tentmaking

Mobilizing West Africa for Tentmaking

/ Steinar Opheim

All 16 West African nations are expected to have representatives at the conference that will be held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, in February. Photo: Adobestock.

Aims at mobilizing West African professionals

Mobilizing tentmakers from West Africa is the main aim when Tent and collaborating partners gather leaders for a West Africa Tentmaking Conference in Nigeria next year. “We must activate the whole, global church if we are to fulfill the great commission,” says Tent Nigeria’s leader, Victor Agbonkpolor. 

All 16 West African nations are expected to have representatives at the conference that will be held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, in February.

“Promotion is starting now, and we expect that the conference will fill up quickly,”

says Agbonkpolor.
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LESSON #9
How to Prepare for Tentmaking Ministry

/ Ari Rocklin

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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.

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

/ Steinar Opheim

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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.”

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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.

The Paradise that is Closed to Jesus

/ Steinar Opheim

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The Maldives is regarded as a paradise for divers, surfers and other sun-loving tourists. But it is strongly prohibited to proclaim Jesus in this minor, Asian, island nation. Tentmakers who don’t mind working under tough, spiritual conditions are encouraged to hand in applications for the many job openings in the country.

Medical personnel in several categories, accountants, business executives, sales people and a great variety of workers in the tourism industry are some of the job openings currently available in the Maldives. The salary is decent. A medical doctor can easily make more than $3,500 per month. That is not bad in a country where the living costs are relatively low.

Below you’ll find links to websites where you can search for jobs in the Maldives. In most jobs you are expected to work 40 hours per week. In your spare time you can enjoy the many astonishing spots on the islands, do some diving or just relax on one of the many beaches that are enjoyable 12 months a year. You can of course also book a night or two in one of the many hotels that have “Paradise” as a part of their name and promise little less than “heavenly experiences” to their visitors.

The spiritual environment will however be challenging.  Except Saudi Arabia, the Maldives is the only nation in the world claiming that 100 per cent of its citizens are Muslims. All of them belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. In fact it is prohibited for the 300.000 people carrying a Maldivian passport to have any other faith.

Recently new laws were enacted which limit the religious freedom even more both for the citizens and for expats working in the Maldives. According to a report made by the Religious Liberty Committee in World Evangelical Alliance the new law bans preaching of any other religion than Sunni Islam.

“It is illegal in the Maldives to propagate any faith other than Islam or to engage in any effort to convert anyone to any religion other than Islam. It is also illegal to display in public any symbols or slogans belonging to any religion other than Islam, or creating interest in such articles,” states the law that is named “The Protection of Religious Unity Act”.

The law also prohibits translation of non-Muslim religious books to the local language. Another clause says, “It is illegal to possess, distribute or publicize programs, writings, artworks and advertisements on religions other than Islam.” Maldivians who violate the new law may be imprisoned for up to five years. Foreigners “shall be handed over to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for deportation.”

– The new law will harm the Maldives’ international reputation and tourism industry, and hurt the country’s youth in particular. There have been instances of suicides by, and persecution of, Maldivians who have gone public about their disbelief in Islam. Crime and violence are also rising. The stifling of essential human freedoms is incompatible with both true Islam and liberal democracy, concludes WEA’s Religious Liberty Commission.