I received a phone call from a returned tentmaker couple saying their time abroad had been a total failure. They did not see anyone become a follower of Jesus and in their situation it had been nearly impossible to make relationships with local people.

They had come to the conclusion that tentmaking as mission does not work.

We agreed to meet together so I could hear their full story. After a few hours at their favorite restaurant (dinner was on me), it became fairly evident how they had missed out on opportunities that had come their way. In all fairness, we in our home countries also miss out on opportunities to share our faith in everyday life, whether at work or leisure.

I proceeded to ask them question after question, to fully understand their situation and the community they were living amongst. Being curious by nature, I did not have an agenda nor was I pointing to any failures on their part. I just wanted to hear their story.

All of a sudden, the wife said: Are you trying to say that we messed up?
Quickly I responded: Absolutely not! No one who goes abroad for the sake of the Gospel is a failure, God is always at work even when we see no results. He who sees our very thoughts and understands our hearts, also sees the seeds being sown by his servants when they themselves see nothing but discouragement.

As we left the restaurant, we prayed for a moment in the dark parking lot. Their parting words were: We came discouraged but are leaving encouraged.

Some months later I received an email that said: We will go back to the people we learned to love in the Middle East. Our job contracts were renewable.

Their story continues.

By Ari Rocklin