Positioning to live within a community – Tim is a tentmaker. For prudent reasons, we cannot divulge his real name or citizenship. He did not go to another country but had to make a cross cultural leap within his own country.
Tim has had a growing burden for the majority people group in his country. In this country, it is against the law for this mainstream people group to change their religion. Tim had a vision just over 10 years ago. He saw a jumbo jet full of passengers that could not land because there was no runway. He sensed God speaking to him about an impending harvest but the harvest would fail without harvesters for the people. He believed his calling was to reach this people.
Tim had served as a worker at his local church, but now he decided to use his expertise as a craftsman and trust God for his support. He took on the identity as a business consultant. There would be religious hostility if people knew his associations with a church. He then joined a team of believers who had a similar burden for this people group.
At first Tim’s wife did not share his burden and calling. After one year of studying the scriptures with a group, her initial prejudice changed to enthusiastic support. She became his most valued team member, together with their children. About 5 years later he and his wife and family moved into an area where 95 per cent of the neighbourhood comprised the people group he was burdened to win.
Discussion: What helped Tim and his family to position themselves for ministry among this people?
* reprinted with permission from Navmedia.
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