In today’s rapidly changing world, the Church is being called not only to preach from the pulpit but also to influence society through the marketplace. Across communities, many believers are searching for ways to serve God faithfully while meeting practical needs for themselves, their families, and their communities. This is where the Tentmaker’s Workshop under Business with Purpose Sierra Leone (BWP-SL), a global team member of Serving Workers for the Harvest, plays a transformative role.
The concept of tentmaking finds its roots in the life of Apostle Paul, who supported his ministry through his trade as a tentmaker while preaching the gospel. In the Holy Bible, Paul demonstrated that work and ministry are not separate callings; rather, they can work hand in hand to advance God’s kingdom. Today, this model remains relevant, especially in places where believers are called to make disciples while engaging in everyday work.
At the heart of the Tentmaker’s Workshop is the belief that believers should be equipped to excel in both spiritual and practical dimensions of life. Participants are trained in areas such as:
- Developing a business idea
- Customer service and ethical practices
- Stewardship and accountability
- Leadership and community impact
- Integrating faith into daily business operations
The workshop emphasizes that success in business is not measured only by profit but by faithfulness, integrity, and the ability to bless others. Believers are challenged to run their enterprises in ways that honor God and reflect Christian values in a world that often prioritizes profit above people.
The mission component of the Tentmaker’s Workshop is equally important. BWP-SL recognizes that the marketplace is one of the largest mission fields in the world today. Many people who may never enter a church building can still encounter the love of Christ through interactions with Christian business owners.
Through the workshop, participants are encouraged to become ambassadors of Christ in their professions. Their businesses become places where honesty, compassion, and excellence testify to the reality of the gospel. Whether through relationships with customers, employees, or community members, believers are equipped to share their faith naturally and effectively.
The impact of the Tentmaker’s Workshop goes beyond individual participants. When believers are empowered economically and spiritually, entire communities benefit. Families gain income, young people see examples of godly entrepreneurship, and communities experience both economic and spiritual renewal.
As participants establish businesses based on biblical principles, they become agents of change—demonstrating that faith can transform not only hearts but also livelihoods and societies. The workshops are helping raise a generation of kingdom-minded entrepreneurs who see their work as ministry and their businesses as instruments of hope.
The Tentmaker’s Workshop under BWP-SL is more than a business training program; it is a mission strategy. It equips believers to use their God-given skills, talents, and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods while advancing the gospel. In a time when the Church is called to engage every sphere of society, tentmaking offers a powerful model for holistic ministry.
By equipping believers for both business and mission, BWP-SL is helping shape a future where Christians thrive in the marketplace, serve their communities, and make Christ known through both word and deed.
Missional Business Training in Freetown – 2024
Tentmakers Workshop at OLCAP, Lucanji, Kenya
Tentmakers Workshop at EET, N’Djamena Chad
