TMB

Four Characteristics of High Performing Kingdom Companies

/ Phill

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Twelve Kingdom Companies operating in the same country and culture were producing completely different results. While six were thriving, meeting or exceeding their financial and spiritual goals, six others struggled to survive financially and to show any spiritual impact. What was the difference? Were there common factors which could help other businesses identify best practices and be more effective. An in-depth look at these companies revealed some common themes.

Kingdom Companies that were producing positive ministry and business results tended to have four traits in common:

  • A blessing orientation
  • Openness regarding purpose and identity
  • Partnership with local churches and ministries
  • High cultural adaptation

Conversely, low performers had four contrasting  characteristics in common.

  • A converting orientation
  • Secrecy regarding purpose and identity
  • Independence, preferring not to partner with others
  • Low cultural adaptation

Let’s take each one separately.

Blessers vs. Converters

Businesses who expressed their purpose for existing as helping people in many aspects of their lives- financial, physical and spiritual – found their companies prospering more and also found more opportunities to see people come to Christ. They often described their mission as blessing those around them. While those who responded that their primary purpose was to evangelize, or convert, those around them, often struggled financially.

Ironically, those who focused solely on evangelizing, or making converts actually reported fewer converts than those who saw their role as blessing their workers and the community. They saw their business not as a means of improving the social environment around them, but merely an avenue to connect to others and convert them.

Openness in identity and relationships

Those who characterized themselves as blessers felt their faith was an important part of who they were and were open about it. Those who considered themselves converters felt their faith was viewed negatively and developed more covert strategies. They were selective in who they shared their faith with and as a result had fewer opportunities to share. The research showed that among the 12 companies, the ones who were open about their identity were significantly more effective in bringing people to Christ (by a ratio of 48 to 1).

Partnership with local groups

“Open” businesses were also more likely to build relationships with other organizations in their community. In the country involved that included local ministries because the country was open to traditional ministry activity. However, the “conversion” oriented businesses were more circumspect, fearing that close relationships could expose their “cover”. Therefore, they tended to work more independently.

It should be noted that this principle may be more difficult to adapt to “closed” countries that suppress organized Christian ministries. However, the principle may be extended to include relationships with community organizations that are not ministry motivated. Participation in local groups strengthens the identification with the community and offers multiple opportunities for interaction and faith sharing.

High vs low cultural adaptation

High cultural adaptation companies respected and worked within the values and practices of the culture as much as possible. This made it easier to build relationships with the national workers and establish rapport.

In this way nationals do not feel that they have to deny their culture and who they are in order to work in a Kingdom Company. Employee turnover is lower (improving the company performance) and long-term relationships provided much more opportunity to share and demonstrate the gospel to employees.

“Those who had fruitful and successful businesses had adapted in many aspects to the culture but had also intentionally worked to counter certain aspects of the culture.” This does not mean that they did not have to challenge some unbiblical aspects of the culture and seek to bring about transformation.

Many of the practices we follow out of habit are really just cultural and may not be suited to another culture. But in some cases there are practices that are ungodly. These have to be transformed. “Those managers who best reoriented their employees did so cautiously, consciously, and consistently.” There is not time in this article to go into how that is achieved. Suffice it to say, we are called to bring Kingdom values to bear in the workplace, but it must be done with wisdom and gentleness.

Not a business owner type tentmaker?

No problem. The same insights which were revealed while researching Kingdom Companies are applicable for the non-employer tentmaker who is an employee within a non-Kingdom Company. Global Opportunities’ experience walking along side hundreds of tentmakers is that these same principles can be adapted and work well for those who are employees in non-believing companies.

  • Take a wholistic approach. Realize all that you do should be a reflection of Christ in you, an example and hope to those around you in the place where God has put you. Your presence and actions should bring a piece of heaven into their life.
  • You do not have to hide your faith. People assume you are a Christian. 
    While not “getting in their face” about it, they need to know that you are approachable. Ruth Siemens would say to discreetly reveal, “I know about God and I am willing to talk.” Then wait for them to come to you with the questions.
  • Participate in community activities. Show your interest and contribute to the common good. Affirm what is wholesome in the culture and help to heal the wounds caused by sin.
  • Adapt. Be flexible. Learn the culture, including the language.

The woman who devoted her life to promoting tentmaking and then became one.

/ Steinar Opheim

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

Steinar Opheim

In most of the world people think of tentmaking when they hear her name. Now at retirement age, she has finally become a tentmaker herself. She is definitely unique, but also a part of a new tentmaking and mission trend.

– Your life is not over when you become a retiree. You’ve just entered a new stage, says Berit Helgoy Kloster from Stavanger in Norway. For several years she has been a Spanish teacher at a high school in her hometown. Now she is teaching about Jesus in Spanish to students in the Dominican Republic. In addition she is speaking at seminars and courses on tentmaking all over the Hispanic World.

– I am the same age as the grandparents of the students I work among. In several ways I see that as an advantage. The students use me as a consultant and mentor. They have many questions they want to find the answers to. I am leading some Bible study groups and in addition I am available for those who want to talk, says the Norwegian lady who is called «Mama Norway» among the students.

– We are often talking about faith, and several times the conversations spontaneously lead to prayer and worship. I am amazed that I am allowed to be a part of this ministry, she continues.

Tentmaking addiction

Berit Helgoy Kloster’s love for tentmaking (some would even describe it as an addiction) has roots 40 years back. As a missionary in Ecuador she was supposed to start work among students in the city of Guayaquil. But as an outsider she felt it was difficult to get good contact with the students. As a part of her work she attended a conference where the founder of Global Opportunities, Ruth Siemens, was one of the speakers.  The American lady gave a wonderful introduction to tentmaking.

– I realized how much easier it would have been to reach the students if I had been a student myself, comments Berit.

Since then she has been a tentmaking promoter herself. She also became the international director of Tentmakers International (previously called Tentmakers International Exchange). Currently she is the senior associate on tentmaking in the Lausanne Movement. The affection for tentmaking has brought her all over the world and her family, friends and former colleagues often see her as the incarnation of John 3:8 where Jesus is stating that “the wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Growing trend http://globalopps.org/tmbriefs/mal.jpg

The grand old Norwegian lady is not the only retiree who moves abroad to serve God. Nelson Malwitz, the founder of the Finishers Project, says that many people are going into mission service for the first time as they are getting to the end of their work career or when they have just become retirees.

– When we started Finishers Project at the end of the 1990’s it looked like only people in their 20s and 30s were accepted by the agencies. But the Great Commission is not saying that we should make disciples of all nations only if we are under the age of 35. Fortunately the situation has changed, he says.

Malwitz encourages more gray haired people to sign up for an overseas ministry where they can use their skills and work experience and at the same time build the kingdom of God.

– Several of the people we are in touch with tell us how taking such a step added new dimensions to their lives, says the Finishers founder.

Berit Helgoy Kloster absolutely agrees with that.  Right now she is on her way back to the Dominican Republic where she is planning to stay  for most of the spring semester. Unless, of course, someone invites her to speak somewhere else, like they have already done in Puerto Rico.

They brought the Gospel to most of the world.

/ Steinar Opheim

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Steinar Opheim

If you haven’t done so already, you should absolutely plan to celebrate this month’s great mission anniversary.

Innovative, generous and fearless. These are three keywords that international mission leaders use when they are asked to describe the American mission movement.

A cold winter morning in February 1812 the brig named “Caravan” set sail from Salem just outside Boston. Onboard were Ann Hasseltine and Adoniram Judson. They had married just a few days before. Now they were on their way to India to share the gospel.  Little did they know that they were to become pioneers in a fast growing, American mission movement that would bring the good news about Jesus Christ to millions of people around the world.

One hundred years after the Judsons embarked on the Caravan, the US had become the greatest sending nation in the world, a position it has kept ever since. According to Operation World the US today has approximately 95,000 missionaries. India follows a few steps behind whereas South Korea is number three.

Pioneering spirit

– The immigrants who founded the US were pioneers. They were willing to take chances and to move into the unknown. This pioneering spirit is still alive in the US today, says one mission leader TMB. Asked him to explain why the US has become the number one nation in evangelical mission.

Missiology professor Tormod Engelsviken underlines that the US is a superpower in many arenas. Thus it is common for people to have global visions.

– In addition, a big share of the people living in the US have a Christian faith. This has meant a lot for the Christians all over the world. We can only imagine what the situation could have been if the world’s strongest superpower had had other ideological or religious roots, he comments.

The US´ leading role in the world mission has also brought some tensions and challenges. Leaders TMB have spoken to say that American missionaries some places have shown little cultural sensitivity. Money coming from the US has also caused unhealthy dependency in the mission work in some places.

High price

A great number of American missionaries have paid a high price for their calling to bring the gospel to new places. That was also the case for Ann Hasseltine and Adoniram Judson. They were not allowed to settle in India as they had planned. Instead they moved on to Burma. One of their three children died before birth. The other two passed away before they were one year old. After 13 years in Burma Ann Hasseltine Judson died of smallpox. Her husband was imprisoned for 17 months under harsh conditions during the Anglo-Burmese war from 1824-1826 because he was accused of being a spy. In spite of challenges and suffering he stayed on in his ministry until he died in 1850.

Because of their faith and willingness to sacrifice, the lives of Ann Hasseltine and Adoniram Judson have become models for other American missionaries.

– The future is as bright as the promises of God, stated Adoniram Judson when the couple arrived in Burma the first time and got a glimpse of all the Buddhist temples in the nation. Today Burma has 4,5 million Christians, and several Burmese churches have sent out tentmakers and missionaries to bring the gospel to new places.

Letter from North Africa

/ Ari Rocklin

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from weeping to joy in the Maghreb

I’m reading a letter, a real paper letter from an envelope with 
a stamp from UK. Remember those? It’s written on green paper. It’s from a tentmaker serving in North Africa.

About half way through, I am barely able to see the writing as tears fill my eyes and run down my cheeks.  I ask my wife to read it to figure out who it is from.

A year earlier

A year before this letter finds me in southern Europe speaking at a missions center and spending downtime with short term teamers heading into North Africa. As we eat our evening meal on the roof of the building with a view over the Med, we can faintly see the mountains of North Africa. Indeed our prayer times are often on this rooftop and we always face those mountains.

Someone interrupts to ask if I can go to the port and pick up a worker arriving on 
a ship from NA. It is dark by the time I arrive at the port, and people are already walking out of the customs office. How am I supposed to know what the person looks like? I look at each passenger closely from the curb, hoping for some sign or hint.

Eventually no more people come out. I get ready to leave, but take one more look and then I see him—a lonely young man, dragging his duffel bag on the ground behind him, eyes cast downward, seemingly unaware of anything around him. There is a tremendous sadness on his face as he walks up to the car and throws his bag into the trunk. Without a word, he gets into the car and we start the drive back to the center. Eventually he simply asks me if I could take him to the travel agency first thing the next day so he can buy a ticket to fly home as soon as possible. I promise to do that right after breakfast.

Before retiring, we end up sitting on the roof in the darkness, sipping tea in silence. He sighs in silence and it seems like a good time to be silent with those who are silent. Eventually he begins pouring out his pain.

We walk to our rooms in the early morning hours, but before Nate steps into his room he asks for assurance that I will take him to the travel agency after breakfast.

At breakfast his stories of defeat continue with gruesome details of people spitting his way as he walks to buy food. If he goes to a coffee shop, people move away from him which is so unusual for this hospitable culture.

Nate suggests we go to the travel agency after lunch instead. We head to the beach where he continues his story.

He has been teaching English in a small city about 200 km from the capital city of this NA nation. Living alone in a primitive dorm room with no heat in winter and no air conditioning in summer. Although his young students and boss appreciated his teaching, the suspicions by the locals was so strong that no friendships were being made. He shares increasingly sadder stories of his life in this remote city. I feel a wave of sadness and despair come over me.

After lunch with the team, Nate suggests we postpone going to the travel agency until the next morning.

Three days come and go. Mostly I listen to Nate’s stories. Debriefing is just a fancy word for listening.

On the fourth morning while having breakfast Nate informs me that he is returning that day to North Africa. His love for the people in his community and desire to see them know Jesus is so strong, that against all my best advice not to return so soon, he insists on returning.

Before he heads to the ferry, we all gather on the rooftop with Nate to pray for 
his community and ask for a spiritual breakthrough and safety. It is one of those memorable prayer meetings.

I watch Nate with a spring in his step and joy on his face, now with his duffel bag on his shoulder, walk briskly back to the ship that will take him back to the people he loves.

One year later

My wife hands me the letter and says, this is from Nate. He was using an alias in the letter that had been hand carried to the UK and mailed from there due to security issues.

The letter is a testament of God’s faithfulness in the life of a young man driven by the love of Jesus to go to the unreached. When Nate returned to his work and life, the spiritual atmosphere had changed tremendously. People welcomed him back with open arms and in the course of his first year back, a house church started from the families of his students.

Today, Nate is back in his home country in Europe, mobilizing new tentmakers. 
The house church he left behind is thriving and is now a part of a network of house churches in this one majority religion country.

              Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

The lesson is that it took years of hardship, with no visible signs of success, and then in God’s time, the seeds planted during the those unfruitful years finally sprouted and multiplied.