I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase “tentmaking.” Tentmaking is the job that Paul did to cover his living costs whilst off on his mission trips and now the term used to refer to people who do a job some of the time to free themselves up to serve the rest of the time. To many, this may appear to be doing just one job and a bit of an easy life (work part time, rest part time), but the point of tentmaking is that you are free to serve God…which isn’t always/usually relaxing.
The digital world has opened up other possibilities for tentmaking, some people run “passive income” jobs with flexible hours so they are free to serve whenever necessary [though the idea that you can just sit back and let the money roll in is rarely true and doesn’t usually last]. In fact, some people even started blogs around this theme of tentmaking online.
There could be a long blog series (and there are) about the pros/cons/ins and outs of digital tentmaking, but I want to add in another aspect to consider today.
Digital Nomads
A Digital Nomad is someone who works at distance (online) for their job but has no fixed residence. They move from flat to flat, house to house and even country to country. People like Chris Guillbeau or Mike Elgan and others make a living writing/working online and continually travelling.
It’s not all sun, sand, sangrias and Macbook Airs though. Working abroad at times is just like working at home, except there is the siren’s call from the beach calling you to distraction.
A Digital Tentmaking Nomad?
But how many people are combining these two? I don’t mean you are an ex-pat in another country and earn money from an online job, I mean people who work from distance online, change countries several times a year and yet, are still involve in a ministry…some how!
How does this sound to you? Wonderful? Terrible? I imagine it sounds like one or both extremes and it should do.
The flexibility of location can be a real blessing. If there are ministries you know that have locations in several countries then you can move between these different groups and still pay your way, not placing a burden on the different communities or the mission organisation.
Of course the contrast is that it is more difficult to develop deeper bounds with people, you might have to leave just as someone’s life is really being impacted oh and let’s not forget all the hassle of trying to manage your workload, your travel and still help the ministry you want to be involved with.
With more people freelancing, more part-time work and more companies preferring distance workers the possibilities for following Paul’s model of moving for city to city, founding and helping churches is more available to people…but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for everyone.
Are you a Digital Tentmaker? A Digital Nomad? or even both?
Eric Dye says
I’m not a Nomad, but certainly a digital tentmaker.
Daniel Espinoza says
My wife and I are absolutely Digital Tentmakers. We are already location independent and can work from anywhere (thanks Internet!), but are finishing cleaning up our debt mess before we become nomads.
At Life With A Mission (http://lifewithamission.com) we inspire and instruct others on becoming DT’s by helping people:
1. Get out of debt – So many are held back from service by poor financial decisions
2. Build an online business – Paul didn’t want to be a burden, and neither do we
3. Find places to serve around the world – we want to build trust relationships with local ministries
What happens if you went on an AIM trip as a teen, have a heart for missions, but now have a family and a mortgage? What if your heart still longs to travel and serve?
We look to fill the niche between 10 day short term trip and 5-20 year long term missionary assignments.
Eric Dye says
Dig it.