Background Briefing Paper

Number 14
Latin America Mission
5465 N.W. 36 (33166)
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900
(305)884-8400
September 1, 1981
This paper has been prepared by the Administration primarily
for internal use. It may not be quoted or reproduced without
It is dated, and subject to revision at any time.
A MISSIONARY STRATEGY OF ''TENTMAKING"
One of the catch phrases in mission circles today is "tentmaking." Taken
from the experience of the Apostle Paul, who at times supported himself in his
missionary labors by exercising his trade of leather crafting, or making tents
(with Aquila and Priscilla), the label of tentmaking has often been loosely
applied to several really diverse categories of Christian service. With equal
carelessness, it has been proposed as a cure-all for the constantly recurring
shortages of missionary support.
Tentmaking is indeed a valid option for helping in the mission of the
Church, and as such should be explored, but panacea it is not!
Wade Coggins rightly observes that careful definitions can help point us
towards effective utilization of the tentmaking option. In a somewhat refined
form, we cite here his definitions. (See his paper of March 13, 1980, for the
Evangelical Foreign Missions Association.)
1. Career missionary. This is a Christian who is:
1.1 Called of God to missionary service to, or on behalf of, people in
a foreign culture,
1.2 For whom this is a primary and lifelong commitment,
1.3 Who is supported for this purpose by gifts the Lord's people,
and
1.4 \vho labors under the supervision of a mission and/or other church-
related entity.
2. Tentmzker. This term refers to a Christian who is:
2.1 Equally called, committed and directed, but
2.2 Who spends part of his time earning remuneration, either
2.21 to replace or supplement the supporting gifts from the Lord's
people, or
-2- A Missionary Strategy of "Tentmaking"
2.22 to gain access or credibility for the communication of his
message.
As we understand the term, a tentmaker must be under the supervisi on of
the church, mission or para-ecclesial asency, or else (if he is self-
directed) he must be Working in harmony with them, and following common
strategies and objectives. In other words, he is a part-time career
missionary, but with a different source or sources of support.
3. A Christian witness. Every Christian, on the other hand, is called to
witness to his faith in Jesus Christ and, the limits of his
circumstances, . in that sense to be a mi.'3sionary.
His witness may i..te "international" and/or "overseas," thus enhancing its
value to the worldwide cause of the Gospel. (It should not be assumed,
however, that simply by crossing an ocean a Christian can thereby become
an effective witness!) .
We should note, of course, that these three classifications are not rigid
and may overlap. For eKample, St. Paul himself shifted from the status of a
career missionary to that of a tentmaker and back again. It is &lso true that
the line of distinction between the categories is often blurred. Take the
case of an MK* who returns to earn his/her living in the land of his/her birth
and there to ,.;ritness for Christ. Is he/she an "ir,::.c.rnational Christian witness"
or a "tentmaker"? He/ she might be either one--or both! It seem that
the determining facto.: here would be the degree to which the person consciously
seeks to work in harmony with a specific strategy or under the direction (formal
or informal) of a church or missionary ager.cy. If he/she is trying to do this,
he/she would be classified more as a tentmaker than simply as an overseas witness.
Tentwaking is easier in some professions than in others. Teachers , for
example, can often avail themselves of the time and opportunity to much
service for the Church. Medical doctor,s have also been effective in opening
doors to evangelism.
Y..any teclmical occupations do not allow ::iu; for a consistent missionary
labor, however, and ot hers require too much traveling, with insufficient
opportunities for service except for a quick wor d of tes t i !DDny. Anyone 'i<<ho
is real,ly earning a salary from a secular busines s is apt to be "swallowed up"
by that business during his/her overseas residence. fie/she may have to content
himself/herself with being, in his/her own place and circumstances, a "Christian
y.'ftness." Nor is every company happy to have "tentmakers" on its payroll. In
fact, some overseas agencies are restricted by the terms of their contracts
with governments, and cannot allow religious activity on the part of their
American employees.
On the other hand, the h:i.gh cost of supporting a missionary overseas is
forcing tentmaking upon the missionary establishment. To send a missionary
family to Japan for three years, for example, costs at least $100,000. Any
opportunity for lowering the cost is welcome, and deserves careful consi deration.
And without the provision of a secular job, how can a Christian expect to give
* ''Hissionary Kid," or second-generation missionary.
A Missionary Stratery of "Tentmaking" -3-
witness to Christ in Saudi Arabia, or Libya? In many situations tentmaking may
be at least a part of the answer.
Since God uses all three of the above types of service to produce growth in
His Church, it is appropriate and essential that the Latin America Mission seek
to utilize both career and tentmaking missionaries, incorporating them into its
programs of evangelism and outreach. At the same time, it should also seek
to find ways of mobilizing the witness of all available Christians in t! :e extension
of God's kingdom and for His glory.
Some L.A.M. stu1ies (identities are only slightly disguised!)
Case l Mr. and Mrs. A were undersupported when their service leave ended.
So Mrs. A agreed to accept a job which had been offered to her at the Overseas
University. The assurance of this salary put the A family over the minimum
support level, and they could return to the field. Mrs. A uses her job as a
ministry. She is a tentmaker.
Case 2. Mr. B is on the Coral Gables staff. There is no way his missionary
;ould suffice to support his family in the Miami area. So Mrs. B
takes an outside job. This, too, is tentmaking.
Case 1_. Dr. C feels called to minister in medicine in Ni caragua. The
only way he can do this, apparently, is to take a job in a government hospital
on the Atlantic coast. He is able to give considerable time to Christian
service, and he receives some support from the U.S. He becomes a tentmaker.
Case i Mr. D holds a job with an overseas company. He is called upon
to do a lot of traveling and overtime work, but he assists in the local church
as much as he can, and tries to maintain a faithf ul witness on the job. His
is an overseas Christian witness, but he would probably not be called a tentmaker.
Case 5. On the other hand, Mr. E owns his own business and manages to
find considerable time for the Lord's work. He is on several local boards,
is active in the ministry of his church and is trying to make both his own witness
and the collective activity of his business contribute to the growth of the
Church overseas. He would be :called a tentmaker.
Case 6. Miss F is an MK who has chosen to live and work over : eas (in the
land of her birth) and to collaborate with the in every way she can.
She feels better about being independent of U.S. support, and her very independence_
has given her a wider entree into the society in which she works and ministers.
She is a tentmaker.
Mission policies of the L.A.M. which reflect the preceding convictions,
and allow for cases like those cited, include those that (1) permit remunerative
activities on the part of its missionary affiliates, (2) allow for flexibility
in support levels and for contractual affiliation, and (3) govern the responsi-
bilities of spouses. (See Principles and Government, 5.5, 5.6, 6.2; Manual
of Personnel and Administrative Regulations, 2.4, 3.7, 3.72; and the
Plan (Appendix B of P&AR], 3.1, 3.3.)
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A Missionary Strategy of "Tentmaking"
The Latin America Mission is currently developing a framework for more
effective involvement of volunteers, short-termers and lay collaborators in
overseas witness to Jesus Christ.
There is room for everybody in the great Hission of the Church.
w; Dayton Roberts
Vice President