Setting a good example for Christian workers to follow

by Jonny Chun/ Executive Secreatry of Tentmakers Internatiinal

   This following story is a good example for we tentmakers to learn.

   "A missionary who has been serving in Asian countries for over 20 years shared how he began as a full-time 

church planter, but was ineffective connecting with the nationals. Furthermore, he was running into visa 

problems.

   So he created a business “platform”, essentially a cover for his ministry. But the business did not create jobs for the community, never made money, and paid minimal taxes. He was still suspect in the eyes of the local people and the government.

   Finally, he saw the need for integrity in doing real business. After all, Paul never pretended to make tents. He worked night and day, making 

tents and preaching.

   So this brother invested his own savings and raised funds to launch a business. He also sought out professional help to learn the technology 

related to his business and worked hard at it. He worked very hard.

   The business grew and he hired local Muslims as employees. Then he turned a profit and started paying more taxes. He began to earn the 

respect of the community and even gained some clout that allowed him to contest the corrupt demands of the local government.

   Meantime, the missionary is discipling local pastors and training them to become distributors for his products so they could travel to different parts of the country for business and ministry. These pastors have also found dignity in their financial independence, and respect as honest 

contributors to their country’s economy."

   In 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, Paul says that "For you, yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were 

with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would 

not be a burden to any of you."

   Paul as a tentmaker set a good example for the Christians of his days to follow. He also hoped that his tentmaking to support himself and his ministry would build his credibility among non-Christians, thus giving him the opportunities to share the Gospel of His Kingdom. Financial 

support was not the only reason for his tentmaking. Instead, in his workplace ministry with the excellence of work, integrity, and his Christian 

lifestyle, he tried to give good influences to people around him to follow Jesus Christ.

Young adults may change the way we do missions

 by Steinar Opheim from Tentmaking Today

   Christian young adults see missions as something important. But they want to change the way it is done. 

You may be surprised to see what they say yes and no to.

   Aged in their mid 30s the young entrepreneurial couple from Europe sensed God’s calling to Asia. 

Thus, they decided to sell their businesses, and bring their money, skills, and faith with them into the unknown. 

Fundraising was not an option. Instead, they wanted to make a living through their work. In many ways they  experienced that God had prepared the ground. Now they have served the Lord and the society they live in for close to ten years. 

Their jobs have provided for all their financial needs. 

The future of missions

   This couple is pioneering what the future of missions most likely will look like if today’s young adults will be allowed to decide. 31 percent of 

young adults asked in a survey conducted by Barna Research last year, say that they consider going as entrepreneurs if they are to serve God 

and do missions in another nation. A similar share (32 percent) says that they would consider going as business leaders. In the survey young 

adults are defined as people aged 18-34. Their interest for using entrepreneurship and business in missions is twice as high as in the group aged 35 years and above. Asked whether missionaries should run businesses, seven of ten young adults answer either “always” or “sometimes”.

Mission ointment

   The survey is conducted among what Barna Research labels as “engaged, churchgoing Christians.” These are people who amongst others 

attend a protestant church at least once a month, are engaged in the church outside of the services and have made a commitment to Jesus 

that is important in their lives. The survey results serve as ointment on open wounds for everyone who has feared that new generations of 

believers will see missions as less important. Seventy-one percent of the teenagers asked answers that missionary work is very valuable. 

Seventy-two percent of the young adults say the same. Fifty percent of the young adults are open to going. They do however desire to find 

new ways of doing missions, and they are very skeptical towards the fundraising model of supporting those who are sent.

   “27 percent of the young adults state that missionaries never should use fundraising as a way of financing their work,” says the Barna report 

that is named “The future of missions”. It quotes one representative of the younger generation who has been on a short-term missionary trip:

   “I have fundraised but will never do it again. It is not right to ask others to pay for my dreams, in my opinion. It cheapens the work.”

Tent-faking

   The Barna report shares several stories about entrepreneurs and professionals who have used their skills to serve God and people. 

Allan is one of them. He was a church planter for more than 12 years. Over time he felt called to the financial sector to do business as mission. 

Now he goes “wherever jobs and Jesus are needed”. He also trains missionaries to become good businesspeople.

   “When business as mission first started, we just dressed missionaries up in business attire. They were not tentmakers, they were tent-fakers,” 

he shares. Now he works to change this. He also helps professionals onto the mission field.

   “People who have spent their lives getting MBAs and running great companies are no longer second-class Christians, but can have an immediate 

Kingdom impact,” he shares.

   The Barna Research report urges mission leaders to help young people to use their imagination when it comes to how they can serve as 

missionaries. “We must ask what kind of conversations we can lead to help people broaden their understanding of “missionary”, states the report.