Tentmaking Network – The Lausanne Movement

Tentmaking is mission done in accordance with the model of the apostle Paul. He was a tentmaker by profession, and made a living through his work when he was on his mission journeys (Acts 18:3, 1 Cor 9). Today the ‘tentmaking’ label is used to describe everyone who seeks to serve the Lord in other cultures through his or her profession. It includes business people, professionals, and students bringing the gospel onwards to new places.

Tentmaking provides many unique opportunities to share and demonstrate the gospel:

• Tentmakers are self-supported; thus all churches can send tentmakers and take part in God´s global mission no matter what financial resources they have.
• Tentmakers live and work under the same conditions as other people, and thus they are able to model what it means to live as a follower of Christ in common, everyday life.
• The vast majority of unreached people groups live within nations that are closed to traditional missionaries. Tentmakers can go everywhere. The fields of business, education, and tourism provide special opportunities for tentmakers to meet people of all nations.