TENT MAKING 2012
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Cross-cultural Training for Christian Professionals
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Tent
making 2012, Cross cultural training for Christian professionals held at NEMI
from November 4th to 10th 2012, first of its kind in our
area, was tremendously impactful. Total number of participants was 34
comprising invitees from various organizations within Jos and its neigbouring
states, as well as NEMI students. Among them were 2 nurses; a medical doctor;
an accountant; pastors; teachers; and missionaries.
Resource
persons who ministered at the training shared both from the Bible and personal
life experiences. They include; Evangelist Sola Adebayo,
International Director of The Kingdom Projects (TKP) Ilorin; Rev.
Dr. Danny McCain, Professor of Biblical Theology at the University of
Jos; Rev.
Dr. Nahor Samaila, Students Affairs Dean at the Jos ECWA Theological
Seminary (JETS); Rev. Segun Adekoya, Training Director of Missionary Training
Partners International (MTPI) Abuja FCT; Pastor Joseph Taiwo of the Jesus
Foundation global ministry Abuja FCT; Mr. Mike Adegbile, Executive
Secretary of Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) Jos; and Mr.
Samuel Olatunbi, Principal of Nigeria Evangelical Missionary Institute
(NEMI) Jos.
Presentations
were made on topics like; Tent making Biblical Basis; Workplace
Evangelism; Serving God Outside the Church; Islam and Muslim Evangelism; Steps
to Tent Making; International Job Markets; Cross-cultural Communications;
Church Planting; Prayer, Self-Discipline and Spiritual Warfare; and Making Your
Life Count for God. Making a compendium of presentations available to
participants so they could follow as presentations were being made was very
helpful. The sessions were quite interactive and informative. This 5 day meeting
made so much impression on participants, and some of them wrote back as
follows:
1.
Ruth Nabinta Tumar, from Eternity Ministries
Bauchi: “Everything I heard from Monday till date during
devotions, lectures, personal and other people’s testimonies and other charges
keep on impacting my heart. The documentary I saw has produced an indelible
image on my heart. Since I came my heart has been on fire. Something is
happening to me which I can’t explain. My love for the King and the need to
advance His Kingdom has grown bigger. Indeed I judged myself severely at every
given session….Now I confirm I am a missionary and I am ready to go wherever the
LAMB leads. I give Him no condition. This is my priority.”
2.
Warye Justina Kadima, from Chapel of Goodnews
Kaduna; “Some years ago I left the university in the final year
while studying Operational Research following a strong conviction that God
wanted me to leave….three months ago, I
realized through a series of events that God would have me work as a missionary
to mainly Francophone Muslims using media as the main tool….this week spent on
the tent making course has cemented my resolve to get equipped and get it
fast….in this course, 4 things have become convincingly clear:
·
Get well equipped for the work
·
Do your best now
·
Network! Network! Network!
·
Keep your focus in mission.”
WHAT TENT MAKINK 2012 MEANT TO ME
(SAMUEL OLATUNBI)!
Ø
Many Christians are exposed to mission with a
mind-set to resign their jobs, and then relocate to a remote village in a
jungle in order to preach the gospel. As a result they are either afraid to
associate with mission, or some do not know what to do even if they are willing
to get involved. However, tent making offers every Christian opportunity to
play their own role in God’s global mission. Whether people travel abroad or
stay in familiar home environments is a secondary issue, the primary issue is
living everyday with the vision of the glory of God. So, there is great need
for teaching on tent making which I suppose a lot of Christian professionals
fit into.
Ø
Every church leader need to train his/her
congregation about tent making so that as people are being scattered everywhere
through bad economic climate; search for good education; job transfer;
government programs such as National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for university
graduates; etc.; they will learn to make disciples for Christ wherever they
find themselves. They will not see education, job, or salary as an end in
itself, but God orchestrating their circumstances for the spread of the gospel.
Some people have suggested we organize tent
making every year. Knowing the dire need for Christian workers as Kingdom
advocates among the nations, we have decided to host the training every
November at NEMI. Next year we hope to have a resource person from Norway, and
to build on lessons leant in putting tent making 2012 together for better
mobilization, greater participation, and fruitful success.
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