tentmaker

Underground to above ground church

/ Ari Rocklin

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The news reports from a country torn by civil war, where safety for locals and foreigners is getting increasingly challenging, focuses on the instability and mayhem. A viewer safely away in the comfortable peaceful west could not be blamed for thinking, where is God in all this?

While these images flash across large high definition TV screens, there is a greater story going on behind the scenes of destruction. Only a few blocks behind the latest bombing event, is a small but growing church of locals, all recent converts.

A year earlier a tentmaker had arrived to this area to work as a “construction” worker. At work he had been challenged by locals who were adamant in converting him to their majority religion faith.

Over time the tentmaker earned their trust through good humor, good questions, time spent together at meals and his ever present joy in work. One by one his co-workers heard about Jesus. Some claimed having seen a man in white in their dreams with out stretched hands beckoning them to come. Then the miracles started, as his co-workers started sharing in secret that they had accepted Jesus into their lives and had earnestly begun to read their Bibles.

They were impacted by the knowledge of a sure salvation, the character of Jesus who did not retaliate and in the Bible which made sense while being logical and reasonable. They fell in love with a God who loved everyone including their enemies and being able to have a relationship with him.

They started meeting with the tentmaker in homes and cafes, studying the Bible and watching videos.

Soon the group grew too big to continue meeting in homes and emboldened by the rapid changes in their country, they rented a location where they could meet in the open.

Then the police came to the tentmaker’s home. Politely but firmly they told him to stay away from the group as his presence there was jeopardizing everyone’s safety. If he promised to stay away, the police assured him that the group and their meetings would be protected.

It was with tremendous sadness that the tentmaker agreed to these terms even though it meant he could not continue to meet with his spiritual children that were so precious to him.

Not long after, the tentmaker had to leave the country for unrelated reasons. But the church continues to meet and grow in increasingly threatening conditions.

The lesson for us reading this is that God is not lost in the clouds, His Kingdom is growing when all we see is death and destruction. Pray for the persecuted church and the tens of thousands of people coming to Christ.

Led to Christ by Christian co-worker

/ Steinar Opheim

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– I was not looking for Christ, but Christ was looking and reaching out for me, testifies a man from the Middle East in a video that was published earlier this year on Vimeo.

The video is produced by Arab World Media and Middle East Media and is a part of a new project called “Arabian Dawn”. In the months to come these companies will produce 10 to 12 videos showing testimonies from Arab Muslim background believers who have come to Christ.

– Hearing the distinct voice of an Arab speaking of how he came to faith in Jesus Christ would be life changing for many seekers in the Arabian Peninsula. The current climate in the Arab world has led many to ask questions about their religious beliefs, states Arab World Media in a newsletter.

The Arabian man featured in the Vimeo-video states clearly how he was led to Christ through Christian co-workers.

– In my job I met Western colleagues who worked with me. A small share of them was Christians. I noticed a big difference in the conduct of this small group who believed in Christ. They were completely different from the other Western colleagues, the man explains. Still, when one of the Christian co-workers started sharing about his faith, he showed very little interest.  When the co-worker later on left the Middle East he gave the man an electronic version of the Bible.

– I opened it when I returned home. It had the Bible saved on it. I was praying to the Lord and seeking him to know if what was written in this book, the Bible, was true or not. – Lord, show me the way to you. Let me know who you are. Peace overwhelmed my heart as I was praying. It was as if I heard the Lord´s voice saying: “Here I am”, says the man.  You can watch the whole testimony here.

Going Global

/ Ari Rocklin

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opportunities for you

Did you know that GO/TENT mobilizers and trainers are planning on a global reach to promote tentmaking in 2012-2013?

What do Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and “insert your country here ______________”  have in common?

These and other countries are now being considered for tentmaking development. It is our vision to not only promote tentmaking but to come alongside national and regional tentmaking business as mission groups and organizations to work together to launch new local initiatives as well.

What do we offer?

– Speakers for your church, conference or mission event.
– Fast paced 2-4 hour informative seminars.
– A two week curriculum course in 4.5 intensive days. 
– Consultation with mission agencies seeking to integrate 
  tentmaking into their strategy.

Prayer!

We ask you to pray for God’s leading in this major initiative and in many ways a faith venture on our part, to see where He is leading and where the strategic people and places are.

Act now!

It is cost effective to run events in your country as our staff are going to be in your region. Take advantage of this and contact us soon. As you can see, our next two courses are already full and there are only two more courses for 2012, in Florida and Germany.

Preparation for Today’s Mission Challenges

/ Phill

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Phill Sandahl
 

Mary was a successful professional pursuing her career. But there was a restlessness in her soul. There was a sense that God wanted her to be involved 
in overseas missions. What should she do? At a conference she heard about tentmaking, and that looked like it made more sense considering her skills and career. She felt like she needed some specialized training. She could not put her income on hold for a year or more to return to school. Besides, what would she take? She already had a degree in her profession.

The Lausanne group studying tentmaking/business as mission highlights the lack 
of training options as one of the obstacles to the development of the tentmaking movement.

One of the weak spots within the tentmaking movement over its recent history 
has been the question of training. People involved (in tentmaking/BAM) have generally been highly motivated, often well trained professionally and rarely in a position to undertake extended training comparable to that of career missionaries.
    Lausanne Occasional Paper #39

 The solution is training to supplement professional preparation that is:

•     Biblical
•     Focused
•     Practical and Actionable
•     Short duration
•     Foundational for further self-study

Mary found the solution in a 4 ½ -day intensive GO Equipped! course which prepared her to share her faith in the marketplace and live in a foreign culture.

She was able to take the course without interrupting her regular work and then begin the process of seeking placement overseas in the area to which God had called her. One year later she was living self-supported in a country that does 
not issue religious worker visas.  

She writes, “Thank you Global Opportunities for this invaluable course! I am now serving as a tentmaker in an unreached country. Truly, there is no other course out there that is specifically designed by and for tentmakers”  “Mary”

“God began to open my eyes to new areas of service to Him. GO Equipped prepares the Christian to fulfill the great commission not only on the foreign field, but right here at home.” Patricia