Unconventional Opportunities: Teaching Music and Worship Overseas at the Jungle Discipleship School

Are you passionate about music and worship? Do you dream of guiding others on their spiritual journeys? An incredible opportunity awaits you at the Jungle Discipleship School (JDS) in Burma. This blog post explores what it means to be a music and worship teacher in this vibrant community, focusing on the unique skills you'll need to thrive in this role.

Students learning "Here's My Heart" during a worship evening.

The Calling for Worship Leaders

At JDS, leading worship is about more than just singing songs on Sunday mornings. It’s about fostering an environment where students can encounter God through worship. Candidates must be willing to embrace new challenges, as adapting to unfamiliar situations will be essential in this rewarding journey.

For instance, engaging with students from various cultural, religious and language backgrounds can initially seem overwhelming. However, adapting your worship styles to reach different groups can lead to meaningful spiritual experiences. In fact, students who participate in diverse worship settings often report a 30% increase in their spiritual engagement and satisfaction.

Developing Future Leaders

An important aspect of this role at JDS is nurturing future worship leaders. You won't just be leading worship; you will mentor the next generation of worship leaders to make a joyful noise across war-torn Burma. Mentorship involves sharing your musical talents, leadership knowledge, and spiritual insights. This role requires a genuine passion for teaching and the ability to inspire students who may have yet to step into leadership roles.

For example, if you teach a student how to lead a song, you might find them taking on a bigger role in group discussions or worship sessions, helping others feel more confident in their faith journey.

Musical Skills That Matter

A solid musical background is essential for the ideal candidate. At JDS, you will teach various instruments, including guitar, piano, and drums. Whether you excel at strumming a guitar or creating a catchy drumbeat, your musical skills will enhance worship while providing practical lessons for your students.

Familiarity with recording and mixing music is another valuable asset. JDS encourages creativity and artistic expression; candidates who can guide students to produce quality recordings will significantly elevate their educational experience. For example, we want to teach students how to record, produce, and publish their own songs - we want worship music to right out across Burma from the JDS campus.

Emphasizing Community

Working at Jungle Discipleship School is more than just teaching; it’s about joining a community united by purpose, learning, and growth. Candidates are encouraged to participate as couples or with young families, fostering a stronger sense of community.

Music and worship teachers contribute not only through their education but by sharing their lives with students and the broader JDS community. For families, this could mean participating in communal meals, joining group worship sessions, and becoming integral parts of the students' journeys. Such involvement leads to a supportive environment, enhancing the students' development. Your kids will get dozens of new aunts and uncles in our students and have a life-changing experience.

Embracing Discomfort

Being comfortable being uncomfortable is crucial for success in this position. Living and teaching in a different country comes with unique challenges, including cultural differences and language barriers. Not only that but you'll sleep in a bamboo hut, eat a lot of fish and rice, and take a bath in a stream of bucket-bath and wash all your clothes by hand. Embracing these challenges can lead to personal and spiritual growth for both teachers and students.

This role is not for everyone. Candidates must be open to stepping outside their comfort zones, engaging with the local culture, and building relationships despite language obstacles. Those who view these challenges as opportunities for growth will find their experiences incredibly enriching and fulfilling.

Growing in Faith Together

At the heart of teaching at JDS is the goal of helping students deepen their relationship with God. Worship plays a vital role in spiritual growth, and as a music teacher, you will help facilitate students’ experiences of God through music. The daily schedule begins with student-lead worship and devos every day (Mon-Fri). Music is non-stop at JDS and your role in leading the students into worship, and into being worship leaders will be a daily practice.

Expect to lead discussions, engage in prayer, and offer spiritual insights as part of your teaching approach. Worship at JDS isn’t just about the music; it's a fully immersive journey toward a deeper relationship with God and experiencing His presence collectively.

Building Lasting Connections

One of the most rewarding aspects of working at JDS is forming lasting connections with students and fellow teachers. Friendships that emerge from shared experiences can lead to valuable relationships that extend beyond the classroom. You will LOVE our JDS students, they will find a special place in your heart. Seeing life and experiencing God in Burma will also bring you deeper in your own music writing and worship leading.

These connections often foster collaboration on future projects—from musical performances to discipleship mentorship. Strong relationships within the community provide encouragement and shared resources, making your work at JDS even more impactful.

Our Hands and Feet missions are VERY musical. You will also be expected to help produce/direct the music and songs for our village outreach programs. Your job doesn't end when devos or church ends - you'll be expected to be a part of all things JDS, from helping lead discipleship classes, small groups, one on one mentoring, and extra curricular activities.

Your Next Adventure

Joining the Jungle Discipleship School as a music and worship teacher is an exceptional opportunity for those eager to embrace faith, music, and community. If you are ready to foster growth in future worship leaders and immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience, this may be the calling you've been waiting for.

Idea Candidate: experience and/or training in music ministry or worship leading. Should be music (sing and play). Benefit for married couples and young families, as well as people who understand the basics of music recording (think: GarageBand level). This is a missionary role, and while direct compensation is not available, you will be able to raise your own support for your missionary work. Food and lodging will be provided on the JDS campus.

The role promises personal and professional growth, along with the chance to profoundly influence the lives of students who are eager to deepen their spirituality. In this mission, you will create a dynamic atmosphere of worship that inspires transformation and connection with God—an unconventional opportunity awaits you.

Are you ready to embark on this fulfilling journey? The Jungle Discipleship School invites you to join a movement of faith, worship, and community in the beautiful land of Burma.