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Middle East

Might God be calling you to a formative ministry experience that takes you to one of the most exciting and challenging locations on the planet? 

Cohort Middle East is a 6-12 month program that gives you the chance to learn, serve, and lead in an area that interests you, all while living and learning in a community with other young adults. Each week you’ll spend time learning about the language and culture of your host country, working with a partner organization in your area of interest, and being mentored by an experienced ministry leader. You’ll also spend time in a local faith community and explore your area with new friends.

 

Your Location

Five times a day people are called to prayer in the Middle East, North Africa, West Asia, and the Gulf. Do you feel the call to live and serve where the majority population is strongly influenced by the Islamic religion and culture? Do you feel called to find out how this affects your worldview, spiritual formation, your calling, and your purpose? The region you’ll work in comes with its own beauty, benefits, and challenges. 

The Middle East is steeped in history: biblical history, early church history, orthodox Christian history, and Islamic history. This history has shaped the world, politics, religion, and you. In Cohort, you will experience firsthand what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do while joining with the people of this area at this specific point in history.

What You'll Learn

In addition to your work with Cohort, you’ll study the context of the Old and New Testament, early church history, Orthodox Christianity, and the rise of Islam. Shape your faith and life through learning how various religions have learned to co-exist together, how religion can shape a region of the world, and how this region has learned to coexist with people of different faiths and denominational ties. Cohort Middle East will focus on using interfaith dialogue to build bridges of understanding.

In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to examine the causes and effects and future for refugees, and meet face-to-face the poverty and the marginalized communities in the Middle East. You will be formed by the examples of resilience and perseverance demonstrated in these communities.

Learn More

Are you ready to connect with someone to talk more about Cohort Middle East? Fill out this form and we'll be in touch soon!

How You'll Serve

Depending on your skills, education, interests, and length of commitment, we will help you choose a local organization to partner with, where your work will be in one of the following areas: 

  • Community development
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Pastoral leadership
  • Medicine
  • Business
  • Refugee Services
  • Business
  • Islamic studies and interfaith dialogue
  • Sports and recreation
  • The arts

You will spend 20 hours a week working with a local organization, learning and growing alongside field workers who serve in your area of interest. You’ll have an opportunity to get an inside look at the work they’re doing and learn about their best practices. 

Your Cohort Community 

You’ll be far from alone as you dive into your Cohort experience. Your core group will be made up of other young adults from various countries, ethnicities, and language backgrounds who are also serving and learning in your location. You will become a community together as you are transformed through spiritual formation, service, and intensive learning.

You will also develop relationships outside your group, which will include: 

  • The field workers at your service partnership. 
  • The community at large as you develop new friendships and are invited into becoming family with your new friends. These relationships will allow you to experience life through their eyes. 
  • The local faith community as you develop relationships within the local church and local Resonate team who is here to support and encourage you.

Your Average Week 

In an average week, we estimate you’ll spend your time doing the following: 

  1. 5-10 hours in language and cultural awareness
  2. 20 hours in service which is formative and transformative
  3. 5-10 hours in spiritual formation, mentor check-in, unit intensives, and guided conversations around intensive and relevant regional and biblical topics
  4. Time with local and Cohort community as you are developing intentional relationships
  5. Exploring your area together with local guides and partners to expand our vision and experience this region to its fullest.