Why we need more tentmakers

Richard Blight | 27 May 2008

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Often missionaries going to places that are otherwise closed to Christian workers are called ‘tentmakers’ because they are employed in secular work while they seek to share the gospel with those around them. While we certainly need more who are willing to go overseas to do this, I believe it is imperative for the mission to Sydney that we focus on raising up more tentmakers for this mission field.

What is a tentmaker?

The term comes from Paul’s decision to work alongside Aquila and Priscilla making tents during the first part of his visit to Corinth - which enabled him to earn an income and not be a burden to the Corinthians (see Acts 18). Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 9 that he – along with other teachers of God’s word – had the right to earn his living from his ministry. However Paul gave up his right in order to preach the gospel to the Corinthians for free.

We therefore use the term ‘tentmaker’ to describe a missionary who earns their income from their secular work, while taking every opportunity they can to be involved in word ministry.

It should be obvious that mature Christians and effective ministries are not spread evenly across the region of our diocese. Those churches that have been blessed with larger numbers of mature Christians have the responsibility to lay before them the challenge of service within Sydney just as they ought to lay before them the challenge of overseas service – but we must not limit this challenge to full-time ministry.

No doubt every minister would pray that all of our lay people would be tentmakers. But in reality not every congregation member is willing or able. And while some of our churches have many people who have such gifts and training, some of our churches have few - if any - such people.

In particular I am thinking of the smaller churches where there is often a younger minister trying to renew the congregation’s connection with the local community. In such churches there is often a wealth of ministry opportunities with a corresponding dearth of lay people willing and able to take them up. While one solution may be to increase the number of ministry staff this is often not a viable option. One of the reasons we need more tentmakers is that we simply cannot afford to pay the number of ministers needed.

How to recognise a tentmaker

While we should encourage all Christians to be involved in various ministries as they are able, we will recognise the tentmaker by the following:

1 Their training. Tentmakers will have significant training to equip them for their ministry roles. I suggest that this would ideally involve at least the equivalent of one year of full-time theological education – preferably supplemented by a year or two of ministry internship.

2 Their use of time. They will often choose to work less than full-time in their secular work in order to be available for ministry. Their ministry activities will probably take a significant amount of time in their week.

3 Their attitude. The tentmaker seeks to develop their ministry skills and takes on ministries that some might expect to be left to the paid ministers. They will always seek to act professionally in their ministry roles, yet they will be prepared to do whatever is needed to serve the body of Christ and see people enter the kingdom of God.

Advantages and disadvantages

Friends who have been tentmakers for some time recently listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of tentmaking ministry versus full-time ministry. The advantages include the fact that tentmakers are not a financial burden on their church. This means that the ministry team can grow without the challenge of raising the significant funds needed to support a new full-time minister. Tentmakers are not bound by the expectations sometimes placed on those in paid ministry. They can often be more creative and flexible and take more risks – perhaps starting ministries that full-time ministers cannot.

Fighting Words is a ministry to Defence Force personnel that began in this way, as one tentmaking couple (a naval officer and his wife) gave sacrificially of their time to start the ministry at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The ministry now has two full-time ministry staff.

Tentmakers also have the advantage of being a layperson: they can sometimes be closer to the congregation than the minister and can have greater access to the non-Christian world. They will be wonderfully appreciated by ministers and congregations alike in smaller churches, or in areas where the church cannot support a full-time minister.

There are disadvantages too. Tentmakers may have no institutional recognition or privileges. Their split focus (between their secular work and ministry) will create its own difficulties and may lead to frustration. They may also face financial insecurity as they make career choices which negatively impact earning potential so that they can be more involved in ministry.

How and when?

I long to see groups of tentmakers working alongside every full-time minister complementing and supporting their work.

Age is no barrier - anyone can make the decision to be a tentmaker at any time. In fact we ought to be encouraging retirees to consider how they can serve the Lord in their retirement. At the same time there is a particular stage of life where we ought to be encouraging people to make the decision to be tentmakers and to begin more intensive training.

Nevertheless, the decision to become a tentmaker is likely to be a costly decision. It is a decision to turn our backs on many of the things that our city cherishes. It is a decision to seek first God’s kingdom and to follow the King into a life of sacrificial service. Yet we can also be sure that it will come with many blessings.

Being a tentmaker is not a one-off decision but an ongoing commitment. However a key moment is the decision to obtain suitable training and to re-organise your life around ministry training and ministry.

Actively seeking to raise up tentmakers will also be costly to the sending churches. They may see some of their best people leave them at a time when they are becoming highly effective. Yet I have no doubt there will be blessings for sending churches as well - as their people see the example of lives committed to serving God wherever he calls. Sending people in this way will also be a great expression of the fellowship we share in the gospel of Jesus.

If we are to see an increase in the number of tentmakers in Sydney, our ministers will need to encourage them and our churches will need to understand and support them. Let’s pray and commit ourselves to raising up more tentmakers to proclaim the good news of Jesus to Sydney.

The Rev Richard Blight is rector of St John’s, Padstow and chaplain to UWS Bankstown.

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