 Why
training for ministry skills is so important.
Business as mission (BAM) is a fast
growing component of missions to unreached areas of the world,
and so it should be. It is a wonderful way to enable people to
help themselves instead of being supported by well intended
organizations or individuals. On the other hand are people who
start Kingdom businesses that have a for profit purpose. I am
excited at this trend and am seeing great changes in many
countries where I am in contact with tentmakers.
Here is the problem as I see it.
When I look at BAM events around the
world, and look at the schedules and outlines of topics that
will be addressed, I seldom see a ministry component or how to
do ministry in tandem with the business.
I once wrote the BAM seminar coordinators
of an upcoming event and asked why there was
no ministry training included in their wonderful program? They
told me that it simply had not crossed their minds, as they were
busy lining up people with much to offer in developing a
business plan, dealing with bureaucracy, raising funds etc. In
their defence, they immediately asked me if I could teach such a
session.
Many Christian professionals take jobs
overseas or are assigned to a foreign posting by their company,
often to so called closed countries. Unfortunately many leave
without any specific ministry training and thus miss out on
intentional sharing of their faith in meaningful ways.
"Christian
professionals with overseas jobs are not tentmakers unless they
intentionally seek to make Jesus known to the local people of
the host country" Ruth Siemens
GO trains tentmakers, business as mission
people for critical ministry skills in difficult
countries, many of which are hostile to Christianity, not only
to thrive in new cultures but to have effective ministry within
the constraints of local laws and regulations. This may sound
overwhelmingly difficult, but it does not have to be.
As a high level security official of a
closed country once told me in a brash way, "Not even in
Slamistan (his country) is it against the law to answer
questions." This simple statement tells us that renting a
building for church services and then inviting people to come to
a meeting is not permitted, but having relational conversations,
replying to people's questions, is not only accepted, but legal.
When you seek out training for tentmaking,
business as mission, make sure you will also learn about doing
ministry. Integrate your ministry plan with your business plan,
and let God do the rest.
Ari Rocklin
GO Mobilizer
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