Who is a Digital Nomad?

If you search the internet using the words “Digital Nomad” you will be surprised at the sheer volume of articles, websites and blogs dedicated to this fairly modern phenomenon.

Here is a generally accepted definition:

“Digital nomads are people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and, more generally, conduct their life in a nomadic manner.”

This relatively new trend allows them to become location independent and constantly move between cities as countries while working remotely.”

These Digital Nomads are then free to travel and experience new cultures while being supported by their online jobs. An increasing number of retired people are also doing this while being partially supported by their home country pension plans.

What a perfect tentmaking opportunity and lifestyle!

What then is a Missional Nomad?

“Missional Nomads travel the world while intentionally seeking to making disciples.”

Missional Nomads are people who use telecommunications technologies to earn a living and conduct their life in a nomadic manner. As they go, they desire to live missionally and seek to make disciples.

Missional Nomad Lifestyle – means relying on the internet to financially sustain a modern nomadic life. This allows them to become location independent, moving between countries while working remotely. This lifestyle includes living missionally and intentionally sharing one’s faith.

What are the challenges?

Living a nomadic lifestyle means not staying in one place for long. Hoping to win local people to Christ, discipling them and starting a house church is probably not realistic. However, befriending local people, sharing your story of faith, perhaps having a Bible study with seekers and discipling them is well within the scope for possibility. If there is a local church, it is vital that these seekers are encouraged to attend.

If Missional Nomads go to countries where proselytizing is against the law and no local church exists, then it becomes even more challenging and possibly dangerous to “do evangelism” as they have learned in their home countries. But there is always a way to plant seeds and live a lifestyle that elicits questions about faith matters. Answering questions is seldom if ever against any laws.

What are the benefits?

Missional Nomads love to travel, to learn about new cultures, to get to know new people in their own communities. Combine this with a desire to make Jesus known and you have a valid platform for living missionally while being a traveler.

A known timeline also helps to focus on priorities. How do I get the Bible in the local language to people? Is there a church that I can attend? How can I legally share my faith? Figuring out answers to these basic questions will help you get started.

What about retirees who love to travel?

How many people do you know who spend winters in abroad? Three months? Six months a year? Are you one of them? There is nothing wrong with enjoying beach time, playing golf, pursuing hobbies, volunteering and getting to know people.

But what if you could do a bit more? Maybe a lot more. You already meet new people and spend time with them. You may also notice people whom you could help in some way (without giving them money). Do you dare ask God how He could use you in planting seeds of faith? Retired nomads have even more time than those who still have to make money through their digital nomad life. Next time you travel somewhere, take it up to a new level, for the benefit of the Kingdom.

By Ari Rocklin