Tentmakers are missions-committed Tentmakers are missions-committed Christians who work in secular jobs in Christians who work in secular jobs in order to reach another people grouporder to reach another people group

They communicate the gospel by They communicate the gospel by word and deed through excellence in word and deed through excellence in work, caring relationships, and well work, caring relationships, and well chosen comments about God in the chosen comments about God in the context of everyday life.context of everyday life.

Global Opportunities www.globalopps.www.globalopps.orgorg

Tentmaker Tentmaker definitiondefinitionTentmaker Tentmaker definitiondefinition

The Hamilton tentmaker survey shows us that...

The Hamilton tentmaker survey shows us that...Tentmakers speak, Don Hamilton

2. Main reason for going was to share the Main reason for going was to share the GospelGospel

1. Led an evangelistic Bible study before 1. Led an evangelistic Bible study before goinggoing

3. Believed God called them to be Believed God called them to be TentmakersTentmakers

4. Had actively shared their faith at 4. Had actively shared their faith at homehome

5. Had strong relationship with home 5. Had strong relationship with home churchchurch

6. Recruited others to be 6. Recruited others to be TentmakersTentmakers

Tentmakers speak, Don Hamilton

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GNP per Person

110 to 500 ($US)

500 to 2,000

2,000 to 10,000

Above 10,000

Data not available

The Poorest Countries and The 10/40 Window77 Percent of the Poorest of the Poor Live in The 10/40 Window

POOREST COUNTRIES IN WINDOW POOREST COUNTRIES

Proportion of the World: Proportion of the World:

21 Countries with GNP per Person $500 or lowerTotal Population - 1.6 Billion7% of the Missionaries

39% Muslim, 98% Hindu, 17% Buddhist,3% Non-religious26% of the Population of the World

48 Countries with GNP per Person $500 or lowerTotal Population - 2.0 Billion22% of the Missionaries

48% Muslim, 98% Hindu, 18% Buddhist,3% Non-religious34% of the Population of the World

LB/phPOOR3 - Rev4: 11/2001

Sources: Encyclopedia Britannica (1999,2000) and Johnstone, Operation World 2001 CD-ROMMap by Global Mapping International -www.gmi.org

• 56+ 56+ countriescountries

• 2/3 of the 2/3 of the world’s peoplesworld’s peoples

• 97 % of those who have not heard97 % of those who have not heard

• 82 % of the 82 % of the poorest of the poorest of the poorpoor

• less than 3% of the less than 3% of the missionariesmissionaries

AD 2000 & Operation World

• 3.9 billion 3.9 billion peoplepeople

• rampant persecution of Christians ~ rampant persecution of Christians ~ 200,000/yr200,000/yr

22 / hr!

0

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Local church

Traditional missions

Frontier missions

95%

4.5% 0.5%

StudentsStudents StudentsStudents

Professionals Professionals & laymen& laymenProfessionals Professionals & laymen& laymen

FamilieFamiliessFamilieFamiliess

SinglesSinglesSinglesSingles

RetireesRetireesRetireesRetirees

CoupleCouplessCoupleCoupless

Develop home supportDevelop home support

Learn the Learn the BibleBible

Learn to prayLearn to pray

Learn evangelismLearn evangelism

Learn Learn discipleshipdiscipleship

“Working your way”, Jonathan Lewis

Strive for Strive for excellenceexcellenceStrive for Strive for excellenceexcellence

Learn to integrate work & Learn to integrate work & ministryministryLearn to integrate work & Learn to integrate work & ministryministry

Become involved at Become involved at homehomeBecome involved at Become involved at homehome

Learn to network to be effective Learn to network to be effective in your workin your workLearn to network to be effective Learn to network to be effective in your workin your work

“Working your way”, Jonathan Lewis

• A marketable skill, preferably with some years of experience

• A good relationship with God and – this is vital – a sustained prayer life.

• Good biblical knowledge.• A growing ability to witness for Christ

with ministry skills in evangelism, teaching and discipleship.

• A concern for people who don’t know Jesus and a sense of calling.

• Growing self-acceptance, love for others and a servant heart.

• A biblical perspective on issues relevant to work, ethics and social matters.

• An excitement about other cultures, or at least an awareness that we need to understand other cultures.

• A flexible and adaptable approach to others who are different.

• Respect for other Christian workers with different roles and perceptions of ministry.

• An ability to set objectives realistically, while being open to God’s unexpected demands and provision.

• Good physical and psychological health.• The ability to cope with culture stress,

family stress, isolation and loneliness.

10 pm10 pm

6 pm6 pm

5 pm5 pm

NoonNoon

8 am8 am

Ministry

Work

Ministry

&

Work

Separation IntegrationIntegraIntegra

It’s an easy optionIt’s an easy option

It’s for people who only want to It’s for people who only want to commit themselves short termcommit themselves short term

It’s only part-time missionary workIt’s only part-time missionary work

Any Christian working overseas is a Any Christian working overseas is a tentmaker tentmaker

It doesn’t require rigorous trainingIt doesn’t require rigorous training

Tentmaking is only an Tentmaking is only an alternative for those who alternative for those who have been called to the have been called to the mission field but lack faith mission field but lack faith in God for economic in God for economic supportsupport

Working abroad, Philip Nunn

Working abroad, Philip Nunn

Tentmakers are deceptive Tentmakers are deceptive since they are since they are ”missionaries in disguise””missionaries in disguise”

It promotes individualism It promotes individualism and disunity in the body of and disunity in the body of Christ, since they are able to Christ, since they are able to move abroad without the move abroad without the blessing of their home blessing of their home assembliesassemblies

Working abroad, Philip Nunn

• Limited religious freedoms

• Relatively short stays

• Mobility restrictions

• Time constraints

Working abroad, Philip Nunn

• Lack of accountability

• More entry visas availableMore entry visas available

• Building natural bridges with Building natural bridges with nationalsnationals

• Greater acceptance by host Greater acceptance by host countriescountries

• Being models for national Being models for national believersbelievers

• Able to help national ”church” with Able to help national ”church” with financesfinances

• Job Job satisfactionsatisfaction

Working abroad, Philip Nunn

• Lack of understanding by parents and friends

• Golden opportunities for advancement on the present job

• Apparent needs in the home church that one could fill

• Financial problems Health impairment

• Fear of academic requirements• General lure of the world• Feelings of inadequacy• Doubt of God’s will• Undue concern about children’s

welfare and schooling• Misunderstanding of mission board

requirements• Rationalized desire to be a homeland

promoter sending others to the field

“…I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every from every nation, tribe, people and languagenation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…. They were wearing white robes….” (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with youGod will be with you wherever you wherever you gogo.” (Joshua 1:9 NIV)

“Therefore go and make disciplesgo and make disciples of all nations [Greek for peoples]….”(Matthew 28:19 NIV)

“And this gospel of the kingdom will bewill be preached in the whole worldthe whole world as a testimony to all nationsto all nations [Greek for peoples] , and then the end will come.”

(Matthew 24:14 NIV)