News letter

Membership

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TI Partnership
Are you passionate to see the kingdom of God spread through TM strategy? Come, be a partner in the family of Tentmakers. We encourage individuals and organizations to take active part in the tentmaking movement by becoming a partner of TI. Your valuable contributions can make a big difference.

Advantages of becoming a partner of TI:

You will get.
Updates about what is happening in the Tentmaking World by way of news letter.
Updates about Job Opportunities in various countries and also can post their requirements to other TI affiliates.
International resource people for TI training in their country.
Promotional / teaching materials for TI initiatives.
A professional affiliation as a Tentmaker / Organization involved in active tentmaking etc
/ can give facilitation and care from / to the respective country where they send / receive Tentmakers.

Annual Partnership Contribution:

Individual 10US$ - 50US$ Per Year
Organization 100US$ - 500US$ Per Year

Contact Us

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Contact Us
Executive Secretary

Johnny Chun (Korea)
Mission International
P.O.Box 59, Nam-Daegu 705-600
Daegu, South Korea
Tel +82 53 626 3894, Fax +82 53 626 2697
E-mail. mijohnny@yahoo.com

Financial Officer

Ken Smith (USA)
PO Box 30947 Seattle.
WA. 98103. USA.
E-Mail: TIE@gati.wa.com
Chairman

Bob Lopez
Philippines
E-Mail: boblopezph@hotmail.com
Ambassador at large

John Cox ( England)

Danny Martin (USA)
E-Mail: Danny@asiacenter.ac

Derek Christenson (New Zealand)
E-Mail: derek.christensen@carey.ac.nz

Berit Kloster (Norway)
E-Mail: ekloster@online.no
TI NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Australia. Dr Ian Grant: ian.grant@global.net.pg
Bangladesh. Albert Mridha: theway@citechco.net
Brazil. Delnia Basto: interserve@cem.org.br
Bulgaria. c/o Dr Nikolay Nedelchev: niknedelchev@dir.bg
Croatia. Drazen Glavas: drazen.glavas@ri.htnet.hr
Denmark. Nicolaj Wibe Nielsen: nicolaj@teliamail.dk
Estonia. Very Revd Dr Heigo Ritsbek: frheigo@online.ee
Finland. Maikki Kuittinen: maikki.kuittinen@fida.info
France training in French for mission: cefalbertville@wanadoo.fr
Germany. Dr Detlef Bloecher: Dbloecher@Dmgint.de
Ghana. Revd Devine Amattey: deamattey50@yahoo.com
Hungary. Geza Kovacs: kovacsgeza@hotmail.com
India. Dr. Rajesh Duthie: rajeshduthie@gemsbihar.org
Indonesia. Juliana Kainama: ulinkainama@hotmail.com
Japan. David Scott: Tel/Fax only: 81+422+486-235
Kazakhstan. Frank Payne: frank@equip.org.uk
Korea. Revd Johnny Chun: mijohnny@yahoo.com
Macedonia. Mirco Andreev: mmbmirco@mt.net.mk
Malaysia. Beram Kumar: sbks@pc.jaring.my
Mali. Revd Tiowa Diarra: partnerspmgm@yahoo.com
New Zealand. Revd Rob Kilpatrick: freeset@vsnl.com
Nigeria. Sola Oladipo/Stella Okojie: soladipo@zenithbank.com
North Africa. Andy Lee: 73633.662@compuserve.com
Norway. Steinar Opheim: steinar.orpheim@tent.no
Papua new Guinea. Revd Walo Ani: at PO Box 6609, Baroko. NCD
Philippines. Revd Bob Lopez: boblopezph@hotmail.com
Poland. Wladyslav Dwvlat: dwulat@proem.pl
Serbia. Goran Maksmovic: gormaks@eunet.yu
Singapore. Loh Hoe Peng: peace_hp@pacific.net.sg
Spain. Carlos Martin: carlosluis@coam.es
Sri Lanka. Dr David Ephraim: ephram@slt.lk
South Africa. Steve Simmonds: ssimmonds@workmatters.co.za
Sweden. Berndt Sanfridson: berndt.s@itcs.se
Taiwan. Andy Shepard: andyshep@ms9.hinet.net
Thailand. Tim Byers: timothyb@loxinfo.co.th
United Kingdom: Roger Wells: office@taskgb.co.uk
United States. Ken Smith: KenS@gatiwa.com

Partner with Us

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Partner With Us
We at TI have lots of plans for the future. Broadly they fall under the following three categories.

1] Awareness:

Developing t he awareness of the concept of tent making as a mission strategy and to promote the pivotal role of the local church in mobilizing Marketplace Christians to seize opportunities for cross-cultural position to extend God’s Kingdom.

Developing the awareness in the local church and missions agencies, to equip, place nurture and receive back tentmakers after period of cross cultural service.

2] Training:

To render a support service for information on and sources of Training.

Equipping tentmaker trainers to enable vocationally skilled Christians worldwide to minister effectively cross- culturally.

3] Support Service:

Assisting with the formation of effective regional and national tentmaker associations, denominational tent making groups and vocational/professional associations around the world by exchanging of ideas, information. and opportunities.

Useful Links

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TI & ASSOCIATE WEBSITES

TENTMAKERNET www.tentmakernet.com
Global Opportunities www.globalopps.org
Global Connections (The UK EMA) www.globalconnections.co.uk
Intent www.intent.org
TENT (Norway) www.tent.no
TASK (TI UK) www.taskgb.co.uk
Missionary Training Service (UK) www.missionarytraining.org
Canadian Tentmaker Network (CTN) www.tentmaking.org
TentMakers www.globaltentmakers.org

News Letter

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News Letter
Subscribe: Kindly send a e-mail to mijohnny@yahoo.com to receive the TI monthly news letter.

How to set TI

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How to set TI
HOW TO SET UP AS A TI REPRESENTATIVE

During the years the following ways have developed –

You join TI as an affiliate by paying the annual membership fee and registering your interest with the TI office in Seattle.
You may have attended a TI Conference and there expressed your willingness to be a National representative.
A member of the TI Leadership may have approached you and asked you to consider appointment.
You are a staff member of an existing Mission that has decided to include membership of TI in its outreach.
You then either approach TI, or TI approaches you, with the request that you represent TI in your Country. TI then makes a formal appointment. (Many of the existing TI representatives, or their organisations, have been “life members” from the beginning and their ministry as TI National Representatives thus accepted)

A Representative may be an interested individual but many are already involved in tentmaking ministries as staff of Christian Missions. Some are leaders of Missions or Great Commission Companies that they have helped set up. All share the same goal as TI – that of promoting tentmaking as a strategy of mission – and act as the link person between TI/HQ in Seattle, the TIE Regional Director, and the Country in which he/she operates.

It is important to recognise that the beginning is by becoming the TI contact person. Methods of operating vary between National representatives, but should contain some or all of the following: -

Initiatives in promotion and recruiting.
Advice and counsel to Christians feeling God’s call to include tentmaking in their secular careers as they travel, work and live in other cultures. (Knowing where to get advice and information means studying the materials available on the growing number of tentmaker websites)
Knowledge of the training resources available, including – working in another culture, language studies, the needs of family life, political information and local laws relating to evangelism.
Communication with the worldwide family of TI representatives and Tentmaker Information Exchanges.
Advice on job opportunities.
Together we are seeking to develop a tentmaker ministry in your Country, with you as our contact person. We would then move slowly to establish something appropriate and possible for you.

OPERATING AN INFORMATION EXCHANGE

You need a separate office, possibly part of the administration of the supporting organisation or business, or a room in a private home. Equipment should include a computer, filing cabinet and normal office stationery. However remember that most of your information can be stored on your computer. Most communication is by e-mail and via websites.

TI has no central funds to operate, other than membership fees. Its National Representatives are honorary, or staff members of a mission that funds the appointment as a part of that member’s brief. In some cases individuals have created Trust Funds to maintain their ministry and operated the costs via gift income. The appointment is very suitable for a retired executive with the skills required to give advice, counsel and encouragement. It is important to ensure that the Christian Public understands that TI is a mission support agency, not a Humanitarian Relief Agency.

Please take note of the following –

There must be a build up of information and contacts that are clearly necessary to give effective help to potential tentmakers. These contacts will include missionary societies and churches and many VIP Missionary Individuals.
Promotion is very important. The TI Rep should alert churches to tentmaking mission, encourage the commissioning of church members going overseas to work, produce posters and leaflets for church notice boards, set up prayer groups, and even appoint local representatives throughout the Country. If possible write articles for National Church Newspapers, and local Church magazines.
Promotion leads to recruiting and there will be a growing responsibility to give guidance and advice, suggest training and counsel potential tentmakers on the best use of their secular skills. Through the tentmaker network job opportunities may also become evident.
There is much literature on tentmaking available today so we advise the development of a library of reference books.

Never lose sight of the fact that God calls all of His children to witness to their faith and take a part in fulfilling the Great Commission to go into ALL THE WORLD and make DISCIPLES of ALL NATIONS …..

HOW TI HAS BEEN SET UP IN NORWAY

In Norway TI is represented by an organisation named TENT, which means “flame” or “on fire”. The present Director, Steinar Opheim, underlines the need to know this is a call of God, and to be connected with existing tentmaker ministries. TI Norway grew out of the Lutheran Church missions department. In planning the development of TENT Steinar says they had (1) a vision statement (2) a plan and (3) a Constitution, or laws. In November 2000 TENT became a limited company with share holders. It is staffed by one man and a number of voluntary helpers. In 2003 they were given an old house to develop as their HQ and as a small conference centre. Norway sends out more missionaries per head of its population than any other Country in the world.

Steinar suggests the following starting points: -

Study tentmaking on the various and numerous web pages.
Especially read on web the book – “Working your way to the Nations” and the book “Your Work matters to God”.
Many Norwegian tentmakers are now working in the Middle East and in Africa – currently Norway is assisting in the development of TI in Mali, Northern Africa.

HOW TI WAS SET UP IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Roger Wells is Director of TASK, the United Kingdom’s expression of TI. TASK developed out of the research done by the Pickenham Trust at the request of the Revd Stanley Davies of the EMA (now known as Global Connections). The PT had been involved in the history of the tentmaker movement from its outset and was amongst the first to set up a National TI Information Exchange. Roger’s own background was on the staff of the British Foreign Office, with experience in Afghanistan and Turkey. In 1992 he became director of the Pickenham TI, which he later moved to his home nearby and renamed TASK. The letters T.A.S.K. explain how he operates the UK tentmaker base –

Training – which means sessions on:

working overseas: special requirements for a tentmaker

cross-cultural communications: adjustment and culture

stress: political and practical issues: how to survive!

Advice - and counsel is offered on opportunity areas for service.

Service – skills are important and so is experience. Christians can

serve Christ best through professionalism, high quality

workmanship and example. Also by training others.

Kingdom – (God’s Kingdom) needs those who will GO.

HOW TI WAS SET UP IN CANADA

Canadian Tentmaker Network (CTN) had its beginning as Canadian Tentmaker Seminars, shortly after the Lausanne Congress in 1989. Dave Ibsen of the Christian Missionary Alliance gathered around himself a few other mission leaders who had attended the tentmaker “track” at Lausanne, and began holding annual seminars on tentmaking in the Toronto area. These were intended to inform people of the Biblical basis and practical application of tentmaker principles in mission.

The need to expand nationwide was soon evident, and having but limited financial resources they hit upon the only way to achieve this. They set up a national organisation that met only through the internet, e-mails and telephone. However people still need to meet face to face to learn and grow spiritually, so they established CTN committees in each urban centre across Canada which plan and run annual tentmaker conferences. From 1993 CTN has been the TI Information Exchange for Canada.

In order to begin operating they needed access to a computer. Later they added a website. Public meetings were in borrowed facilities, and likewise they were able to make use of overhead projectors, video equipment and other equipment. CTN promotes tentmaking through its website www.tentmaking.org and through the distribution of a booklet called “Tentmaking FAQ’s”.CTN operated out of the “back pocket” of the mission agency Interserve.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF TI INDIA

Faced with a serious challenge from Islam and Hinduism TI India has set about an extensive promotion programme. The objective being to encourage Indians to evangelise Indians through their secular careers. A series of leaflets have been produced under the title MORE MAN POWER, explaining to Christians “You are more than a Businessman/Nurse/Doctor/IT Professional/Teacher or a Lecturer”. These leaflets are available to all TI National Representatives: they may be copied, adapted, and produced for similar promotion and recruiting drives. For further information contact Rajesh Duthie on e-mail: drduthie@gmail.com - the TI National Representative. Rajesh is a TI Board member and in 2006 became responsible for the development of the TI website.

TENTMAKERS IN FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

A business person or professional planning to go to any one of the 30 or more French speaking Countries and needing to learn how to speak French in mission, should contact the Mission Language School at Albertville CEF_Albertville@compuserve.com

ISRAEL EXPLAINS THE “CHAIN OF COMMAND”

Whilst TI is not based upon the concept of “line management” it will be helpful to understand how a TI region, such as Europe, can operate through National Representatives who are inter-dependent and in active fellowship with one another.

The key sentence for the NR is “I may not know the answer but I know someone who does” This is why it is so necessary for the NR to study the TI websites, know what is available and become acquainted with other NRs. There is a great variety in the way individual NRs, and the Information Exchanges, operate. The main areas of communication required are with regard to –

TI Regional Director (TRD) – Europe: Derek Green

Sweden

Finland

Training – TIE Communications – Business – Recruiting/Mobilizing each TI/NR needs to operate using the categories listed above

Norway - Norway majors on training

Denmark Denmark reaches out to students

UK - wwwTENTMAKERNET.com the operational plan is that each Country has a page on this website set up by the NR via Ari Rocklin each NR can consult via the website pages and see what advice and information is available

Germany, France, Spain, Estonia, Poland, Hungary

Bulgaria Bulgaria is an example of how TI

Croatia is becoming a department of EA

Serbia Serbia begins its tentmaker

Macedonia programme with a training college

and there are non European TIE NRs linked to Europe for oversight pending appointments of further Regional Directors

Israel Israel has offered to help set up a Middle East Region

Kazakhstan Kazakhstan is an example of business initiative

Nigeria These Central African States may well form

Ghana the basis of a TIE African Region

Mali and Togo Yes in 2006 there are 29 African States involved

Together we are assembling the largest missionary force in history

AN EXAMPLE FROM AFRICA

An unexpected “spin-off” from the TIE European Consultation was a request from the Revd Tiowa Diarra of PARTNERS IN MISSION in Mali to read a copy of the Report. Having read it he felt God calling him to offer to be TI Representative in Mali. He wrote –

“We have more than 10 million of population in Mali. Christians are less than 2% in this Country. The harvest is great. Traditional mission strategy cannot further the gospel among the numerous un-reached people here. But, the Lord gave opportunity to train native African doctors, nurses, teachers, and soldiers in tentmaking. They are sent to their normal duties as government workers in remote areas to tiny communities”.

The TI leadership decided to appoint Tiowa, and asked TIE Europe to monitor developments. Tiowa then added – We can train them in hundreds in French Africa, from Mauritania to Benin, and from Senegal to Gabon”. Besides his native language Tiowa speaks both French and English, so can obviously liase as necessary with the Mission Language School in France, which has already trained over 3000. (See Point 5 in the plan set out below)

With remarkable enthusiasm Tiowa has submitted a three year plan for developing a Tentmaker Information Exchange for Mali. The reason for including this in GUIDELINES is as an example of one way a new TI/NR could begin operating –

Build up a base of tentmakers and tentmaking operations in and out of Mali (2004)
Mobilize Church Leaders and members to support the Mali National Tentmaker Movement (2005)
Achieve a national survey of potential tentmakers on the nine regions of Mali. Designing a survey form and recruit people to assist with the survey. (2005)
Select the most un-reached people and most strategic places in Mali. (2005)
Network the appointment of foreign tentmakers in western and northern Africa (2006)
Plan an International forum on tentmaking in Africa. (2007)

with Christ every stumbling-block becomes a stepping-stone and every difficulty an opportunity.

USING THE TENTMAKER WEBSITES

Ari Rocklin sets up TENTMAKERNET

www.tentmakernet.com is an extension to the years of hard work by Canon Derek Green of the Pickenham Trust UK. It was first announced at the founding of TENT in Norway in 2000 AD. In association with TI Europe TENTMAKERNET has the following objectives –

*To help TIE find national representatives in Europe and worldwide

*To assist them in developing a tentmaker missions strategy appropriate for their nation.

*To help get the national churches onboard for tentmaker missions

*To offer each nation (via the TI National Representative) their own FREE webpage and e-mail address. For example Norway’s is www.tentmakernet.com/norge and norge@tentmakernet.com

*To assist TI in organising annual conferences and training seminars hosted in turn by various member nations.

*Together to train and send “labourers into the harvest” especially to locations where traditional missionaries are not permitted to go.

OPERATING TENTMAKERNET – what you need to do –

TI National Representatives are requested to send to Ari Rocklin e-mail: ari@rocklin.ca the basic information about themselves and location of their Information Exchange (this may be their private or mission address – simply the address from where they operate),Telephone/Fax, and e-mail. As the Exchange develops other information should relate to TRAINING, TENTMAKER INFORMATION, BUSINESS LINKS, SUPPORTING CHURCHES and PROMOTION/RECRUITING. As this information is required by nationals as well as the wider TI family, if possible it should be submitted in the native language and also in English. As a main communication link between national TI representatives it is important that we all use these pages on this website, fill them with information, and make the website known in our respective countries. Initially promotion should be the priority activity.

PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER

“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”1John 5:14.

Clearly it is His will that we GO to ALL NATIONS, and this can best be achieved if TI Representatives join together in prayer for one another, and communicate details of their ministry by e-mail.

Articles

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TI: the international tentmaking movement
World Evangelical Alliance Missions Commission

Code of Best Practice for Tentmaking Organizations

The Code of Best Practice for Tentmaking Organizations has been designed as a benchmark document to guide the policies and practices of organizations and individuals involved in tentmaking missions. It is not intended to establish legal standards or liability. Rather, it is written to encourage the effectiveness of tentmaking organizations throughout the world.

It is a Code of Best Practice. It is based upon a foundational belief that ordinary Christians can worship and serve God through their work. What we do, where we do it, and how we accomplish our tasks all reflect the fact that all believers are called to serve God through their vocations, and are gifted by God to accomplish all that they are called to be and do. Tentmaking is the primary method whereby the Great Commission is being fulfilled among peoples located in countries that prohibit the traditional missionary approach. It is also God’s way of getting every believer to witness through work.

It is recognized that not every situation permits a literal application of every element of the Code. Tentmaking is such a broad field that generalizations are required in order to develop common standards. This Code was authored originally by Dr. Danny Martin, TI’s International Director, and developed consensually by the TI Board beginning with our meetings with the Missions Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance in Vancouver, Canada in June, 2003.

Core Values which underlie this Code of Best Practice include the following:

A commitment to the creative and expressive abilities given by God through Christ to every person created in His image.

A commitment to the value of work which was given to humans by God as a gift prior to the fall.

A commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment as given to the entire church by the Lord Jesus Christ.

A commitment to reliance upon God who chooses to do much of His work through His people.

A commitment to cooperation, collaboration and partnership whereby the entire Body of Christ works together across racial, national and denominational lines.

A commitment to the wholeness of mankind, resulting in the necessity of ministry to both physical and spiritual needs.

A commitment to ongoing biblical reflection on the issue of ethics in the workplace.

A commitment to love, justice and mercy and to integrity and character as the basis for witness through work.

A commitment by each believer to encourage and mobilize other believers to become involved in ministry.

A commitment to training of all Christians in effective ministry through discipleship.

A commitment to member care for all tentmakers with consistency, excellence, and high standards of ethical, spiritual and moral responsibility.

A commitment to all the stakeholders in tentmaking; the sending church, the mission agency, international churches, the host church and community, and the tentmakers themselves.

Section 1: Organizational Policies and Practices

Principle 1. Policies for all tentmakers within an organization are effective, efficient, agreed-upon and transparent.

Key Indicators

1. Leaders in the organization embrace a theology of work and marketplace ministry that equally values all Christians in ministry.

2. Leaders monitor the implementation of policies and action plans agreed upon by tentmakers.

3. Tentmakers have clear ministry objectives and performance standards, know to whom they report and know what (if anything) is provided by the organization.

4. Policies are developed with equal regard for both individual and organizational needs.

Principle 2. Members and leaders must agree upon rules of conduct and belief which are essential to effective ministry.

Key Indicators

1. Through member input, the organization has developed consistent and acceptable standards for conduct and belief.

2. The organization has clearly communicated and reinforced these standards to its members.

3. Leadership is consistent in its application of these standards.

4. Consequences of unacceptable behavior are consistently stated and enforced.

5. Any appeal processes must be clearly stated and carried out in a timely manner.

6. Grace in non-essentials is normative.

Section 2: Selection and Training

Principle 3: Candidate selection is comprehensive and in the best interest of both the candidate and the organization.

Key Indicators

The organization creates a thorough and objective candidate selection process.

The selection process may include psychological and physical evaluations.

The process, including approximate time-lines and decision points is clearly explained to candidates and confirmed in writing.

The candidate’s church is a full partner in this process.

Principle 4: Placement is done in light of the candidate’s preferences, expertise, interests and team-fit.

Key Indicators

Leadership communicates thorough information about any potential placements with the candidate during processing.

Spousal and family considerations are taken into account during placement.

Input from future team members is considered during placement.

The candidate’s financial situation is clearly communicated with leadership and is a factor in placement.

Work and ministry plans and evaluations are agreed upon prior to placement.

Principle 5: Appropriate training and orientation is provided for candidates.

Key Indicators

1. Plans for language and cultural study are included in the placement plan.

2. Ongoing education requirements for professionals are taken into account.

3. Teambuilding activities are conducted throughout placement.

4. OpportuniTIes for professional advancement through additional formal education are considered.

5. On-going leadership development is designed by the organization.

6. Appropriate levels of biblical, theological, and missiological training are also made available.

Principle 6: Tentmakers will have defined purposes for their time overseas.

Key Indicators

They must be able to enunciate clear objectives related to their job.

They must have clear and realistic aims for their ministry.

They must also be able to state objectives for their family life, personal growth and recreation.

They must also have clear objectives relating to their local and sending churches.

They should be able to state their relational and networking goals with other tentmakers and missionaries.

Section 3: Work Environments

Principle 7: Bringing work and ministry together is the focus of the tentmaker.

Key Indicators

1. Work will be conducted in an ethical manner. Personal integrity will not be sacrificed for personal or corporate gain.

2. The tentmaker will take every opportunity to look for people in trouble, and will minister to them.

3. Work, in and of itself, has intrinsic value both in the eyes of God and in the life of the host community.

Principle 8: Christian entrepreneurs and managers reflect Christ through their businesses.

Key Indicators

1. If in an entrepreneurial or management role, the tentmaker seeks to balance such issues as job creation, profit and quality.

2. Employees feel respected and valued by management.

3. Services and products reflect the kind of quality worthy of a Christian company.

Section 4: Re-entry

Principle 9: Re-entry services are provided for the tentmaker by the sending organization.

Key Indicators

1. The tentmakers are debriefed regarding family, job and ministry concerns soon after their arrival back home.

2. The agency maintains contact and support for returned tentmakers until they have fully adjusted to home life.

3. If on furlough or vacation, their need for renewal, education, and family time are balanced with family and financial concerns.

4. OpportuniTIes for ministry as well as personal growth are considered.

5. Job counseling and redeployment is provided.

6. Evaluations of sending organization, sending church and host organization are completed by the tentmaker as preparation for debriefing.

WHY TENTMAKERS

Aquila and Priscilla, like all Jews of whatever station in life, were trained in a craft. In their case it was tentmaking – the same trade as that of the apostle Paul. (Acts 18) They were living in Rome when the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from the city. We don’t know whether or not they were Christians at the time, but we do know they decided to settle in Corinth and continue their trade there. When the apostle Paul arrived in Corinth he soon met up with them, but no doubt on a business footing at first. Within a few weeks of his arrival Aquila and Priscilla had become very committed Christians, and they benefited from the hospitality they extended to him by receiving an 18 month training course in evangelism and church planting. The real genius of guidance is not so much what happens to us, but what we do with what happens.

Edward Eddy once said “the worst thing that can happen to a Christian is to lose a sense of adventure”. Today’s “tentmakers” are Christians who have realised that their chosen careers are just part of a wonderful adventure with God – all part of His guidance.

Travel from the 1st century to the 21st century and we find we have thousands of Christians all over the world, travelling to non- Christian Countries as contract workers, domestics, skilled technicians, representatives of companies, banks, educationalists, and many involved in their own business developments. The Holy Spirit of God is using this new deployment of Christians in much the same way as he used the dispersion of the Jews in the first century. For those Jewish Christians their trades were platforms for evangelism. TI believes we should follow their examples.

Most successful things happen when the time is ripe. Jesus came “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4): the time was ripe – God had prepared the way by using Caesar Augustus to create widespread peace, to establish ease of travel – no passports needed, no national frontiers blocking the way, a common language and a road structure that was to last nearly 2000 years. We have many similarities – a common commercial language, international banking, ease of travel, and a communication technology that spans the world. As the 21st century unfolds the tentmaker strategy is alive and well – the time is ripe.

“No other generation before us has ever been poised before so great an opportunity”. Tetsunao Yamamori, ex President “Food for the Hungry”.

HOW TIE BEGAN

In 1989 the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation identified the need for some minimum form of co-ordination to meet the needs of the tentmaker strategy of mission. In each Country there should be a point of contact for Christians recognising God’s call to witness for Christ within their secular careers, wherever these careers or occupations took them. They were not unmindful of the millions of un-reached people groups in Countries closed to the traditional missionary societies.

Out of this Congress, held in Manila in the Philippines, began TI, which came to fruition at a meeting of mission leaders in Seattle in 1991. John Cox, a trustee of the Pickenham Trust (UK), was appointed the first International Director. In 2003 TI became part of the Missions Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance.

HOW THE LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS TI

Recognising that in a number of Countries national initiatives had taken place and tentmaker organisations formed, TI set out to be a worldwide fellowship of Individuals and Organisations committed to the tentmaker strategy of mission. In a sense it was a club you could join for mutual encouragement and exchange of information. However as the result of TI international conferences, it developed a worldwide network of National Representatives who, wherever possible, set up a Tentmaker Information Exchange. In 2004 there are approximately 40 Countries involved.

THE PURPOSE OF A TI INFORMATION EXCHANGE

In the first place it was to promote and recruit tentmakers. There followed the need to provide guidance and advice, and to give thought to the preparation and training of potential tentmakers. In order to do this an extensive use of communication technology has taken place, and websites set up, particularly the TI website www.tentmakersinternational.info and also at TENTMAKERNET www.tentmakernet.com (Ari Rocklin) Many of the National TIE representatives have websites and through them are able to share their experience and offer training modules. Some thought has also been given to job opportunities - TI in the Philippines provides international lists of vacancies. There is a growing appreciation of the emerging role of business in mission, with the vision of Great Commission Companies in support of tentmakers and as platforms for mission.

Life Speaks

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Life Speaks

History Makers
In Memoriam

J. Christy Wilson, Jr. went to be with the Lord Friday, February 19th, 1999.

Christy was one of the main Tentmaker Activists, leader, and mentor of the 20th Century. He was not only a member of the TI Advisory Council, but one of the founders of TI, Tentmakers International (Formerly TIE).

Born of American missionary parents in Tabriz, Azerbaijan, Iran, in 1921, he received degrees from Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, Cambridge University and Columbia Teachers College.

After serving a few years on ministerial staffs in the U.S. he and his wife Betty went to Afghanistan in 1951 to join other Christians, who were teaching in the Government schools as "tentmakers" or self-supporting witnesses, since missionaries were not allowed in that country. He became acting principal of a Government High School, gave private lessons to the Crown Prince, and conducted an English course for Afghan diplomats. He became pastor of the Community Christian Church that was started in Kabul in 1952. Mrs. Wilson started a Braille education for the blind during this period.

Dr. Wilson was the Executive Secretary of the International Afghan Mission that was established in 1966 as a fellowship of Christian workers from different nations, denominations and missions. In 1970, he was in charge of building the only Christian Church on neutral Afghan soil. When they returned to the states in 1974, he became Professor of World Evangelization at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

He served as Co-Chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization's Tentmaker Task Force. He has written Today's Tentmakers, The Forbidden Harvest, Bringing Christ to All the World, and; More to Be Desired than Gold.

He is survived by his wife Betty, three children and eleven grandchildren. We are all richer and blessed for having known J. Christy Wilson, Jr.

Jobs

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Jobs & Resume - Post / View
We process job opportunities by collecting and distributing opportunities through member organizations and potential people. Also we invite resumes and we will try to match with appropriate requirements in various countries.

Kindly send in your Job requirements Resumes to us. You may send it to any one of us listed in the 'Contact Us' section.

Resources

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Resources
Training:

TENT Norway lead by Steinar Opheim are willing to conduct special TM training
Web Resource:

Ari Rocklin sets up Global Opportunities www.globalopps.org which has lot of teaching material and information.
India Missions Association (IMA) has small hand folders to be given to specific professional, encouraging them to be effective TMs. It also can be used as promotional material.