Go and make disciples of all nations!

- Matt 28:19 NIV -

                                                                                                                                                                                       ∴ Date : 2019-05-01

Tentmaking, Marketplace ministry and Workplace ministry  Johnny Chun / Executive Secretary of TI    “What is foreign and what is domestic?”    -Bill Clinton’s Inauguration address-    Today, Workplace Ministry became a very critical issue for Christian workers.    Since Capetown 2010, the third Lausanne gathering, the importance of the issues such as tentmaking missions, business as mission and workplace ministry as well as social work has been emphasized. Next month, the Lausanne Movement plans to hold the Global Workplace Forum 2019.    At Capetown 2010, I got an opportunity to speak at an issue group (Marketplace Theology) and talked on the issue “ Tentmaking & Workplace Ministry.” At that time, I felt that the goal and strategy of Tentmaking is almost the same as Marketplace theology/Work place Ministry.    What is the difference between tentmaking and workplace ministry?    Tentmaking focuses on foreign missions and workplace ministry mainly focuses on domestic evangelism.    On the issue “Workplace Ministry”, Doug Sherman, author of Your Work Matters to God says, "Our surveys reveal that 90-97% of Christians have never heard a sermon relating biblical principles to their work life." Most church members have never been intentionally trained to apply their faith in their work life where they spend 60-70% of their waking hours.    According to Os Hilman, workplace ministry is an intentional focus of equipping men and women in all spheres of work and society to understand and experience their work and life as a holy calling from God. He continues, “Workplace ministry is a holistic approach to bringing Christ into our work lives. When we do this all aspects of life and work are impacted. Associates at work become the primary source of building meaningful relationships that can lead to salvation.” ​    Whether we intended it or not, Tentmaking mission movement now strongly gives influences to the domestic workplace ministry as well.    What is foreign missions? And what is domestic evangelism?    Now is the time to erase the line!

       By  Tentmaking Today

       Greg is an international consultant who spends many days living out of hotel rooms. Along the way he has made many international friends.

     He is making new discoveries about them all the time.

      [ Discovery ]
      He brought a colleague from work to his hotel to see if he might like it better than where he was staying. The non-Christian friend noticed a book

     on business as mission on his nightstand.
     Later his colleague mentioned that he had bought and was reading the book he had seen on Greg’s nightstand.
     He said he was surprised it talked about mission so much. Greg explained that the principles were good and applicable to all businesses.
     The friend also accompanied him to church one Sunday. He noticed Greg did not carry a Bible like the others and asked, why not. “Ah,” Greg

     explained, “there’s an app for that.” He showed him that he had the Bible on his smart phone.

     The colleague immediately downloaded the Bible onto his phone too. Clearly, there was a desire to understand and emulate Greg as a wise and

     successful business person and friend. As Greg discovered, your business associates are always watching. You never know what will make an

     impression on them, so you need to always be ready.

     [ Opportunity ]

      If you are alert, there are lots of opportunities. When the opportunities come, give an explanation and move on. Don’t “over-respond”.

     They will continue to pursue their questions when they are ready. Because Greg did not become “preachy” his friend didn’t feel pressured but did

     feel welcome to continue the conversation later.

     [ Takeaways ]

     1. People are always watching. Let your light shine. Learn to drop tiny spiritual bombshells in the most casual, natural way!
     2. People are curious. Any casual thing you do or say that discreetly announces “I know about God and I am willing to talk,” will feed their interest.
     3. Follow up on openings. Answer questions briefly, adding bits of information to keep more questions coming. And move on.
     4. Take small steps. Allow seekers to pace the conversations with their questions as they are ready. Seekers need time to process what we tell them

         and time for the Holy Spirit to work on them.

     This approach is what Ruth Siemens referred to as fishing evangelism. It is patient, allowing seekers to pursue their conversations and questions

    as they are ready. We can turn people off or confuse them by saying too much too soon and using terms they do not yet know. Speak briefly and

    then wait. Think, “The next move is up to them.”