How to Become a Discipleship Teacher at the Jungle Discipleship School (JDS): A Missionary's Guide

Are you ready for a life-changing adventure? Becoming a discipleship teacher at the Jungle Discipleship School (JDS) is more than just a job; it's a chance to mentor young believers while growing your own faith. This role allows you to teach in a stunning environment, immerse yourself in cultural experiences, and make deep connections with students. If you want a fulfilling path that combines education, spirituality, and community, you've found it.

As a potential missionary and discipleship leader at JDS, your experience will be both rewarding and challenging. In this guide, we will look at what it takes to be a discipleship teacher, the skills you will need, and how to create a positive impact in the lives of your students.

Understanding the Role of a Discipleship Teacher

Being a discipleship teacher at JDS goes far beyond traditional teaching. Your mission is to foster a community of faith, guiding students on their spiritual journeys and helping to build a culture. This involves engaging them in discussions on biblical themes, encouraging application of these teachings in their daily lives, and helping them to form a personal bond with Jesus. The students will watch how you live and interact in the community and will look to you for guidance.

To achieve this, you will need to create a welcoming environment. A safe space will help students express their doubts and explorations of faith. Think of being a mentor who encourages critical thinking, guiding students to grow not only in their knowledge but also in their commitment to their beliefs.

Essential Skills Needed

To thrive as a discipleship teacher, you’ll need to cultivate specific skills and traits that align with JDS’s mission. Here are some key attributes you should develop:

Strong Communication Skills

Being able to explain complex biblical principles in a simple, fun, engaging way is crucial. It's important to be approachable so students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and questions. For example, using relatable stories from your own life or examples from everyday situations can make teachings more accessible. You'll be teaching through a translator, so you'll learn how to use simple words to explain complex concepts. Teaching cross-culturally you'll quickly learn that you analogies and examples don't translate into Burma culture, so you'll need to be creative in understanding their culture.

Deep Faith and Knowledge

Your spiritual journey matters. Having a solid understanding of the Bible, theology, and different discipleship practices is essential. Committing to continuous learning will not only enhance your teaching but also inspire students. Getting your heart and relationship right with Jesus is the most important part. We don't care if you have a degree in theology, we care that you are growing daily in your relationship with Jesus.

Empathy and Compassion

Students come from diverse backgrounds, each with unique struggles. Demonstrating genuine empathy will build trust. For example, active listening can create a rapport that encourages students to open up about their challenges. Research shows that teachers who exhibit empathy see a 20% increase in student engagement. Our students come with a lot of baggage and past trauma (from the war zone) so a basic understanding of trauma care is a benefit. You don't need to be a trained counsellor, you just need to love our students enough to listen.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Teaching in a different culture can be unpredictable. From language barriers to varying educational backgrounds, being adaptable will enhance the classroom experience. Maintaining a positive attitude and being open to change can turn challenges into opportunities for growth. You should be comfortable being uncomfortable. Life at JDS is easy and comfortable if you're open to adventure and don't care much for "creature comforts". We eat a lot of fish and rice, so if you've got special diet restrictions, that could be a problem. We also sleep in bamboo huts and take "bucket baths" and wash clothes by hand. Sound like fun?

Life at Jungle Discipleship School

Living and working at JDS means joining a vibrant community. The culture is collaborative and focused on mutual support and spiritual development. You will be surrounded by enthusiastic students, all eager to learn and grow in their faith.

Classes often take place in the stunning outdoors, surrounded by breathtaking nature - rain, insects, and animals all will come interrupt your classes. You might also participate in local missionary work, blending education with service projects. For instance, a typical semester includes a mission into Burma where we bring the gospel, medicine and a lot of joy and laughter deeper into the war zone.

The student worship band at Jungle Discipleship School.

The Impact You Can Make

By teaching at JDS, you have the opportunity to significantly shape your students' lives. You get to spend 10 months in a community with the students. They come to JDS and "give God 10 months to find out if he's real." You will have students that are Christians, Roman Catholic, Buddhist, Animist and traditional beliefs. Your role as a discipleship teacher also crosses over to make Kingdom impact in students lives as they wrestle with truth.

Your influence extends beyond the classroom. Engaging in extracurricular activities—like leading worship services, music, art, games, audio recordings, podcasts, video editing, building projects or organizing community outreach—will deepen your connection with students and support their overall development.

Steps to Applying

If you feel called to be a discipleship teacher at JDS, here are steps to get started:

Research

Begin by exploring the JDS mission, vision, and values. This understanding will help you align your application with the school’s goals and show your commitment. We suggest watching some of the videos from JDS-TV Season 2, and listen to a few of our latest Podcast episodes.

Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is a young married couple or family. We don't like splitting up families, so we welcome all your kiddos to come spend a year living in the jungle.

Families: If you're a family with kids, we'll build your family a small bamboo house to live in. We'll build a teaching schedule that allows you to homeschool your kids. We also have Starlink wifi so your kids can do online learning. Your kids will have 30-40 new uncles and aunts as our students and ethnic staff will love having them there. We have medics on campus and medicine for any issues.

Married Couples (no kids): We prefer married couples over singles because married couples bring a different dynamic and experience to living in a community. Husband and wife pairs can speak into the lives of the students in ways that a single person can't. So if you're a married couple looking for an adventure together on the mission field, get in touch!

Singles: We will take applications from a single person, however our preference is in married couples. But don't let that stop you. If you want an adventure and feel like God is nudging you to be apart of the JDS community - get in touch with us.

Interview Process

If selected for an interview, prepare to discuss your faith journey and teaching philosophy. This is your opportunity to convey your dedication to mentoring and supporting future disciples. We'll organize a Zoom meet and greet interview to get to know each other and talk about your plans.

Training and Orientation

Once accepted, you will undergo training. This crucial phase will help you acclimate to the school's culture and familiarize you with the specific teaching methodologies used at JDS. You would be expected to arrive in Thailand by mid-August 2025 for a 1 week orientation.

Your Next Steps

Stepping into the role of a discipleship teacher at Jungle Discipleship School is an amazing opportunity for those who feel called to share their faith and develop young leaders. This journey can inspire, challenge, and transform you as you experience life in a diverse and supportive community.

If you are ready to explore this rewarding path, take the first step toward fulfilling your calling by applying to JDS. Your adventure as a missionary and teacher could be just around the corner! Send an Email today!