As a bivocational pastor, I am asked many questions when it comes to what I do. If you have done this for a year or longer, you know the questions. Questions such as "How do you balance everything?", "Does your church have a problem with you not being at the office every day?" and the BIG ONE..."When do you hope to get out of bivocational ministry and be full-time?" Many people are surprised that I don't CURRENTLY have a 5 or 10 year plan to get out, I simply want to make an impact. Sure, in the beginning, it was a nice thought but soon it became more of passion rather than a plan. I have told our board that when they feel there are funds in the budget to bring me on full-time, then that would be a great time to hire someone to help with the ministry of Velocity Church.
When I interviewed at Culligan, I told them I would expect to be back at the church within 2 1/2-3 years...that was nearly 4 1/2 years ago and I am so grateful. There was a slight transition that took place in April of 2015 when I moved into sales but I was thankful because I realized God was continuing to allow me to walk into peoples homes long before they would ever walk in my office at church during the day. I am thankful that I get to walk in numerous homes every week and make an impact on them. No, I am not going in there to share the gospel of Jesus but I do hope to make an impact by the way I treat them. When I am in meetings or hanging out with our service techs, I can be a voice that builds people up, not one that tears them down. I don't walk in homes and announce I am a pastor but it has come up
and opened the door for me to pray with people, encourage them and on
occasion, invite them church. Some have visited, many have not, few have stayed. For all I know, there may be customers of mine that are sitting in a church in Knox or Richland County because their Culligan Man told them to find a church and get plugged in.
I don't use the platform of bivocational ministry to build Velocity Church. If it happens in the process, GREAT. I do my best to use it to make an impact in the lives of people and do my part to build the Kingdom of God. If you are in bivocational ministry and thinking more about going full-time than making an impact on people, you need to reevaluate some things. If you can't honestly see yourself stepping in to bivocational ministry without knowing there's an end in sight and you may have to do it for many years to come, you probably shouldn't go down this road right now.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Benefits Of Bivocational Ministry
It can seem at times that being a bivocational pastor is such bummer. If we're honest, we feel as if the enemy works overtime on making us feel like a second-class pastor. As if we have missed the mark along the way. But have you ever though about the benefits? Just for a couple minutes, put aside the hurts and hurdles you have overcome or are dealing with at the moment. Here are a just a few things I feel are tremendous benefits to my family and the church I serve. There are certainly more but if someone is looking at going into bivocational ministry and they were to ask me whey they should do it, these would be my top three.
1. PERSONAL FINANCIAL STABILITY: Let's get real, ministry can have a very high turnover percentage. Forget the stats that a Goggle search can show you. We just know from experience in our churches, our towns and our fellowships/denominations that pastors leave ministry or leave churches and that will continue to happen. You and I would be hard-pressed to not name a church or pastor in our own community that has changed in the last year. But for those that earn an income outside the church, if for whatever reason we need to leave or the church says we need to leave, we have some income that doesn't have us rushing the process to find the next church. We can take the time we need to heal, let our kids finish school, or just take a time out from ministry because we still have a source of income. Transition is hard enough. To add a financial burden on that transition is like throwing fuel on an out of control fire.
2. INCREASED MINISTRY BUDGETS: In 2016, 30% of our general fund went to our ministry departments various needs, honorariums and rooms for guest speakers/missionaries and some leadership training. What that means is that our leaders get the curriculum and training they need to their ministries better. They don't have the strain of paying for some additional conferences or training material out of their own pocket. When we have a guest speaker come in, we don't have to let them feel like we don't value what they do because we are able give them a generous honorarium and put them up in a nice hotel if their travel deems it necessary. Considering the majority of my personal income comes from my "other job", it allows Velocity Church to support missions and our network (district) with an additional 15% of our general fund. Would that 45% of the general fund be nice as for a salary increase? Of course, but it excites me that our church does what it does for so many other people whether it is in our own community or around the world.
3. A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE: How many times in a sermon or teaching moment do pastors try and "relate" to what people are experiencing? For a Bi-vocational pastor, we REALLY can relate. We know about those situations when the conversation turns a little inappropriate in the break room and we are looking for a way to escape. We have likely dealt with the boss who gets under our skin and we do all we can to not "lose our salvation" or lose that job. We have heard people talk about "the preacher" and faith under their breathe in a not so pleasant way. So yeah, when we have those preaching or teaching moments when we encourage people to do the right thing and show the love of Jesus in those situations and so many more, the people connect with the fact that we know the struggle they have as well. They appreciate that we are in the "real world", just like them. I am certainly not taking anything away from the pastor that went to Bible School straight from high school, graduated and moved right into a church and has only known the role of a pastor and nothing else. I have a number of friends in ministry that have gone this path and they are terrific people. There is a great value for them in many ways but the reality is that they can only imagine what it must be like for the people in their audience when they use a work situation as an illustration.
So, stop beating yourself up if you are in bivocational ministry. Besides, we're in good company with Paul and other New Testament individuals who worked outside the church to earn a living while spreading the the Gospel. Be encouraged that God is using you in incredible ways to reach people that need Jesus in their life.
1. PERSONAL FINANCIAL STABILITY: Let's get real, ministry can have a very high turnover percentage. Forget the stats that a Goggle search can show you. We just know from experience in our churches, our towns and our fellowships/denominations that pastors leave ministry or leave churches and that will continue to happen. You and I would be hard-pressed to not name a church or pastor in our own community that has changed in the last year. But for those that earn an income outside the church, if for whatever reason we need to leave or the church says we need to leave, we have some income that doesn't have us rushing the process to find the next church. We can take the time we need to heal, let our kids finish school, or just take a time out from ministry because we still have a source of income. Transition is hard enough. To add a financial burden on that transition is like throwing fuel on an out of control fire.
2. INCREASED MINISTRY BUDGETS: In 2016, 30% of our general fund went to our ministry departments various needs, honorariums and rooms for guest speakers/missionaries and some leadership training. What that means is that our leaders get the curriculum and training they need to their ministries better. They don't have the strain of paying for some additional conferences or training material out of their own pocket. When we have a guest speaker come in, we don't have to let them feel like we don't value what they do because we are able give them a generous honorarium and put them up in a nice hotel if their travel deems it necessary. Considering the majority of my personal income comes from my "other job", it allows Velocity Church to support missions and our network (district) with an additional 15% of our general fund. Would that 45% of the general fund be nice as for a salary increase? Of course, but it excites me that our church does what it does for so many other people whether it is in our own community or around the world.
3. A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE: How many times in a sermon or teaching moment do pastors try and "relate" to what people are experiencing? For a Bi-vocational pastor, we REALLY can relate. We know about those situations when the conversation turns a little inappropriate in the break room and we are looking for a way to escape. We have likely dealt with the boss who gets under our skin and we do all we can to not "lose our salvation" or lose that job. We have heard people talk about "the preacher" and faith under their breathe in a not so pleasant way. So yeah, when we have those preaching or teaching moments when we encourage people to do the right thing and show the love of Jesus in those situations and so many more, the people connect with the fact that we know the struggle they have as well. They appreciate that we are in the "real world", just like them. I am certainly not taking anything away from the pastor that went to Bible School straight from high school, graduated and moved right into a church and has only known the role of a pastor and nothing else. I have a number of friends in ministry that have gone this path and they are terrific people. There is a great value for them in many ways but the reality is that they can only imagine what it must be like for the people in their audience when they use a work situation as an illustration.
So, stop beating yourself up if you are in bivocational ministry. Besides, we're in good company with Paul and other New Testament individuals who worked outside the church to earn a living while spreading the the Gospel. Be encouraged that God is using you in incredible ways to reach people that need Jesus in their life.
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