TENTMAKING IN CHINA VS THE SILICON VALLEY
Fred was a tentmaker in Asia for ten years. He has been back in the US for eight. Still in IT and a tentmaker at heart, Fred reflected on both experiences. The different work cultures make a difference, but some things don’t change.
Make friends, lead well, and sow seeds
"I’m a relational guy," Fred said. "I wanted to build relationships with my colleagues in China. They were mostly single guys who had moved to our city for work. We worked long hours, often had overtime, and hung out on weekends. I was their project manager, and I showed my engineers how to work efficiently to reduce overtime. They really appreciated that. I didn’t have a tentmaking playbook; I was simply enjoying my coworkers and striving to lead my team well.
"Ministry was organic. In my position as a manager, I was just sowing seeds. When we started the Nicodemus Club at the office, I invited my colleagues and asked local Christian friends to share their testimonies. Later, as a soft skills trainer, I formed small groups for peer learning, encouraging them to share their experiences and talk about life. I got others to help as guest speakers."
Power of work as a witness
"It was great to see people coming to faith. When the locals took over the ministry by the time I left the company, it was a big blessing. But honestly, I can’t take credit for it. So, here’s a funny story.
"At one point, I took a leave of absence for seminary studies. I told my professor that I was in seminary to learn how to be a good manager. When I came back to my job, a colleague told me she had become a Christian. She said, 'Do you remember the Nicodemus Club you organized? Well, I didn't go to any of their activities. But I always remembered that you were a good manager.'
"It dawned on me that she made no distinction between Christians doing outreach and Christians doing work. My work and relationship with her as a manager had a part in her coming to faith. When I became a Christian, it was also the life and relationship I had with my Christian friends that moved me closer to God. We should use words to share the gospel. But how we work and relate to others at work really matters."
Some things don't change
When Fred began working in the Silicon Valley, he noticed that his colleagues didn't hang out on weekends like they did in China. Relationship-building was mostly confined to the workweek or short business trips. The separation between sacred and secular aspects of life was more pronounced here. It was also challenging to find other Christians willing to assist with outreach events at work. In fact, Fred discovered only one Christian within his company and another on the East Coast. Despite these differences, he continued to make friends and strive to be a good leader.
Fred shared an example, saying, "Yesterday, a former colleague texted me. You see, I recently changed jobs. He said, 'You're the only person who supported me even when I didn't believe in myself.' At our previous company, this colleague was struggling and feeling depressed. I made time to help him, and he eventually transitioned into a role that suited him better. He was curious about how I managed stress, so I asked if he had ever tried praying. That opened up a conversation about faith." Fred was sowing the seeds of friendship and faith in the Silicon Valley, just as he would do on the field. "My friend isn't a believer yet," he went on, "but I believe that God will continue working in his life."
More takeaways
"To me, workplace ministry is simple: it's about loving people, showing care, and offering help whenever possible. That's the horizontal aspect of work. However, I believe that Christians shouldn't strive to excel at their job just to maintain a credible witness. I do my job well to glorify God alone. He has given me this job, and I do my best for Him, the audience of one. That's the vertical aspect of work.
"When I was in China, I was seen as 'special' because I came from the Silicon Valley. But I don't value status. My focus is on being authentic, rather than trying to impress others. Mediocrity is not ok. But I don’t have to be number one in order to honor God. I'm aware of the workplace culture that often revolves around competition, treating it as a zero-sum game. It's challenging to swim against the current, I understand that. But I ask myself, 'As Christians, can we change that?'"
Work as spiritual formation
Fred appreciates Eugene Peterson's quote: "The primary location for spiritual formation is the workplace." Peterson didn't say "a primary location"; he said, "The primary location for spiritual formation is the workplace." This hearkens to Fred’s idea about the cruciform nature of the Christian’s work life. There's the horizontal aspect of work, which involves caring for and loving the people around him. Then there's the vertical aspect of work, where he does his job well solely to honor God, pointing people to Him through friendship and sowing seeds.
Reflection Questions:
Which of these takeaways resonate with you? Which ones are you already practicing, and which ones would you like to add to your work life?
What are the benefits of adopting a tentmaker mentality wherever we are? What challenges have you encountered? Let's have a conversation. Write to us at info@goliveserve.org.