April 01, 1985 by John A Holznaann

Tentmaking Missions: Using the International Job Market for the Glory of Christ

Richard Matthews, a former missionary to Korea. tells of asking his four year old son what he wanted for his birthday."1 want a wallet!" said his son.

"A wallet? Why would you want a wallet?" Mr. Matthew asked.

Because that's where money comes from!"

Says Matthews: "Too often, nationals look at nlissionarics !Inch as my son looked at a wallet A missionary is a source of material blessings. Havtns a missionary in your community means having money. Missionaries give the local economy a wonder ful boost."

Matthews suggests that there is a problem with the traditional Protestant approach to missiontars support. Missionaries who receive support from 'back home" have a difficult time providing a good model of Christian stewardship.

National Christians never see a Christian ieader work a "normal" job to earn his keep They never find out where all the money comes from, and so they never team what their own responsibility is in the missionary enterprise.

Forty countries so even in the so called "tree world" refuses to grant missionary visas. These countries account for almost all of the world's population.

The effects are devastating to indigenous "native" run missions.

There is another problem faced by traditional missionaries. Pony countries of the world are "closed" to missionary work. Forty countries some even in the so called "free worltl"  rcfuse to grant missionary visas. These countries account for almost half the world's population.

How are these people to be reached? The national Christians can't do the job on their own They need help from outside. But how can outsiders get in'!

Determined to open the door, and provide better models of stewardship, a growing number of mission leaders have determined to promote the use of a different support structure than that used by most Protestant missionaries during the past 200 years. They arc recommending self support.

From Abraham the herdsman to Paul the tentmaker  and on down through the ages   self¬supporting missionaries have made their mark on the world in which we live.

Though the Apostle Paul welcomed the prayers of the churches with whom lie was in contact (Rom. l5:3Off: Eph. 6:19f; Phil. 1:19, Cot. 4:3.etcj, he accepted 'support" in only a few special circumstances (Phil. 2:25. 30: 4: tO I 8) He met most of his needs himselfhy making tents (Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 9:6, 12 15.1 Thess. 2:9).

Today, there is not as large a market for tents as for other goods and services. Yet a missionary who supports himself is called a "tentmaker" in remembrance of the example given by Paul.

The potential for self support is fantastic

Working for large, multi national cotjx,rations and for themselves, for Ore U& government and for the governments of the countries in which the work, teaching school or pursuing studies they could not af. ford in the U.S., at any one tune, over 4 million Americans are employed outside the U.S.

Many of these people are found in the 40 countries where conventional missionaries cannot work!

But while well over a million Americans hold jobs right where the church needs to be planted, most of them have nothing I'' do with planting churches.

Even among the estimated 200 to 400 thousand evangelical Christians in "closed" countries, fewer than one percent are doing anything at all to spread the Gospel.Yet the idea of using the international job market for the glory of Christ is catching on. Christians are being encouraged and coached and counseled and trained 10 seek God's kingdom while working in distant countries.

An executive with an electric power utility who was a leader in a Baptist church in Detroit, went to Taiwan for six months. He and 40 other power executives from America had been asked to project the future power needs of Taiwan.

Even among the estimated 2(X) to 400 thousand evangelical Christians in "closed" countries, fewer than one percent are doing anything at all to   spread the Gospel.

Mr D.fl. worked diligently on the power survey during the day. Every night, after work, he took a Chinese executive from the Taiwanese power utility out to dinner.

There. in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, he was able to share in depth concerning things he was able merely to hint at during the work day. Without knowing Chinese. having only six months to work in Taiwan. Mr. D H. made an impact that was still being felt ten years after he left.

Says Ruth Sietitens, one of the premier advocates of teatmaking missions and thunder of the two largest counseling and job referral services for tentmaker missiotiartes:

A lot of people have the idea that any Christian working to support himself overseas is a tentmaker. This couldn't be further from the truth.

"A tentmaker doesn't merely hold a job overseas. He has the same motivation Paul had. He is consciously involved in doing all things in such a way that by some means some may he won to Christ (1 Cor. 9:22).

"With that kind of motivation, opportunities for witness still be found."

Personal motivation is by far the most important ingredient in the make up of a suecessflil tentmaker, yet there are other attributes that lead to success.

The first thing one needs is a job. That's basic. And to find such a job. a refer rat agency is almost indispensible. Few people know where to look or have the time to do the research necessary to find their own positions.

On the other hand, agencies like Global Opportunities and Overseas Counseling Service (see below) have job listings in thousands of categories.

'A tentmake, doesn't merely hold a

job overseas. He is consciously involved in doing all things in such a way that by some means sonic tray be won to Christ."

Jobs have been found for teachers, viohnisrs, engineers, photographers, tennis players, mechanics, carpenters, you name it.

The possibilities are almost beyond imagination. Jobs have been found for teachers, violinists, engineers, photographers, tennis players, mechanics. carpenters.. you name it.

"Besides providing job location services, we guide potential tentmakers into the kinds of educational opportunities and skill building experiences here at home that will prepare them for effective service overseas," says Siemens

According 10 her, a lenimaker needs Bible and mission raining 'as good as, and perhaps better than, that of the a'erage missionary."

Morn importantly, a lenonaker needs to develop and use ministry skills at home. "Friendship evangelism and home Bible studies are the building blocks of effective church planting."

Siemens believes people are

misinformed about the kind, of opportunities a tentmaker can expect 'People have the idea that a tentmaker doesn't nave the time to witness, that there's no time for effective evangelistic work.

"Well, it's true you're not like traditional missionaries Your time isn't go'

rig to he spent in the same manner. But the time is there nonetheless.

"We're talking about life S15 Ic evangelism. evangelism in all of life. The way you conduct yourself at work; your dealings with people, your personal relationships  they all have an impact.

"And, of course, you must speak up. But people are interested in what you have to say. They will ask you questions  and they will listen when you talk."

Don Hamilton. Director of Research for Overseas Counseling Service, tells the stun, of a man in a "closed" country who was accosted one afternoon by three fell,). employees. "We've been watching you," they said. "and we're wi,tmdenng why you're

so different .......

"He didn't answer their question on the spot,' says Hamilton, "hut he invited them to his home and had a wonderful time baring with them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There's another crucial element in equipping Christians for effective witness in other cultures

"A tenitniaker should not plan to 'go ii alone,"' says Smeniens "He needs the support and encouragenienm a group can offer.

"We encourage people to work as 'field partners' with a mission agency already at work in the area where they intend to settle,

or else to team up with a local national church, sir become a member ofa fellowship of tentinakers.

There are other services from which a tentmaker can benefit.

Says Siemens' "A lot of Christians go overseas neither expecting nor receiving adequate prayer support lot carrying no effective Christian witness. We coach tenimakers in ways to develop a prayer team,

"Then, too, it's helpful in receive a tle inside information on what Its expect when you reach the country to which you are going. We can provide that kind of data."