In the past few decades, I have attended more consultations, missions conferences, think tanks and missions roundtables and consultations than I can count.

These usually involve travel, staying in hotels, and long days of workshops and seminars among an ocean of people, most whom I have neve met before. Since one of the objectives of attending these events is to find new people to join the tentmaking movement and to encourage others to attend our courses it is vital to connect with the right people. How does one do that? Time for meeting new people is limited to meal and coffee breaks.

Moses, what is that in your hand? It’s just a stick!

I am always blessed to hear stories of tentmakers in hard places who seize upon what is already there to improve the lives of those around them. So many stories.

STORY NUMBER 1

PROBLEM: We don’t have houses.
QUESTION: What do you have?
ANSWER: We have dirt, sand and plastic bottles everywhere…
SOLUTION: Let’s build you a house.

The Call

Dwayne had a master’s degree in English and was teaching international students in his home city. He attended a two-hour tentmaking seminar and clearly heard from the Lord that he was to go to an unreached nation as an ESL teacher.

Next, he attended a four-day intensive course focused on all things tentmaking, where his vision was confirmed.

As someone who has been mobilizing and training tentmakers for 20 years, I have observed that there are 3 points in a tentmakers journey, where the evil one tries his best to stop them from going. 

The Enemy Attacks

First is when they hear about tentmaking missions and get excited about the possibility. As time passes, the flame flickers and dies. 

The second point is when they are ready to go, this is when the evil one gets worried and tries his best to stop them from leaving. Family issues, health concerns, job advancement, rationalization on being a sender instead of the sent, irrational fears of living in a strange culture etc.