San Francisco

San Dimas Team |  At Risk Youth Outreach

Comunidad San Dimas in San Francisco is a ministry of tough love. We seek out gangbangers, addicts and dealers and invite them into our community by offering them true identity and freedom in Christ. For many of our neighbors, being stuck between two worlds is a harsh reality. We take to heart God’s call to love the prisoner, the immigrant, and the alien, and make them welcome.

The San Dimas team spends a lot of time in juvenile hall, in Casa San Dimas (our transitional house for boys), and just hanging out over pizza. We provide support for the army of CSD volunteers that has arisen out of the community, and we network between many different churches and faith groups (including the San Francisco Organizing Project). We jump on leadership potential and involve former gang members and crack dealers in Bible studies, English lessons, homework tutoring, and job-hunting. We’re also passionate about ecumenism (inter-denominational ministry) and overcoming differences within the community in order to strengthen the Body of Christ.

Requirements:

• conversational Spanish
• must be 20 or older
• learning attitude
• comfortable working with Catholics, Protestants & Evangelicals

Preferences:

• cross-cultural experience
• love dancing (you will by the end of the summer!)
• expert auto mechanic (just kidding…sort of)
• knowledge/desire to learn more about immigration law

Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela

Spend a summer pursuing holistic mission in the barrios of Caracas, Venezuela. Join with the InnerChange community in seeking God’s kingdom in the love of the Son and the power in the Spirit: Visit the sick, love the outcasts, work with children, and make friends with the “sinners”. Participants will live in the barrio and experience the rhythm of day to day life in this very interconnected community.

Built on the steep hillsides of Caracas, the barrios of Venezuela are afflicted heavily by violence and spiritual oppression. Families live with the constant turmoil of loss and frequent crime. Yet the barrios are bound together by a strong sense of community and respect. In this environment, InnerCHANGE is working alongside community leaders and community outsiders to see churches spring up and grow, transforming the barrio from the inside out.

Requirements:

• Spanish (the more the better, no beginners though)and willingness to grow in the language
• Previous cross cultural experience.
• Heart for the poor.
• Willingness to try and fail in language, cultural engagement, and mission.
• Openness to giftings of the spirit and their expression.

Preferences:

• Experience in Latin America.
• Adventurous spirit.
• Be at boundary phases/recent graduates or soon to be graduates (possibly looking at joining the team).
• Be willing to get dirty and get sick.