Author: Ari Rocklin

Does the Self Supported Tentmaking Model Work in Africa?

/ Ari Rocklin

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/tanz_small.jpg

Can African believers follow in Apostle Paul’s footsteps by taking their profession and business with them to other regions of Africa? Is it possible to have Africans being trained by Africans to go to other Africans with the Gospel without any financial support from elsewhere?

It is the conviction of this editor that Africa will train and send more tentmakers who will disciple more new believers and plant more house churches than any other continent in the next decade!

Steinar Opheim of TENT Norway has been going to Africa for many years to teach and encourage the tentmaking movement there. Together with an increasing number of local teachers, the movement has taken off in ways not imagined.

The 6th All African TI Congress in Tanzania took place last month with 157 delegates and attendees from many African nations. We heard encouraging and exciting reports on how God is moving through tentmakers and how quickly this movement is spreading.

There was an intensive training for trainers course at the end of the congress which had 53 pastors and leaders in attendance. From the interaction and questions it became evident that this model for evangelism and mission is here to stay.

Here are some reports on the impact tentmakers are having:

  • 2011-2012: 1,000+ tentmakers in 7 African countries
  • 2,105 tentmakers trained.
  • 239 House churches/prayer cells started.

Thanks to Tentmakers International and the All Africa TI leaders for putting on such a wonderful event.

Conclusion: The tentmaking movement in Africa, by Africans for Africa is about to explode!       “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Tentmaking Down Under

/ Ari Rocklin

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/AZTEMpic.jpg

Aztem was founded in 1987 to meet the growing need for Australian Christians to find ways to share the gospel in many nations and situations which are closed to traditional missionaries.

Aztem works to encourage and help professional Christians working in cultures other than their own to reach people who do not have ready access to the Gospel.

Aztem is essentially a network of people who have a desire to reach people for the gospel. It is a fellowship that brings together the experience of those who have been overseas in the past, the excitement of those who are open to the Lord’s guidance and laying their lives before the Lord in prayer, the commitment of those who are intentionally preparing to go, and the practical support and inspiration of those who help and share the vision with others.

Over 50 Aztem adult members have served abroad since its inception. They have largely had paid full-time employment and been self-supporting. Their positions have included doctor, nurse, teacher, engineer, IT support, software development, saw-miller, small business entrepreneur, university administrator, ESL teacher, nurse educator, vet, agricultural project leader, research scientist.

Aztem complements the work of traditional missionary societies. It does not act as a sending agency, but rather seeks to equip and support people to be effective witnesses and disciple-makers. 

Ministry in Workplace and Everyday Life

Since the first century AD, Christians have responded to God’s call to proclaim Christ in cultures other than their own.  Many have done this whilst in secular employment in that culture.  The term ‘tentmaker’ has been used to describe such an approach.  It comes from the first biblical ‘tentmaker’, the apostle Paul (Acts 17) who actually made tents! Paul, in fact, was not a church-supported missionary but self-supporting in most of his ministry.

Retired Preacher Goes to the Un-reached!

/ Ari Rocklin

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/golfers.jpg

After retiring from a life time of preaching, a pastor soon realized that all his friends were those who go to church. The more he thought about it, the more aware he became of the fact that his circle of friends were the churched.

He thought and prayed about how he could reach out to people who would not attend church and as a former preacher, he knew it would not be easy for him to befriend everyday people. What did he have in common with them?

He decided to start playing golf, took some much needed lessons and quickly realized he was already making friends with the un-churched in golf class.

He joined a golf club, became active in the club’s activities and joined the board. Soon all his relationships were with the un-churched and he also noticed he was enjoying the game, although he was not very good at it.

One of his golf buddies was a businessman who gave him a box of golf balls with his company logo on them. A while later the preacher was asked how he liked the golf balls. The preacher replied that he was a really good advertiser for the company whose logo was on the golf balls, as the balls ended up all over the place and never made it back into his golf bag.

Sometime later he was having a round of golf with a leader of the community who casually asked the preacher what he did before retiring. Just as casually he replied that he had been a preacher. His golfing buddy shrugged, lined up for a shot and said, “So basically you talked about a dead man all your life.”

The preacher stopped in his tracks and said, “A dead man! This is a bit confusing as just this morning before the golf game I was talking with him.” His golfing buddy was not impressed but asked the preacher to prove to him that Jesus is alive. 
Well, this was the preacher’s area of expertise, and it did not take long for the man to also learn that Jesus is indeed very much alive.

Why am I sharing this story?

A man who loved preaching and teaching the Bible all his life, enjoyed church growth through his career, baptized hundreds, built new church buildings, and was known for his inspiring preaching, had the vision to go back to the basics of making disciples.

He walked away from most of the things he knew, and took on something he knew little about – he stepped out of his comfort zone even though he still had many invitations to come and preach. And God is using him to bring the un-reached in his community to salvation.

Not all can go overseas as tentmakers but if you have a Kingdom mindset you might realize there are un-reached people right in your neighborhood.

For those intending to go as tentmakers, perhaps you can follow in the retired preacher’s footsteps before you leave. Perhaps the next article will help you.

LESSON #9
How to Prepare for Tentmaking Ministry

/ Ari Rocklin

http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/box.jpg

If you answered YES to all three questions, we have good news for you!

Eric Liddel, gold medalist in the 1924 Olympics, on whom the movie Chariots of Fire was based, said this:

“I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made 
 me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Have you ever felt God’s pleasure when pursuing your activity?

I remember riding my bicycle across the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It was ten days of enjoying God’s splendor up close and slow

After climbing to yet another summit, stopping at the top for a much needed break, I suddenly felt His pleasure. What a feeling that was!

The memory of that moment still makes me smile.

The Lesson – Your Passion – His Glory

When we are enjoying our interest, we are also very true to being ourselves. It’s pretty tough to fake it with a bunch of people who are also enjoying their interest. At our courses we encourage people to bring their interests with them and allow God to use it for His glory – Your Passion – His Glory!

Please take two minutes and view this video that perfectly explains what I am trying to say.