".  We will translate your resume into Japanese.  Also, send us a transcript from your college/university that shows your Bible/missionary training.
 
CHURCH ADDRESS:
Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church
11-3 Kawanaka Honmachi
Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
JAPAN 751-0859
 
The pastor of Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church will write a letter of sponsorship for you and have someone submit an application for your "certificate of eligibility" to the immigration office in Shimonoseki with the two photos and all the above documents you and PIONEERS post to the Japanese church.  It usually takes about a month for the immigration office to process your application.  Then someone from Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church will pick up your "certificate of eligibility", mail it to you, and you will take or mail the following documents to the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate: passport, two 45mm x 45mm passport-type photos taken within the previous six months, two official visa application forms (available at the embassy or consulate), AND your "certificate of eligibility".

As for getting a head start on your packing, don't hesitate to e-mail us with any questions you have about your living arrangements and what to bring.  In your planning, be sure that you have a professional yet comfortable wardrobe for teaching both children and adults for five days a week.  It is often difficult to find sizes and styles that fit us "Westerners" once you get to Japan.

Also, if you have received PIONEERS approval to purchase your airplane tickets and you are wondering where to buy your tickets here are a couple of places you may be able to find a good deal:

Raptim Travel                    http://www.raptim.org/

MTS Travel                       http://www.mtstravel.com/

SIAMA Travel                    http://www.siama.nl/

IACE Travel                      http://www.iace-usa.com/index_us.htm

Side Step Discount Tickets  http://www.sidestep.com/

 

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