Yesterday, today & tomorrow of the Global Tentmaking Movement

Jonny Chun
Executive Secretary of Tentmakers International

    Tentmaking Mission has greatly benefited from the rapid spread of the marketplace theology movement and workplace ministry, which has mobilized lay people around the world for ministry in their own communities and workplaces.

TI-Tentmakers Internatinal -Yesterday

    TI, formerly known as TIE was formed shortly after the Second Lausanne meeting in Manila. Participants of the tentmaking track there did not want to lose the benefit that came from interacting with other tentmakers.
    In 1992, international Tentmking leaders and workers were invited to come together for the organizational meeting of USAT (INTENT) in Glorietta, New Mexico, America. After that, TM leaders organized TIE (Tentmakers International Exchange), and the first TI (TIE) International Congress was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1993. Delegates from 15 countries met for five days.
    Dr. Christy Wilson, the author of Today’s Tentmakers, delivered the challenging message to “Work together” and learn from each other.
    Tentmaking models from E-land in Korea and Galcom in Israel were introduced. Much networking has resulted in strategic alliances being formed among participants. Since the 1st International Congress, TI has been continuing the journey of the Global Tentmaking Movement.
    The following is the history of the modern tentmaking movement.

1994- KAT (Korea Association of Tentmakers) was established just after the first TI International Congress.

1997– The 2nd TI International Congress was held in Melbourne, Australia.

1999- The 3rd TI International Congress was held in Capetown, South Africa.

2001- The 1st Asian TI Congress was held in the Philippines.

2002- The 4th TI International Congress was held in Jeju Island, South Korea.

2004- The 1st European TI Conference was held in Sophia, Bulgaria.

2007- The 5th TI International Congress was held in K.L, Malaysia.

2007- The African TI Congress was held in Mali, Africa.

2008- TI- Tentmaking Conferences were held in five cities in Indonesia.

And as a result, Tentmaking Network in Indonesia was formed.

2010- The 2nd Asian TI Congress was held in Hyderabad, India.

2013- The 6th TI International Congress was held in Tanzania.

2014- TI India was formed, and held the first national TM conference was held in Nagaland. And Dr. Rajendran, Dr. Danny Martin, and Johnny Chun were invited as speakers.

2014- TI Korea held the first TI leaders’ forum for the future Tentmaking movement in Korea. The forum was designed for new TM strategies.

2015- TI India held the 2nd Annual tentmaking conference was held in Kolkata.

2016- TI- Tentmaking conference for mission leaders was held in Capetown, South Africa.

2016- John Ling and Johnny Chun traveled to five cities in East Malaysia and held tentmaking mission conferences at local churches.

2017- TI Korea held the 2nd TI-Forum (Mission Round Table) for Mission and church leaders, business professionals, medical experts, and faculty members.

2017- TI was invited to speak at a tentmaking conference in Nigeria. About 1,000 church leaders and young professionals attended the meeting and heard about Tentmaking Mission.

2018- TI India held the 3rd Tentmaking conference in Hyderabad. IMA leaders, Mission leaders and many young professionals attended the conference and discussed the future TM mission work.

2018- the 3rd TI Korea leaders’ forum was held in Busan, Korea.

2019- The 4th TI-India Congress was held in New Delhi, India.

2019- The 4th TI Korea leaders’ forum was held in Daegu, Korea. In this forum, leaders talked about workplace ministry.

    Since 2020, we have had to pause our movement, but TI and TM workers everywhere, in spite of difficulties, still go on a long journey until He comes!
    May God continue His good work through your good efforts and works!

Lausanne’s tentmaking network plans to reach further

by Steinar Opheim from tentmaking today

The Lausanne movement’s tentmaking network aims at mobilizing more churches and organizations to send tentmakers. The network has now formed a strategy for how to expand its work in the coming years.
 

    “The Lausanne Tentmaking Network exists to empower the world-wide church to send more professionals, businesspeople, and students who will serve God through life and work around the world,” states the strategy that has been formed by the network.
    “Lack of resources has made it difficult for us to reach out. We are working to change this situation now,” says Steinar Opheim. He is one of three catalysts for tentmaking in the Lausanne movement and the director of Tent International.
    “Business as Mission has become the best-known model for how to bring God’s kingdom to new places through our professions. Only a small share of people are however equipped to start and run a business in other nations. Nearly everyone can apply for a job in another country to serve Jesus through life and work. We thus believe focusing on training and sending professionals will be crucial if we want to see more people going, says Opheim.
 

Bring people together

    The Lausanne tentmaking network will work strategically to bring people with visions for tentmaking together with entities that can provide proper training.
    “As a network our main aim is to form platforms where people can share visions and resources. We believe that God will create new things as we do this,” says Opheim.
    The Lausanne tentmaking network plans to have two or three regional gatherings on tentmaking before the end of 2024. The network also aims at publishing a bi-annual tentmaking journal in collaboration with its members.
    “A journal can reach far and help people to develop visions, support-structures, and relevant training. At our regional gatherings we also want to create forums where people can share ideas. God usually does not give a full recipe on how things should be done to just one entity. Best practices often form when we seek God together, says Opheim.