Why training for ministry skills is important
Business as mission (BAM) is a fast-growing component of missions which includes the 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. I am excited at this trend and in 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 defense, 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 tentmakersunless they intentionally seek to make Jesus known to the local people of the host country””
Global Intent trains tentmakers, whether they are businesspeople, professionals, retirees, or students going abroad, 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.
Learn to integrate your ministry plan with your business plan, and let God do the rest.
By Ari Rocklin