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

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.