Tentmaking Tips

Some of you read the title of this newsletter and might’ve gasped in disbelief.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving (my wife's American so I'm allowed - sort of), I just wanted to take a moment to say a genuine thank you.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re someone who’s stepped out - maybe in faith, maybe into new territory, maybe just one small step at a time. Whether you’re juggling ministry, a side gig, or just exploring what “tentmaking” could look like in your own life, I want you to know how much I appreciate you.

It takes courage to step out. To try something new. To provide for your family while still following your calling. You’re not just making ends meet - you’re making an impact, both in your community and beyond.

It takes courage to do something different to the norm. To step out into a new (well, it's actually old) model of combining ministry and income generation.

It takes courage to face the questions, the doubts (both yours and others), the raised eyebrows and even the disapproving silence!

It takes courage to set a big goal. Small goals are...

For many pastors, the scariest part of tentmaking isn’t choosing an income stream.
It’s telling their church and leadership team.

You might be excited about finally getting some financial breathing room… but you’re also thinking:

• “Will they think I’m less committed to the church?”
• “Will they assume I’m planning my exit?”
• “Will this damage trust with my elders, leadership team or board?”

And here’s the thing: if anyone in the church is going to hear criticism like,
“Why isn’t our pastor 100% focused on the church?”
…it’ll usually hit your leadership team first.

That’s why how you communicate your tentmaking desires (or current reality) is absolutely crucial. Done well, your leaders can become your biggest defenders and advocates. Done badly, it can create suspicion, insecurity, and unnecessary tension.

Let’s walk through three key pieces:

1. Why your leadership team must be in the loop
2. How to start the conversation in a healthy, honouring way
3. Common questions you’ll face -
...

If you had invested a sum of money in US treasuries this year, your money would’ve grown about 4% so far this year. If you had invested that same sum of money in an S&P index fund, your money would’ve grown about 16%.

"Come on in! If you don't mind helping me build a plane while flying it."

That's what Sarah said to Emma yesterday when Emma joined one of my communities.

Sarah had just shared that she was building an online course to help people get out of chaotic financial situations.

Emma replied

"My finances are just barely getting the bills paid, after that it's a mess 😵 I've just joined your group"

And Sarah's response?

"Come on in! If you don't mind helping me build a plane while flying it."

I love this.

Because that's ministry, isn't it?

That's community.

That's life.

We're all building the plane while flying it.

I was talking yesterday with a guy who's now helped launched 50 groups of new believers in the middle east. It's the start of a movement. Yet when I quizzed him he's 'I really don't know what I'm doing'. 

Here's the truth:

We don't need to have it all figured out before we help others.

We don't need to be perfect before we invite people in.

We just need to show up, be ...

My wife’s AMEX Gold card had a $325 annual fee posted to her account today.

If you're a pastor or in ministry and looking to boost your income, you might be sitting on a goldmine without even realizing it. The skills you use every week in ministry? They're often exactly what people are willing to pay for in the marketplace.

You don't need to learn something completely new or spend years getting another qualification. You just need to repackage what you already do and find the right audience. Here are five skills you probably already have, and how real pastors are turning them into income streams.

1. Counseling

You've been doing pastoral counseling for years. You know how to listen, ask the right questions, and help people work through their struggles. That's a valuable skill.

I know a pastor (actually more than one!) who'd been counseling people in his church for years but had never been formally qualified. He decided to get properly certified as a counselor, and now he has a successful private practice as a side income. He's still in ministry, but he's al...

I hear it regularly from pastors and church leaders: "I'd love to start a tentmaking business, but I'm just too busy."

I get it. I really do.

Church planting, leading a ministry, shepherding a congregation - it's all-consuming. The demands on your time feel relentless. There's always one more person who needs you, one more crisis to manage, one more sermon to prepare.

But here's the truth I've learned after 20 years of coaching church leaders: if you're waiting for the "right time" to start, you're already too late.

Let me explain.

1. The Time to Start Is Now (Yes, Really)

I know it sounds like a cliché, but stick with me.

If you're thinking you might want a tentmaking income "one day," that day needs to be today. Here's why: it takes time to figure out what you actually want to do. Time to explore your options. Time to develop your skills. Time to find a coach or mentor. Time to build something sustainable.

The best time to do all of this? When you already have a secure income...

AI is everywhere right now. Course creation in minutes. Business plans generated instantly. Marketing copy that sounds like you hired a pro.

It seems like the perfect solution for busy pastors and leaders wanting to build their tentmaking income.

But here's what nobody's telling you: AI is both your biggest asset and your most dangerous trap.

Let me explain why - and how to use it without getting burned.

How AI Helps Your Tentmaking Journey

Speed and Efficiency
I help people turn their knowledge into scalable online programs working just 4-5 hours per week. AI has made this so much easier.

What used to take 20 hours of course planning now takes 20 minutes. Need marketing copy? Done. Content outlines? Instant. Research? Lightning fast.

Idea Generation and Research
Stuck on what tentmaking path to pursue? Try this prompt:

"I'm a [your role] with expertise in [your skills/experience]. I have [X hours] per week available and want to build $[income goal] in additional income within ...

A few years ago I met a pastor who runs a small business on the side.

He was apologetic about it. "I'd love to 100% be focusing on ministry," he said, "but we just need the extra income."

But when we talked in depth his impact in the community and the opportunities he had were gold.

This pastor thought his "secular" work was taking him away from ministry. He had no idea he was sitting on a missional goldmine.

Many see tentmaking as a necessary evil - something we do to pay the bills while we get on with "real ministry."

But what if I told you that tentmaking isn't taking you away from mission? What if it's actually amplifying your missional impact in ways traditional ministry can't touch?

Here are three hidden advantages of tentmaking that Paul understood (and why he chose this path for reasons beyond just paying the bills):

1. You Build Authentic Relationships Where Non-Christians Actually Are

Your workplace isn't an interruption to ministry. It IS ministry.

Think about it: W...