The Problem

Many people got their introduction and start in tentmaking through a GO Equipped course.

While GO Equipped has trained thousands to be tentmakers through Global Intent and Tent only a small percentage have actually gone. Many left the course enthused about becoming tentmakers, but then lost their enthusiasm. Others went to the field only to return discouraged.

Historically, the programs offered informal mentoring for those who chose to stay in contact.

It seemed that only the most self-driven survived and thrived. Many did not follow through.

Something was missing.

The one-year anniversary of the Lausanne Global Workplace Forum passed unnoticed. The COVID crisis everyone’s drew attention elsewhere.

The goal of the forum was to equip the global church in workplace ministry. The organizers aimed to have impact well beyond the participants at the event in the Philippines.

To that end the the committee recorded 29 sessions which are now available in a video series online.

Tent International aims at recruiting 20 new tentmakers in 20 weeks as the organization celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

“The Covid pandemic has slowed down the global job market. We still aim at having 20 new tentmakers ready to go before Easter next year. God is calling people to move despite Covid 19, and he can open doors when needed,” says Tent International’s co-founder and director Steinar Opheim.

Celebration

Tent celebrated its 20-year anniversary at an online gathering last Saturday with participants from 27 nations on five continents. 

Rosalyn and John strongly felt that God called them to serve in Asia. After contacting several mission entities they felt more and more confused.

“We are practical people with degrees in business and education management and not in theology. In our contact with the mission entities we felt like there was no room for people like us,” said the couple as they were sharing at Tent’s online 20-year anniversary celebration last Saturday. 

The couple were successful businesspeople in their home country. During a vacation trip to Asia, they did however sense that God called them to move from Europe. 

“We owned a couple of companies and were heading a business-to-business ministry. We were also a part of a church start-up that we enjoyed very much. It was still exciting to experience God’s calling, and we always want to be ready to embark on new journeys. Pursuing his will was however confusing for us. It was like our personalities and skills did not fit in with the mission entities we contacted.”