Pol Literacy–Cameroon

The mission of this role is to empower the Pol people to read and understand the Scriptures in their own language, fostering spiritual growth and gospel engagement. By teaching literacy skills and developing local leaders in reading and Scripture use, the literacy worker will equip the Pol community to build relationships, share the gospel, and participate actively in their own emerging churches.

The literacy worker will serve as part of a new church planting team and collaborate with the ongoing Bible translation project led by CABTAL. To do this, they will live among the Pol people, learning their language and culture. The literacy worker will learn the Pol alphabet, utilize existing literacy materials, develop additional resources as needed, and create a plan to help the Pol learn to read their own language. The ultimate goal of Pol literacy is to enable individuals to read the Scriptures, build relationships, engage with and share the gospel.

Ministry Setting The Pol are an unreached people group who primarily follow a traditional animistic religion. They live in small villages in the rainforest, near the Baka and Kwakum communities. Ministry among the Pol is pioneering in nature and requires an independent, resilient, and persevering spirit.

A Pol literacy worker must have a vibrant spiritual life, characterized by consistent practice of the spiritual disciplines. They should possess strong communication and teaching skills, along with experience in sharing their faith and discipling others. Patience and perseverance are essential, as learning to communicate effectively in the Pol language, as well as teaching reading in a previously unwritten language, requires time and dedication.

The Ideal Candidate Has The Following

• An Associate Degree (2 years) or more in Biblical studies or equivalent experience.
• Experience in leading Bible studies or teaching classes.
• Completed courses in phonetics, phonology and literacy.
• A willingness to commit at least five (5) years to the project.

Accountability The Pol literacy worker is accountable to the Pol Team Leader, if one exists, and otherwise directly to the Cameroon Field Director.

The Pol literacy worker will work as part of a church planting team. The literacy worker’s role will be to promote literacy among the Pol.

They Will

• Cooperate with the CABTAL Bible translation project
• Utilize the Pol alphabet and any existing literacy materials created by CABTAL
• Develop additional literacy materials as needed
• Develop a plan for local literacy and promote use of the newly translated Scriptures
• Participate in the ministry of the World Team’s Pol team
• Build relationships and share the gospel, discipling believers as they live among them

Anticipated Outcomes

• Professional working proficiency in the Pol language
• Faithful literacy teaching that leads to Pol people learning to read their language
• Use of strategic Pol Bible verses in the literacy program, giving opportunity for the Pol to hear the gospel
• Literacy is used alongside the efforts of a church planting team, leading to discipleship and believers forming themselves into Pol churches