For 1800 years of church history, missionaries did not raise financial support. They simply packed up their toolbox, moved to another country, started a business and did Great Commission work. It has only been the last couple hundred years in which missionaries did deputation and gathered donors to support them.
There is no mandate to do missions either way. Though Paul made tents from time to time, he also had churches and individuals who supported him, so there is no right or wrong way. Tentmaking may open up opportunities for those who have a heart to minister to a particular people group or culture and enable them to get to the field faster because of the ability to financially support themselves.
Let’s take a look at a few misconceptions about tentmaking and perhaps open the door to new possibilities through this method.
First, tentmaking is not just a strategy to get into a country that is restricted. Paul was not ministering in a closed country. In fact, he effectively used tentmaking in concert with a church-planting initiative in Corinth. It is entirely possible for us today to earn a living in open countries while doing ministry (just as we would do in our own country!)
Second, not all missionaries need support from churches and other Christians because they can support themselves with their own skills and abilities. There are many places around the world that need people with specific skills. These countries are relatively open to those who can come fill the quota of expertise needed.
Third, tentmaking is not a new strategy. The present model of full financial support from a missionary’s home country has not been the norm for much of church history. In the past, most missionaries just moved to another country and figured out how to make a living while doing missionary work.
Remote Work Creates More Possibilities
One last particularly powerful point on this topic is that remote work has drastically changed the global work landscape. No longer do employees have to sit at a desk onsite to do the work for which they’re hired. Virtual jobs abound and are on the rise. In fact, the World Economic Forum has reported in its latest white paper that global digital jobs are expected to increase by 25% in the next six years2. As companies and countries continue to evolve their requirements to meet the opportunities this affords, it opens up a literal world of possibilities for those whose work is done primarily online.
Let’s Change the Status Quo
The most strategic approach to exponentially increase witness around the world is for Christians to pack up, move somewhere else in the world to get a job, and fulfill the Great Commission. At the present rate of sending missionaries, we are falling further and further behind. What if millions of Christians just went to live and work somewhere else in the world? Let’s start working to evolve the “normal” profile of the traditional missionary so we can better reach the world for Christ.[1]
If you’re interested in learning more about joining a mission field, we’d love to meet you and start the conversation. Click here to contact us and make an inquiry – we look forward to hearing from you!
1 Senders, Paul Seger, pg 118
2 weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/remote-global-digital-jobs-whitepaper/
