Tentmakers International (formerly known as TIE) was formed shortly after the Lausanne II meeting in Manila in 1989. Participants of the tentmaking track there did not want to lose the benefits that came from interacting with other tentmakers. Lausanne II proved to be a time of both inspiration and networking. It was obvious to all who attended that God was doing something new in missions. He was opening missions up to the whole body of Christ, not just the professional missionaries. At a meeting held in Seattle, John Cox (UK) was appointed Director of TIE and Danny Martin (USA) was asked to be Associate Director.

The organizational meeting of INTENT was held a few years later at Glorietta, New Mexico. Several international observers were invited. The enthusiasm of those present encouraged the calling of an international congress on tentmaking which was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1993. About 80 delegates from 15 countries converged on Chiang Mai for five days. Dr. Christy Wilson, the author of Today's Tentmakers, delivered the challenge to work together and learn from each other. Model projects from Galcom in Israel and E-land in Korea were examined.

Much networking has resulted in strategic alliances being formed among many who attended. At the end of the inaugural meetings, a steering committee was formed consisting of Berit Kloster (Norway), Paul Han (Korea), Loh Hoe Peng (Singapore), John Cox and Danny Martin. Through the benevolence of Mission to Unreached Peoples in Seattle, this steering committee has published regular TIE newsletters with the help of Ken Smith and Jim Hardie for the past three years.

In 1994, soon after the first TI Congress in Thailand, KAT (Korea Association of Tentmakers) was organized after a seminar in Seoul conducted by members of the TI Committee, John Cox, and Danny Martin.
This 4-day meeting with 140 delegates was held to encourage the recruitment of young Korean professionals for cross-cultural witness.

The 2nd International Congress was held at Melbourne, Australia in February 1997. Dr. Philip Lind, the director of AZTEM, hosted the meeting. Dr. Lind, Rob Kilpatrick (New Zealand), and Danny Martin served as the program committee.
The 3rd International Congress was held in Capetown, South Africa 1999. Benbester and his team planned this Congress.
The First Asian Congress was held in Manila, Philippines from March 18 - 21, 2001 at the Caliraya Re-Creation Center in Laguna.
The 4th International Congress was held in a beautiful Island, Jejudo Korea in 2002. About 100 delegates from the world including Tim Philpot (International chair of CBMC), Dan Harrison ( Former Director of Urbana) attended the meeting and talked on the tentmaking movement in the 21st Century.
The First European Consultation was held in Bulgaria from 28th to 31st May of 2004.
The 5th International TI Congress was held in Malaysia 2007. The Congress was designed and planned by Mr. Beram Kumar and TI staff. Over 200 TM leaders from the world attended and discussed on the global tentmaking movement in the future.
The National TM Conferences were held in five cities in Indonesia 2008 and TI Indonesian network was established.
The 2nd Annual Asian Congress supported by India Mission Association was held in Hyderabad, India on January 2010. Dr. Rajesh, TI board and IMA designed the congress to reinforce the Tentmaking Movement in Asia.
The 2nd All Africa Tentmakers International Conference was held in Cameron in 2010.
The 6th International TI Congress was held in Tanzania 2013 and about 120 African mission leaders and TM leaders from the world attended the meeting to encourage and activate the tentmaking movement in Africa.
The First TI South Asia Annual Conference was held in 2014. After that, TI India was established. (Dr. Kenny Kapfo is in change of TI India now) TI Conferences were held in five cities in East Malaysia 2015. Johnny Chun and John Ling traveled the five cities and held TI conferences to encourage TM movement in East Malaysia.
The First TI South Africa Conference was held in Capetown 2016. Ben Bester and Rene were in charge of the meeting.
The 2nd TI Korea Forum for mission and church leaders, medical and business professionals and Christian professors was held in 2017.
The 2nd TI South Asia Conference was held in India 2018.
The 3rd All Africa Tentmakers International Conference was held at Niamey, Niger Africa in 2018.
The 3rd TI South Asia Conference was held in India 2019.
The 3rd TI Korea Annual Forum was held in 2019.