Ministry Opportunities in the Arts

SIM has many openings for new workers in the arts. If any of these roles interest you, or if you have suggestions for using artistic skills in SIM, contact us at intl.arts@sim.org. SIM works in other parts of the world not mentioned here.

Ministry opportunities:

MUSIC

AFRICA: Theological seminary music teacher • Primary/high school music teacher

SOUTH AMERICA: Music and worship worker • Primary/high school music teacher • Youth outreach through music

ASIA: Associate director of music school. Will be involved in vocal and instrumental teaching as well as learning local vocal and instrumental styles

VISUAL ARTS

AFRICA: Photographer • Videographer • Graphic artist • Visual artist • Web page designer

SOUTH AMERICA: Primary/high school art, design and technology teacher • Youth outreach through visual arts

ASIA: Visual artists • Photographers • Qualified art therapist

DANCE & DRAMA

SOUTH AMERICA: Youth outreach through dance and drama

VERBAL ARTS

AFRICA: Journalist • Multiple positions for media and communications

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ETHNOARTS INTERNSHIP IN THE PHILIPPINES

In July, six interns from Australia, the UK, the USA and the Philippines came together in Southern Philippines for a two-week ethnoarts internship. Together they experienced arts in missions, including how to encourage local people to use their own art forms to worship God and share the Gospel.

Amy Kotlar, an intern from Australia, reflects:

“The internship allowed us to delve deeper into what the Bible says about creative art forms, worship, and identity. We had stimulated discussions on anthropology, culture, the redemption of art forms, and how to share the gospel within a culture.

“The internship allowed us to delve deeper into what the Bible says about creative art forms, worship, and identity.

“The first week allowed us to reflect and share about our own cultures and Filipino culture with the fellow interns. We engaged with different art forms to process our learning. Our intern group became quite close.

“The second week we spent in a rural community, living alongside and observing. It was powerful to see local believers take ownership of the art forms God has given them. Rev 7:9 means that their nation, tribe, people and language will be in the new creation, praising the Lord. It’s important to teach their art forms to the next generation.

“It was beautiful to observe how their art forms interrelate. To sing a song, you must wear the correct clothes; to play an instrument you must also move with the correct dance steps, etc. As the week progressed, more of the locals changed from Western clothes to traditional clothes. By the last day, 98 percent ofus, interns included, wore traditional dress.

“With young people of the community, we learnt the art forms and dances. We had a wonderful craft afternoon together, and I’ve even learnt the local courting dance.

“God is a good God, looking after his people, bringing us together from around the world to dance, sing and shout his praise, bringing glory to himself.”

Contact Maria Custodio, SIM's Ministry Point Person for arts in mission at intl.arts@sim.org.