O.P.E.N.
Introduction
Resources
Events
Joining
Clients' Area
Introduction

Who is OPEN?
Why OPEN?
Definitions
Mission Statement
Huddles
OPEN Values
Statement of Faith

HUDDLES

A Huddle is a meeting of field tentmakers and BAM workers. Many from North America and Europe have called meetings to teach us how to do tentmaking. All have fallen short of their mark, primarily because doing tentmaking is not the same as doing "marketplace ministry" in your home country.y.

Huddles are intended to bring us together so that we may sharpen one another ala Proverbs 27:17. The program for each Huddle is designed along practical field issues which we face daily. There are workshops in areas of interest; i.e. language schools, import-export business, computer business, small business, working in a corporation, NGOs, etc.

Having attended no less than five "Tentmaking Conferences" there is nothing worse than spending the money to get there, only to discover of the 100 attendees only three are tentmakers. So rest assured, if you wish to attend an OPEN Huddle you will be among other tentmakers. Attendance is by invitation and is open to viable field tentmakers only. Click here for Huddle details. To apply for consideration, click here.

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HUDDLE OBJECTIVES

Help one another - Sit at the feet of tentmakers who have relevant insight and wisdom gained from experience, helping you find the answers to many of your questions. Learn from one another's successes and mistakes, making good use of each other's hard-won practical advice in the areas of operating businesses, educational institutions, NGOs and doing evangelism and church planting. We are seeking to network our businesses as well.

Teach one another - There will be information on the latest movements in various tentmaking and mission arenas. Reports and data will be shared from various surveys currently being conducted among tentmakers.

Serve one another - As tentmaking develops we need to increase our networking and communications with one another. We need to share our visions for reaching the unreached and ideas for opening up the church at large to understand what we are doing. We will discuss and may develop an action plan together.

Love one another - Listen to one another's stories. Allow for times of prayer, encouragement and healing. Minister to one another's hurts, be encouraged by one another's successes.

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GOALS

  1. Seek Solutions

    How to witness at work, time management, family needs, spiritual growth, church planting, cross-cultural adjustments are all issues we face daily. There will be opportunities to explore these issues both one on one and in forums. As we understand the issues better than others who have never walked in our shoes. Each forum is moderated by experienced workers focusing on topics of interest that provides practical solutions to our every day problems.

  2. Build the Business

    At each Huddle you will meet others in your line of work. Together you may do common-vision networking and strategic planning while getting input from experts who have gone before you. Share your business plans and get specific input on how you can improve your work and witness. Get down to the specifics of how to implement what others have learned. Some participants are now doing business together. Workshops and forums will provide individuals and teams powerful, relevant, and practical wisdom about how to strategically impact your people group through profitable business entities, educational institutions and NGOs, that bless and nourish.

  3. Connect with Coaches

    All athletic teams have coaches who give objective input to encourage and challenge the players on to the victory they desire. Coaches likewise help us reach our ministry goals and help our businesses maintain profitability. OPEN understands that tentmaking/church planting teams are propelled forward by a coaching structure which is decentralized, non-controlling, relationally oriented and that encourages flexibility, creativity, and innovation while insuring the quality of team leaders, teams, and the churches they plant and reproduce. You will be introduced to coaches who at your invitation may mentor you in a variety of areas in your life and work.

  4. Access Accountability

    Clearly as pioneer church planters, tentmakers must live according to Biblical principles. Accountability is one of the weakest areas of in the life and work of tentmakers today. One of the best ways to build accountability and develop more godly and effective teams is to use Paul's model of on-site training to reproduce our character and competence. Most tentmakers are inexperienced. It is key for us to provide field mentors who can guide us and hold us accountable in all areas of life, work, ministry, family, etc. We need to seek and submit to wise counsel from those who have gone before us. The number of tentmakers who have been successful in business and church planting is small. Those who are experienced and successful, "master-builders"(1 Corinthians 3:10), need to come alongside and teach those who are less experienced.

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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ATTENDING A HUDDLE

At the Huddle you may expect to:

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