In the past 200 years, the work of missions has mainly been done by full-time Christian workers so tentmaking is not well understood in the Christian community today.
Some common queries:
- Is tentmaking “real” missions? Are tentmakers undercover missionaries, whose jobs are mainly entry tickets to restricted access countries?
- If they have real jobs, do they have time to share the Gospel?
- And if they do not have much time for ministry, does that not make them second class missionaries?
- For those who have a business license, but do not make much profit and hardly pay taxes, is there an issue with integrity?
To address these issues, we need to ask some fundamental questions to understand what missions is really all about. 21st century missions must be a thoughtful integration of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment–the whole Gospel for the whole person in the whole world. Read the whole article…
Does real ministry happen at work? Can missionaries and tentmakers work together?
Read these stories and let us know what you think.
October 17, 2012 – 2:40 pm
The basics for tentmaking may consist of God’s calling, love for the unreached and a viable job. But there are other factors for tentmakers to consider as well, in order to survive and thrive.
What about career path? After all, a sustainable career is a must for obtaining a visa and finances to stay overseas.
How about marriage and family considerations? Singles have to think about marriage prospects and married couples have to plan for their spouse and children.
There are also the ministry aspects: language skills, ministry training, prayer support, etc.
There is a lot to consider! The first steps may be searching for info on the internet and reading up on the topics. Seeking wisdom and prayer from the pastoral staff and missions committee should be on the to-do list. Learning from tentmakers who have gone through the process would also be helpful as would talking to agencies that send and support tentmakers.
Planning is key. Finding a support group or network that fit you cannot be understated either, as no one is an island. Even the Apostle Paul needed help and accountability from other believers. To stay on the missions field, tentmakers want to not merely survive, but also thrive!
Which of these factors do you want to find out more about? What other factors are you considering?
More than ever, today’s BEEs – Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters and Early Retirees – in North America have options to invest their golden years to contribute to God’s kingdom around the world in tentmaking missions. With extensive work and ministry experience, BEEs have much to offer. The availability of the internet and inexpensive long-distance communications, accessible air travel and worldwide health coverage also ease concerns of serving overseas. As developing countries advance, living abroad is becoming increasingly amenable.
See how some BEEs have responded to the call and stepped out on a different kind of adventure…
Beyond family cruises, new hobbies and trips to visit grandchildren, have you considered serving in China short-term or long-term? If the thought has come to you before, why not do something now? We would love to hear from you and be part of your journey!
So you’ve heard the call and challenge of tentmaking missions. But where do you begin?
If you’re a college student, then your situation would be different than those who are young grads, mid-career professionals with family or empty-nesters.
One way to begin is to address issues that would help you to align your career and calling so that you can live up to your God-given potential and vision. Here are some common issues that GLS has helped tentmakers in different life stages to address.
It’s crucial for prospective tentmakers to work out their faith journey in the context of their home church and connect with a sending organization (like GLS) to obtain optimal guidance. You should choose an organization that best fit your needs. See what others say about GLS member care.
Which pointer(s) do you find helpful? What hinders you from exploring or taking action about tentmaking?
By being fully embedded in society, tentmakers have the unique opportunity to “seek the peace and prosperity of the cities (Jer. 29:7) they serve by living, working, and raising families side by side with the people they are called to reach. Tentmakers have very important advantages as we outlined in What We Have Learned from 195 Workers in 20 Years.
Tentmakers can prepare for overseas service by being faithful and fruitful at home. The founders of GoLiveServe (GLS) have first-hand knowledge because they were the first couple sent out as lay people by their home church in California back in the late 1980s. Before they left, the church gave them many opportunities to grow in ministry as well as mentor others. So their testimony shows how globalocal mission can go hand in hand with local church growth.
GLS’s approach to sending and supporting tentmakers is also grounded in the personal journey of its founders and others in the network for the past 20 years. Today, GLS has a multicultural team of missional professionals active in ministry among nationals. More on GLS services.
Is God calling you to tentmaking missions? Why not take a first step?
Is tentmaking missions just about being a self supporting missionary like Paul the Apostle who financed his pioneering work at Corinth through his trade? Is it just about having a work visa so you can stay and serve in a certain country? What is the place of work in the life of a tentmaker? What is the relationship between work and mission–being light and salt, and bringing Christ to the unreached?
Many Christians struggle with the notion of a spiritual hierarchy and a dichotomized approach to life. The spiritual hierarchy has lay people at the bottom, those in full-time ministries high up, with missionaries and martyrs at the top, on a pedestal. For the lay person, such thinking invalidates a big chunk of one’s active life.
Having the right theology or biblical perspective on work is critical whether we are called to serve locally or overseas. We outline three approaches to work in relation to mission:
Check out the full article and the related stories. Do you find these approaches helpful? Where are you in regards to work vs. mission?
If career is an integral part of a tentmaker’s life and witness, and not just a “passport” to get to the field or a “platform” for ministry, then getting the right job is important. But what constitutes the right job? How do you find that job overseas?
Finding the right job overseas has everything to do with calling. It is not just about the right fit.
About half of our associates found their own jobs and came to us for cultural orientation, support and accountability. We assisted others in job placement by providing career counsel as well as referrals to employers, headhunters and like-minded professionals on the field.
With career as missions, some people are passionate about what they have been trained to do. Others are happy to do anything they are qualified for as long as they can support themselves and witness to the people around them. The stories of our associates illustrate how they found their jobs and expressed their faith through them.
Are you interested in working in China for two years or more? Explore…
To find out if working and serving in China is right for you, come meet mentors who have been there and get to know other people who are exploring similar possibilities.
On April 15-16 (Friday evening to Saturday evening), we will have a Career As Missions Weekend Retreat in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in 2011.
It’s designed to fit into busy schedules without sacrificing meaningful interaction and fellowship.
Take a look at the details and invite your friends! Space is limited so don’t miss out – sign up now!
December 15, 2010 – 7:15 pm
See our latest newsletter, the Winter 2010 issue of GoLiveServe Networker, on Facebook now!
Are you in IT or engineering? You won’t want to miss the stories of IT professionals and engineers in this issue.
Is your family preparing to move to China? We have something on that, too.
If you haven’t gotten a copy by email or by mail, let us know so you will be ready for next year.
Want more? Go to Tentmaker Stories.
Which story do you find most helpful in your journey?
November 18, 2010 – 12:31 pm
If you or your friends are good at using social media and fluent in communications, why not use those skills to get people excited about God and his plan for the world?
We’re all about using our education, career and resources to serve God. Work is a big part of our lives. Why not use it to reach others for Him?
We’ve two job openings in marketing and communications. Check out our jobs page and contact us today!
Don’t miss the opportunity to use all that God has blessed you with to bless others. And share this with your friends. We would love to hear from you!
Loading ...