Working Your Way to the Nations

Based on the manual: Working Your Way to the Nations: guide to effective tentmaking

Preview the course and website at: http://www.mywaytothenations.com/


Contact More Information and Contact info from My Way to the Nations



This course is about people—two billion people—who need to hear of Jesus Christ!
It is about reaching out with the Good News where regular missionaries cannot go

What is a tentmaker?

The term tentmaker comes from the Bible (ACTS 18). The Apostle Paul and Aquila & Priscilla were “tentmakers” by trade. They used this trade to support themselves while carrying out their ministry as cross-cultural witnesses for Christ.

Two Approaches
Paul was a highly trained minister who made tents. Aquila & Priscilla were trades people who led a ministry in their home. Both were “tentmakers.”

Tentmakers are world Christians who are a part of Christ’s Great Commission Army. They are effective witnesses in and through their occupations in the various marketplaces of the world. They are cross-cultural disciple makers in their homes and through their lives.

Tentmakers Occupational Roles:
· Employees
· Business people
· Members of NGO’s
· Students
· Anything that allows them legitimate access in a cross-cultural setting where they serve as witnesses for Christ and in building his church.



Calling and Training
Tentmakers are called to cross-cultural service—the extension of the Christ’s church beyond cultural frontiers. They must also be trained and qualified to serve cross-culturally if they are to be effective for Kingdom ends.

Imbalances to be avoided
· Occupationally qualified but lacking in basic tentmaker ministry skills
· Qualified (or perhaps overqualified) for ministry but lacking a viable tentmaking occupation.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is to engage local churches in actively equipping and supporting tentmakers as a regular part of their mission focus.

What does this course do?
Working Your Way to the Nations provides a systematic discussion and evaluation of qualities and competencies need for effective cross-cultural service. This is a process “driving” tool to help the prospective tentmaker create a specific, tailor made plan to become an effective tentmaker under the guidance of a church-based mentor.

Why was the Course Developed?
· The goal to reach “all nations” with the Gospel (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-20)
· Most of the unreached people groups are in countries that restrict access to missionaries.
· The Great Commission can’t be completed without tentmakers.
· The local church needs to be awakened and tentmakers trained in this context.

Who Produced this Course?
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Mission Commission, and the International Missionary Training Network (IMTN). The WEA is an alliance of Evangelical churches in over 120 countries of the world. The Missions Commission of the WEA works with continental and national missions alliances in all of the sending nations of the world. The IMTN is the missionary training network of the Mission Commission.

Local Church Focus
· 12 week course format that fits easily into a quarterly educational program.
· Weekly meeting format
· Self-instructional materials
· Combines independent study with “mentored” review, accountability and guidance

International Relevance
· Course outline was created through research involving over 40 international agencies.
· It utilizes authors from 11 different countries.
· It is currently in six languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic and Korean.


How Much Work Does the Course Involve?
A minimum of three hours per week should be set aside for reading, writing answers to questions for reflection, and completing action plans. Some of the items on these plans will be completed immediately or during the course period, while others may take months or years to complete. But prospective trainees will come away from the course with a plan in hand that is catered to their specific needs.

The Action Plan is the Key to your Success
· Helps set goals
· Establishes specific plans
· It becomes your personal map to the nations


Accountability structure
· An Internet Cohort—a small group linked through the Internet that take the course together. They meet optionally in audio chat rooms.
· A course Facilitator who helps keep participants on track. Gentle reminders are provided when assignments aren’t sent in.
· A mentor of the participant’s own choosing.

Who Should Take the Course?
· Anyone desiring to serve God in the workplace
· Any Christian wanting to work overseas
· Thousands of Christians already employed overseas
· Church leaders—particularly those who serve on missions committees—who need to understand tentmaking and what it takes
· Members of a tentmaker’s “support team”
· Occupational “partners”—business owners and employers—potential “job makers”
· Occupational and ministerial mentors

Want credit?
If you are already enrolled in college, check with your advisor to see if you can do this course as an independent study. Many have taken this approach. The IMTN does not offer credit but it does offer a certificate of completion for those who complete course requirements.

How much does it cost?
· US$50 for a single applicant
· US$?? for a married couple (write to request the couple discount).

How do I Start?

Go to the website: mywaytothenations.com For more information contact:

• Jonathan Lewis Click here

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