Working Abroad with Purpose: The Way of a Tentmaker - Paperback

by Glenn D. Deckert (Author), James C. Lundgren (Foreword by)

The wise King Solomon gives us this proverb: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings" (Prov 22:29). This book won't ensure that you and your professional skills end up meeting kings, but it will show how you and your training can be planted among unreached people abroad. By taking a job in your field of expertise, you gain far more than a paycheck; rather, a network of relationships with colleagues and neighbors. In doing so, you will learn that you are in good company with the Apostle Paul and thousands of other "tentmakers" in church history. Deckert draws on his tentmaking experience with his wife and children spanning twenty years and six countries. Readers will learn of a biology professor colleague in the Middle East who, on hearing the gospel over lunch, replied, "That's different. That's wonderful. No one ever taught me that before." In another country, a nationally ranked chess player, after reading the Gospels, was moved to tears, saying, "He died for me. I'm a sinner." This book takes you through twelve key areas of tentmaking, from finding a job to retirement.

Author Biography

Glenn D. Deckert has master's degrees from Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a master's degree and a PhD in education from the University of Illinois. For sixteen years, he taught in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. He served in Qatar, Moldova, and Azerbaijan in state department programs and numerous countries as a volunteer. He retired from Eastern Michigan University's Department of Foreign Languages as an associate professor.