21 Aug 2010
 

Tentmaking Briefs

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TMBriefs

tentmaking business as mission monthly

  Tentmaking Briefs is published on the 1st Tuesday of each month

August 2010

 
Twenty dollars that changed a life in India.
Ari Rocklin

Jim a tentmaker to India was used to seeing a man sitting by his weigh scale all day long, hoping someone would come and use his services. For the equivalent of 10 cents, anyone could weigh themselves in a country where the majority can not afford to buy a scale of their own.

One day Jim decided to sit down beside the man to simply get to know him and have an opportunity to practice Hindi. He learned that Ashok was actually renting the scale and was paying up to 90% of his days take to the owner of the scale.

While Jim sat there, suddenly there seemed to be more people wanting to weigh themselves than usual. Ashok suggested that Jim's presence was bringing him good fortune. Of course the real reason was that people were curious as to why a foreigner would sit down with Ashok.

While Jim walked toward his own job he started to think more about Ashok's business. How could he help Ashok earn a bigger slice of the pie? This thought did not leave him for weeks on end. Each morning and afternoon, Jim would make a point of sitting down beside Ashkok, which always brought him more business. They became fast friends.

In a short time Jim had learned the complexity of Ashok's business. The scale was owned by a man who had many scales in the city. He paid his workers a measly amount of the earnings. If the scale broke, the worker would in debt for months and perhaps years until repayment with high interest was made.

Jim desperately wanted to make a difference, so he went and bought Ashok a scale for $20. Fortunately he had done his homework before hand. If he had just given the scale as a gift, the renter of scales would simply have taken it away from Ashok, who would have no recourse nor police protection.

Before presenting the scale to Ashok, he went to the local police station and asked an officer to come with him to verify the business transaction between himself and Ashok. The policeman watched as Jim gave the scale to Ashkok. A business plan was developed by Jim that allowed Ashok to repay the loan in about six months. Then the loan paper was signed (fingerprinted) by Ashok. Having the policeman present afforded some protection for Ashkok, and having a foreigner involved added a bit more.

Before the six months was up, Ashok had saved enough of his earnings of 100% to pay back the full amount of the loan. Jim once again called on the policeman to witness the full repayment of the loan, had him sign the "paid in full" receipt together with Ashok and Jim. Then Jim made a few copies of the receipt and even had one copy laminated which Ashkok could keep as proof of ownership.

Today Ashok keeps 100% of his daily earnings and is proudly able to show everyone that he has paid back the loan in full. Imagine going from keeping 10% of your daily earnings to 100%. Jim continues to disciple Ashok and members of his family...

Principle: Do not be too quick to help, seek wise counsel from locals so that your gift of a loan does not cause difficulty or dependency. Real help requires getting to know people and involves discipling.


Who is Tiowa Diarra?

I first met Tiowa at the tentmaking–business as mission course in Bergen Norway earlier this year. We had worked together via email for some time, but now we finally got to spend time together.

Let me introduce Tiowa to you in this edition of TMB.
I asked him to respond to these four questions.

1.    Who is Tiowa Diarra?

I am married to Madeleine and have five growing kids.

I graduated from Mali University with a Master in Education, from Yamoussoukro Bible Institute with a diploma, and from West Africa Alliance Theological Seminary in Côte d'Ivoire with an M DIV. Then started pastoral ministry in 1986. Since that date I have been engaged in various leadership positions in Mali such as National youth leader and General secretary of Evangelicals in Mali.

Together with other lay people, we founded Partners in Mission organization with the aim of bringing the Gospel to remote areas in Mali and to train nationals for tentmaking.

2.    How did you end up being All Africa Tentmakers International (TI) rep?

After the TI Bulgaria meeting, Partners in Mission reviewed all the materials and took a significant step by engaging  in Tentmaker training and Church leader mobilization for tentmaking mission. In April 2005 we held a mini conference in Bamako, then planned the first All Africa TI Conference for August 2007. The same year we held the very first tentmaker training  in collaboration with TENT of Norway. The next year, in Cape Town, I was appointed as "pioneer for African regions"

3.    How do you see the future of the tentmaking-business as mission (TEMBAM) movement in and from Africa?

There are specific results we can see after five years of TI operation: more than 1750 tentmakers missionaries have been trained and deployed all over Africa; most  of them are working on personal evangelism and church planting. When the capacity of Churches will be enhanced in the future, it is obvious more results will be reached. There is a good perspective of African Tentmakers operating within and outside the continent.  The African diaspora in Northern Africa, in the Middle East, in Europe and Asia includes potential tentmakers that need to be trained and deployed intentionnally for mission. 

4.    How can people learn more about TEMBAM Africa and how can they pray?

Africa TEMBAM is engaged in training and training materials development, church mobilization, strategic reflection on optimizing the potential of the African diaspora.

Africa TI is publishing a Monthly Prayer Diary that engage people in prayer for tentmaking activities. We are also publishing reports, available on request where people can receive information about the progress of TEMBAM in the continent. The desk of the TI Executive Secretary also publishes a monthly bulletin called OpportuniTIes on tentmaking news around the world including news from Africa.

Thank you, Tiowa. It is a blessing to work with you and to know you as a friend.   Please pray for the upcoming 2nd ALL Africa TI Conference in Cameroon on August 12-15, 2010.

Ari Rocklin

Ed: Tiowa is helping GLOBAL Opportunities in a very meaningful way by responding to requests that come to us from Africa.


FREE OFFER: eBook

Working Abroad - Today’s Tentmaking Challenge
Revised version

Philip Nunn

 

 

 


Featured Tentmaking Websites:

OpportuniTIes Newsletter
TENT Norway
JobMission Denmark
GLOBAL Opportunities Mirror Site


UPCOMING EVENTS:

FREE Tentmaking Business as Mission evening seminar
Pasadena California - Lake Ave Church
Friday Sep 17, 2010

FREE Tentmaking Business as Mission Sessions
Spokane WA  
Sep 24 & 25, 2010
Mission Connexion Inland Northwest

GO Equipped Tentmaking Course
Los Angeles California (LAX)
Oct 20-24, 2010

GO Equipped Tentmaking Course
Korntal Germany
22-25 November, 2010
Course outline is now online


Books for Further Reading:

Great Commission Companies - Steve Rundle and Tom Steffen
Business as Mission - Neal Johnson

Note: Steve Rundle & Neal Johnson are former GO board members
 


 
Global Opportunities
www.globalopps.org
(239) 243-0881

 

 

 

IN THIS ISSUE

$20 that changed a life

Who is Tiowa Diarra?
Upcoming Courses
FREE eBook!
Further Reading
Previous TMB Issues
What do you think
of TMB
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China Home Group

   UPCOMING TRAINING

FREE Seminar in Pasadena

Friday 7pm.  Sept 17, 2010

GO Equipped TENTmaking Course - Oct 20-24
Los Angeles CA (LAX)

Nov 22-25, 2010 Germany
Course outline now online

        AFRICA REGION

The 2nd All Africa TI Conference
Douala, Cameroon
August 12-15, 2010

RESOURCES 

New Millennium Missions

Business as Mission

FAQ's

More Articles


E-mail us at insights@globalopps.org with your answers and comments. We would love to hear from you.  

Feel free to call 239.243.0881 if you would like to speak with us personally.   

  


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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