Tent Making – Being Financially Self-Supporting

Tent making is the practice of supporting ministry through secular employment, following the example of the apostle Paul. It enables believers to share the gospel, plant churches and serve communities in places where full-time religious workers may be unwelcome – while earning their own living.

What Is Tent Making?

The term 'tent maker' is derived from Paul's lifestyle of financially supporting himself while full-time planting churches and preaching the gospel. His trade was making tents and he didn't want to be a burden on the early Christians, so he regularly sought to support himself and those with him while they openly shared and preached Christ (Act 18:2-3, 20:33-34; 1 Thes 2:9; 2 Thes 3:7-9).

In this wider sense, a tentmaker is a lay person or minister working in a secular job to provide for their own financial needs, while being involved in Christian ministry outside work hours. Rather than relying on donations, they generate income through their profession so that nothing hinders the message they carry.

The need to earn a living does not prevent us from working for God

Reaching Restricted Nations

About 60% of the world's population live under governments that restrict the entry of 'full-time' religious workers; however, those with secular skills are generally welcomed into these countries. This provides opportunities to be 'tent maker' or self-supporting missionaries as they obey Jesus' command to "make disciples of every nation" (Mt 28:19).

Fledgling churches are often pastored by a person who initially also works a full-time secular job. Sometimes a person called into ministry prefers the tentmaking approach to provide their own financial support so they can stay connected with, and identify with, the people to whom they minister.

It affords them opportunities to live out their message and model what they preach through lifestyle evangelism, earning credibility among colleagues, clients and neighbours alike.

Secular skills can open doors into nations closed to traditional missionaries

Tentmakers in the Marketplace

If the majority of Christians – as distinct from faith missionaries or full-time workers – are employed in the secular marketplace, where they live out their faith and share Christ by being actively involved in Kingdom ministry, they too can be termed tentmakers. Every workplace, industry and community thereby becomes a mission field.

Day by day, tentmakers demonstrate the reality of the gospel through their work, their relationships and their integrity – witnessing for God while doing their work. The quality of their craftsmanship, their honesty in business dealings and their compassion for colleagues all bear quiet testimony to Christ, often long before a single word is spoken. Working shoulder to shoulder with those around them, they let people see the reality of their faith in action – not merely in what is said, but in how the job is done, how pressure is handled and how others are treated. In offices, workshops, classrooms and clinics alike, they earn the right to be heard; when questions arise about the hope they hold, they are ready to explain it naturally and graciously. In this way the workplace becomes a living pulpit, and everyday faithfulness becomes an effective and authentic witness.

We can witness for God while doing our work

Reflection and Application:

Look for natural opportunities to share Christ with colleagues, clients and customers.
Offer your professional skills where full-time religious workers cannot go.
Model what you preach through honesty, diligence and Christ-like character at work.
Trust God to provide for your needs as you balance employment with ministry.