Christian TentMakers jan-mar 2016

s r e k a M t n e T n a i t s Chri

ar 2016 M n a J

A TentMaker's Story

2016

GEAR GUIDE

Websites Social Media Plugins Auto-Responders

.com

7 WAYS

TO BECOME A BETTER Tent Builder

TOP Attraction Marketing Tips for 'Fishing' for Prospects Acts 18:3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.

Matthew 25:20 "The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the other five and said, ‘Sir, you gave me five talents; here, I have made five more.’" (CJB)

About Christian TentMakers Magazine:

Editor: Trudy Beerman www.ChristianTentMakers.com Published 4 times per year Unless otherwise indicated, all content here was created by Trudy Beerman A Christian publication focusing on Fiscal Stewardship, Business and Mindset Development to move Christian Leaders to become Profitable Stewards (aka, Biblical Managers) who enjoy debt-free wealth.

This is the LAUNCH issue of Christian TentMakers Magazine. I am so excited about where the Lord is taking me with this project. I anticipate this evolving over time as this publication settles into its brand.

There are many Business Success publications available but few address it from a Biblical perspective. This will be the focus of Christian TentMakers Magazine.

The world tells us being successful is all about money and image - SELF image, and that we should "fake it till we make it", causing many to live fake lives they cannot afford.

The founding principle influencing every inclusion here is still furthering the money & image conversation, but the focus and motive is to move Christian Leaders to become Profitable Stewards (aka, Biblical Managers) who enjoy debt-free wealth.

It is my belief that when leaders change their focus and their motive from money, to simply serving excellently in love, that the value they add to the marketplace, will eventually reward them profitably. It is my strong belief that we have a mandate as stewards of everything under our control, to be profitable. This magazine intends to help you do just that.

Matthew 25:20 "The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the other five and said, ‘Sir, you gave me five talents; here, I have made five more.’" (CJB)

THE DIFFICULT SEA

ENDURE!

Winter is a t low activity planning, an

It's All about MINDSET! How you look at things makes all the difference in the world. I love this image on this page because it speaks volumes to what I want to share with you.

Genesis 41:35-36 "Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it. Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine."

Live another Day Daily bread is what Jesus taught us to pray, and honestly, in a difficult season, focusing on just getting through each day, one day at a time may just be the best survival strategy. If necessary ration out the portions, cut back on purchases, become a lean, fighting machine.

ASON

time of death, sleep, for some. Preparation, nd equipping for others.

Expect the Season Some things are known and the fact of a winter season in every business is a reality. No matter how great things are going now, there will be times when things slow down, or even stall to a dangerous pace. Be like Joseph, in the good times set aside a portion for the famine to come.

Within every problem is a seed of a solution, just as Joseph found. Egypt was positioned for it's greatest wealth during the famine, when the people gave everything to Pharaoh in exchange for food to survive.

A traditionally slow season for some may be just the opportunity for you to position yourself for you exponential growth. The seed under the ground may think it was buried, but it was simply planted to live abundantly another day.

Don't Go it Alone This is a huge reason for creating this publication, and hopefully a community here at ChristianTentMakers.com As alone as you feel you are absolutely not alone.

Romans 11:2-4 "[ ] Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, 3“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

While you are on the website for this magazine, leave a comment and respond to others who have. Encourage, support each other, and share any success strategies you have had. In time I hope this becomes a community and like Elijah, you will realize you are not alone in your journey.

Bait your line for the fish you want to catch. The bigger the bait, the bigger the catch.

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Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (NIV) I love the NIV version of this verse because it captures the why, the how, and the what.

"Come follow me"; is why you are in ministry in the first place, but also why you are tentmaking.

'FISHING' FOR PROSPECTS "and I will send you out"; that is the how. If Jesus sends you out then you are where you should be. Chances are, when you stepped into ministry, and into tentmaking, you had a lot of 'emersion' training. Trial by fire, figure it out as you go experiences. In ministry and in tentmaking let me remind you to rock back on Jesus. He will direct you, you just have to be moldable, receptive, willing to change.

12 Attraction Marketing tips to increase your customer base.

outcome of the effort. Ministry is for OTHERS. You serving OTHERS. Same with tentmaking.

Your product, program or package is for OTHERS. No matter how awesome your offer, unless it is positioned to the right audience it will go untouched. If you are fishing for shrimp the strategy is very different than the strategy for catching sharks.

Continued on pg 8

"fish for people"; That is the

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Fishing for Prospects continued...

Similarly, if your ideal market is the stay-at-home-mom, then your graphics, writing, and call to action will be very different from trying to sell the same product to a retired, world traveling couple.

For example, the sports analogy used in this issue was deliberate. While there are many women tentmakers, my research suggest there are more men in the age group of 27 -55 who are very concerned about being present to their ministerial calling while carrying the burden of providing for their families.

So TentMakers; as you look for income generating activities to support you and your family's needs so that you can continue in ministry, many of you will find that being an entrepreneur is easier than punching a clock somewhere, with the potential for unlimited reward. So this issue of TentMaker is an example of what I mean by 'fishing for prospects'.

These men are burning the candle at both ends, so to speak, as they try to visit the sick in hospitals, prepare for and speak to congregations, manage the administration of the ministry and still bring home the 'bacon' for their families. So while women tentmakers may very well find value in this publication, and I am a woman writing this piece, I am writing with a predominantly male audience in mind. Identify the audience you intend to serve, and speak their language. Tweak as you go, measure your results.

You see, my father and brother live in this space right now. I have many brothers in Christ in this space right now. My husband lost his job once, having taken vacation time to go on a mission trip to build houses for the poor in Puerto Rico.

The TentMaker's challenge is real and I encourage you to invest in an online, automated aspect to your tentmaking activity because it can pay off in more freed up time and income while you sleep. Automating online income can make your life easier all around for you, and allow you to be even more present to your ministry, and to your family. It is my intention to fill The Christian TentMaker Magazine with content to help you accomplish this outcome.

We need more men willing to step up in leadership in ministry and in their families. Fear of being unable to provide for their families is a major stumbling block to entry or to staying the course. Support the Christian TentMakers in your life. One way to do that is to share this FREE online subscription with them.

2016 ONLINE BIZ GEA

WEBSITE: You NEED an online presence. You MUST have a webiste, this is your biz HOME Hub. Make it inviting, user friendly, front-loaded with value, speaks to an obvious audience, and includes a call to action!

CONTENT: Your ammunition is your front-loaded value content.

Unless you have a monopoly on the product or service you provide, your prospect has options. Statistics show, 57% research online BEFORE they browse the shopping isles, so if your website does not give them the incognito opportunity to check you out and decide if you have what they are looking for, they will simply click the next option that Google, Bing or Yahoo serves up. People prefer to do business with the familiar. Allow them to get to know you and your program/products with free, easy to access value loaded content.

AR GUIDE Even if you are a brick and mortar business, you need an online presence. If you want the possibility of income while you sleep, you MUST HAVE an online presence. This is not a comprehensive list, but there is some gear you must have to expand your online presence, reputation, and value to your prospect.

Social media is free exposure. "If you have a favorite social media, you do not understand social media" Grant Cardone.

Continued on page 17

WHo IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE? You must decide this before creating content on your website. The same way you would not go to Home Depot to buy bread, is the same way your website should appeal to a specific audience.

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WAYS TO BECOME A BETTER TENTMAKER

Your Christian ministry is a full-time effort on a part-time pay, yet you know you are called to serve. So you become a TentMaker to support your family & needs.

Acts 18:3 "Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was."

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Know your WHY

Apostle Paul was a tentmaker on purpose because he knew his WHY. He was serving in unchartered territory where he would not get support from those he served. While he was fully entitled to a living wage, he used tentmaking to finance him during his ministry so that he could continue.

1 Corinthians 4:11-12 "Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living."

If you do not have a clear and passionate why, your

ministry will be a burden, and your tentmaking will be a frustration.

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Send Prayers High

This should be a no-brainer, but we are such 'DOING' people that praying is not done hard enough, long enough or often enough. We Don't be Shy plan, we scheme, we stress, we work - and if we pray, it is more like People need to know sending up a wish list to a Santa that in addition to your ministry, you are tentmaking. I Claus who thinks we have been too learned the hard way, when a naughty to reward. Prayer is not just friend bought something I sold for the realm of ministry. Prayer from a stranger because he did absolutely belongs at foundation of your business. not know I sold that thing. I did not speak up. Not everyone is a possible client, but they may be able to offer a Build to the Sky referral. Plant the seed!

Simply share honestly, that to continue in the Lord's service, Beware of glass ceilings! The you are tentmaking, and this problem with them is, you don't (fill in the blank) is your see them and so you don't even tentmaking thing. Speak up! know they are there. Years ago, I played the Prosperity Game to find I got stuck at explaining the $64K It's OK to Cry . the 'Universe' delivered to me in the game. Prior to that, I had not If it were easy to serve personally earned in excess of $55K God in difficult circumstances, and would have laughed if anyone everyone would be doing it. had tried to suggest (a) I had a glass You are carrying a cross. If ceiling and (b) it was as low as Jesus could sweat blood $64K. Once I got over that and knowing the personal sacrifice expanded my mindset, I played required, trust me - it is OK to again and got stuck at $250K. I cry. Even so, don't cry too long, kept playing the game over and or too often. Not many will over till I felt comfortable with the understand those tears either, idea of earning millions. I had to but I do. My father and brother see it in my mind before it could walked this road, and in my become possible in my life. What own way - I am too. about you? Continued on pg 18

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Better TentMaker Continued...

Lofty goals intensifies the effort. Anything target you feel is easy to reach will trigger little effort from us.

Huge, overwhelming, reaching to the sky goals, well - those have it already built in that ONLY extra effort will help you maybe reach kinda there.

Building to the sky, or 10Xing your goal is like what my mother use to tell me, "shoot for the stars, if you hit the tree tops it is still a better place than the ground". Mediocre, ordinary, and lame goals are totally uninspiring. Reach for the sky. Stretch yourself.

Grow!

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Numbers Don't Lie

I know number crunching sounds as much fun as having your tooth pulled without anesthesia, but trust me delegate it if you must, but embrace numbers! If there are no targets there will be no measurable results. What is the history of the numbers telling you? Ordered too much, not enough, too early, too late? Who is buying? What age group?

More men than women?

Average number of units sold, and so on. When we are willing to embellish and qualitatively enhance things,

numbers don't lie. My radio show used to draw an audience of 67% females aged 33-55, then I noticed a shift to 54% males in the same age group. I traced that back to an earlier tweak from referring to my target market as business owners, to breadwinners. Apparently more men resonated with that term, With that insight, I now say income earners. Time will tell how that impacts my numbers. Check your numbers, and do it regularly.

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Say Goodbye

Say goodbye to time wasting activities. Say goodbye to energy sucking negative ninnies. Say goodbye to mediocrity. Re-evaluate your team and say goodbye to some of them too. Anyone who is not on board with the vision will hold the team back. Have a pow-wow session, hash it out, get them on board or show them the door. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't-you're right.� Henry Ford Sometimes you just gotta do the hard thing that is the right thing.

Sometimes you need to say goodbye.

2016 Biz Gear continuted...

PLUGINS: Unless you are building your website yourself, this term may be unfamiliar to you. If you are building your website yourself, plugins are essential. In another issue, I will go into specific plugins and their benefits, but in a nutshell, plugins are website enhancers that move the site from being just an online brochure to an interactive, lead generating machine.

Plugins allow you to insert a pop-up box for subscriptions, import automatic feed from a podcast or newsfeed, or simply include your social media activity inside your website. Many are free.

AUTORESPONDERS: Autoresponders are a must have for your online business. Some are free or free for a limited time but this is NOT something to be without. I use GetResponse because I can seamlessly include landing pages, forms and more. For example, there is good chance you saw a pop-up subscription form on the site for this magazine. If you want to get the next issue, you would need to complete that FREE subscription sign up. The GR autoresponder will automate future delivery of issues.

EASY!

A TentMaker's Story Pastor Tony Davis is a husband, father of four, pastor and entrepreneur; so people are sometimes confused about what he does.

With a small, but growing congregation with Glad Tidings Church of God in Christ, the church is unable to pay Pastor Davis a salary allowing him to dedicate full-time to the church, yet, even so, the church still has full-time demands. Dedicated to the gospel, yet still needing to meet the needs of his family, Tony knew another j-o-b would only pull him further away from his family, the needs of his church, and time to prepare for Sunday's message.

Tent making is a more common than we know, and Pastor Tony supplements his income with his entrepreneurial adventures.

Join me as I chat with Tony

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Pastor Tony Davis his wife, Zada

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At the end of this course, students will: • Realize that the Bible is full of 'information' (to those who don't believe it). What you need is REVELATION. While mentors and teachers are great, there is NONE better for a Christian, than the Holy Spirit.

• Recognize the Bible is a relevant, practical tool for business and leadership training.

• Compare/contrast popular secular ideas with what the Bible says on the same matter.

• Confidently go to the Bible as a first or inclusive resource for real life business and leadership questions, challenges and directions.

• Re-frame your relationship with Jesus from a compartment of your life, to the first place of every part of your life, especially your career or passion.