Reach Photography
Reach Photographers: Tent-Making Ministry
You can support the Reach NZ Ministry by having the people in your Church or Ministry Organisation photographed for...
Portraits for Church Contact Lists
Sunday School Classes & Youth Groups, for their parents and families
Church or Ministry Publications
Family Portraiture
Weddings
Functions: Hallelujah Events - Productions - Balls
For all your photographic requirements
Please contact us for more information
Reach NZ Tent-Making Ministry Support
1. What is a tent-maker ?
Someone who uses their skills (professional, business, or trade skills) to work for a living in a cross cultural situation and to witness for Christ in their daily lives.
Some would narrow this definition to mission-motivated Christians who find employment with the specific objective of helping with evangelism, church planting, and encouraging local believers. This definition would exclude many who work abroad whose main focus is employment rather than mission.
2. Why is it called tent-making?
This is based on the example of the Apostle Paul, who made tents in order to support his mission activities.
In Acts 18 and Acts 21 we get an insight into Paul engaging in his trade, in order that he and his colleagues could be self-sufficient. He told his infant churches that he chose not to burden them, but rather be a 'model to hard work' and to 'imitate' Christ. He believed he had a right to expect gifts (1 Cor 9) but was concerned for the sake of his credibility and integrity not to be misunderstood. But he was flexible. He did at other times preach full time and received gifts of support.
3. Are there different types of tent-makers?
Christians are engaged in tent-making in different ways. For example:
Those whose employment takes them to a different country. In today's world, people are spread throughout the world in many professions, including the Diplomatic Service, IT, education, health, engineering, banking, technology, business, etc. as well as many study opportunities.
If Christians in such circumstances take their faith seriously, wherever they find themselves they would be able to sensitively share their faith and encourage other believers.
Some Christians with specific skills can find themselves being used not to fill particular employment needs, but to provide expertise, advice, training and stimulus to nationals in their attempt to establish viable businesses, education systems, relief and development programs, volunteer schemes e.g. VSO etc. All this provides a great platform for opportunities to establish a witness for Christ.
Others, like Reach NZ start from the premise that God has called them to 'go and tell' people of all nations. To achieve this in New Zealand where traditional mission roles are not welcome or available, tent-making provides the only viable platform to fulfill their calling.
