Lausanne’s tentmaking network on the move

“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 Steinar Opheim who is a catalyst for tentmaking in the Lausanne movement. The photo is from Lausanne’s Global Workplace Forum in Manila in 2019. Photo: Lausanne.

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 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 is 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 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 forms when we seek God together, says Opheim.