The following is an excerpt from a letter to an overseas missionary who was struggling with the question "to make tents or not to make tents". The question has relevance to those working in the US as well since more and more tent makers are getting involved in the work of church planting. The majority of church planters we work with are self supporting tentmakers.

Several of the paragraphs of your last two faxes have expressed concern about job situation etc. I'd like to share some of the views I've developed over time as a supported servant of the Lord. These views come down to an appropriate view of calling.

As I mentioned last time, it is important for those who derive the bulk of their income from gifts (as opposed to holding a job) to realize that they are sacrificing their ability to be an example to the vast majority of believers. For the most part we feel such men should have a ministry limited to "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). That is, we believe only equippers should be supported, not ministers.

As such, each man needs to become fully persuaded as to what God has called him; has he been called as a minister or an equipper. On our team here, the bulk of us are ministers, and thus have jobs to be good examples. I am the sole equipper at this point, although this will likely change as God expands the work. Mike and Jim, the two new team leaders are beginning to work through the issue of how this might affect their calling (Calling is not static, but dynamic, and may change as the needs for the expansion of His kingdom change). Both have been committed up to this point to minister and be good examples to the emerging leadership as self-supporting shepherds.

In your case, the men may decide that, at best, they can be a poor model for self-supporting leaders, and thus realize that they are better to consider themselves to be equippers of ministers. As such, they need to realize that they are not "experts" on what it would mean to be a self-supporting minister in that culture. Instead their ministry should be limited to coaching from the outside, pointing out when practices would violate Biblical principles. The important thing to keep in mind is that the self-supporting minister must be the norm in a reproducing model of church life! The clerical model (full-time support as opposed to self-supporting--full time seen as superior, more committed, etc.) creates bottlenecks and a two-tiered Christianity which is destructive! Supported men need to realize that they have a limited ministry with respect to setting a good example for the future leaders.

If you do decide to be supported by the gifts of the saints, then obviously you must focus your prayers and attentions on getting men who can be good examples to the flock and getting them to understand their calling as ministers (as opposed to equippers of ministers) who can model the type of committed Christianity which will serve as a model to all the members of the assemblies, balancing job, family and ministry. Likely some of these will eventually be called to a ministry of church planting which may (but not necessarily) cause them to have to reconsider the support issue.

At any rate the question is how to view yourself. I would encourage you to face the reality that if you are supported you will not necessarily be a good model in this particular area to the sheep. I encourage you to really study the apostle Paul's life and ministry with respect to support. He spent somewhere between 1/2 to 3/4 of his time supported by others. He made no apology for it, but rather labored all the more so that those who supported him could share in his reward (Phil. 4:15-18). He did not receive money from those he was presently ministering with (2 Cor. 7:2-4, 11:20,21, 12:14,15,etc), but was willing to receive gifts from them after he left (like Philippi). He was willing to labor according to what God provided; making tents, or receiving support from others (Phil 4:10-14) according to the need. I am sure he was accused of using the gospel as a means of gain, and has no problem condemning others who do so (2 Cor. 11:20)! Yet he acknowledges that this is not inappropriate necessarily (I Cor. 9:3-14). Following his thought into vs. 15-27 he is able to balance these because of a clear sense of calling! (For a good definition of calling Cf. I Cor. 7:17--God's assignments in life). He sees his calling as a stewardship given from God to be carried out for the expansion of the gospel and the good of God's people.

It is crucial for us to understand our calling! It is important for us to understand the evolution of our calling and be open to further evolution. I was called by God while single and a football coach. After God called me to His kingdom He called me to be married (this is the context of calling in I Cor 7). As a result I had to give up my football job since it was incompatible with who I was, and who my wife was. I got a job teaching school and worked leading Bible studies on campus from the church. He confirmed gifts of teaching, discipling, and shepherding over the next 5 years. The last 2 years He confirmed me as an equipper of saints by allowing me to train guys to take over the campus ministry. Thus when the church asked me to leave teaching, be supported, and start a new church, it was a result of thinking of this as a good investment in the Kingdom (a la Phil. 4:17). Reluctantly I answered God's call and gave up my job.

I want to point out though, that although God's call was subjective (I had a burden to start Bible studies on campus), it was confirmed objectively by the fruits and others evaluation. I think it is important for us to be clear in our calling but also in how it has been and is being confirmed. Otherwise everyone can be a self-proclaimed prophet. Paul was called as an apostle to the gentiles (Acts 9). But it was confirmed on several occasions (Acts 13:1-4, Gal. 2:9). When our calling comes under question we may need to give an account of both calling and confirmation.

God has called you and the others on your team to (a country) and that has been confirmed by your churches, your agency, and others. You need to be clear on what God has called you to bring. Most third world believers might think you have been called to bring affluence and comfort. But in reality you have been called to bring good news of a new kingdom which will result in much suffering and even death for those who follow. (Cf. Acts 14:22--how's that for comfort and encouragement). YOU MUST ACCEPT THE CALL. And you must teach them that each one of our paths will be unique. (Often John 21:15-23 is extremely helpful here). But each path is uniquely suited to the one who follows because he has a loving Father who has drawn the path and will provide all that's needed (Habakkuk 3:17-19, especially v. 19). Each one's path will be more than he can bear in his own strength. Rather than looking at others who "appear" to have it easier (eg. Peter looking at John), we need to "follow Christ" ourselves, focusing on the path He has laid out for us.

The believers there may think of you as wealthy, but you need to relate that your sacrifice is one of leaving family and home to live in a new culture and bring them the good news. God may not have called you to live at their economic level (He may have also, but you have to wrestle through this!) and you should not live in constant guilt over the fact that you may have more materially than they do. Each one has a path to follow. Most of those in your country of service would consider it a far greater sacrifice to leave family than to live in meager financial conditions. You have called to sacrifice in one way, they in another. You need to wrestle through these issues.

You need to be clear both on you calling and confirmation, to remain steadfast when Satan tries to discourage you from saying on the Lord's path. My confirmation to you is that you are where you belong and in the position you belong. But you will have to go through these issues often with yourself, your co-workers and those who will become leaders in the churches. This issue of calling is crucial for perseverance.

I have written at length because I sense your anguish. I hope I have not beaten the subject to death, but it is a very important issue.

1. What are the disadvantages of being fully supported as a church planter?

2. What are the advantages?

3. How is this contingent on calling?

4. What is your calling? What would be necessary for you to reconsider this?