Tenth-Making Without the "H"

12/28/2006

My question is, when you planned to move, the twelve of you, into Indianapolis, did you have a job? Were you moving with your family? I think that was in 1986?

Very good : )

So you were still young and that was 20 years ago? Because here we are surrounded with needs. Everywhere there are needs. They would see you as a Savior. If you were prepared to meet all their needs because of having a fellowship or whatever—the poor person, winning them for Christ—if you meet all their needs, you will end up with nothing to give because you really gave it all. Okay? So this is really the problem of the workers here in the vineyard of God because we need to have secular work, so that we will not be dependent on their tithes and offerings of money. So how did you do it? Did you move with work? What was your financial status?

We were “dirt poor,” as they say, for a very long time. I’m an engineer by education and degree. I’ve had jobs for major corporations and have done consulting and other things. I’ve made “tents” at times as an engineer and other times I’ve been free from that. But I’m willing to do anything at anytime. When we moved to Indiana none of us had any way of making a living. We all had to find jobs.

Tent-making?

Tent-making, yep. Which is what we all do, right? And every Christian we know, you could say they’re tent-makers because…

Without “h”…“Tenth” making without “h.” Tent.

Yeah, there you go! I’ve never heard that before! That’s very good! I like that! Tenth-making…tithing.. : ) Anyway, I pushed a broom at a place even though I had a very high-level job at a previous company. I couldn’t find a good job there that wouldn’t take my heart away.

Were you married then?

Yes, with a wife and two babies. Everyone just tried to find whatever kind of job they could when we moved there and we did the best we could. It was the loaves and fishes thing, because we were trying to be obedient and believed that God would provide. Water would come out of the rocks and sometimes milk came out of the rock. : )

And the ravens…

Right. : )

Really, in contrast here…

I think we have the same problem. The economy of our country is so bad.

This is an issue that really hinders what we called at first “the house church.” It’s really a hindrance among us because we are surrounded by needs.

Why is that a hindrance?

Poverty. I think we really have tried to teach them already, with the grace of God, how the provisions of God flow by obedience, by having good wisdom from the Bible. So we have really experienced the growth and the favor of God. Anyone who tries to pray for a job in my group really has found favor from God. What we were discussing really has been applied. I think how we will go farther is by having the wisdom and the connection. We didn’t have what you have said. In my case, we have our friends, our neighbor, who is a Christian. That is where we together could show them love so the people will see us loving one another. By this all men will know that we are Christ’s disciples when they see us doing that. So in my place, we are somewhat scattered, but not too far. I really believe, by the grace of God, all that you have told us is a very good example that we believe in our Spirits.

•  Tenth-Making Without the "H"