Comments on: Bivocational Pastors: Are You One? http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/ Transitioning Life's Journey Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:53:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Sam http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8846 Sam Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:22:36 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-8846 Great Topic. The fact is that 75% of pastors in America are bivocational, most not by choice but because most churches cannot afford to pay them. I am a pastor at saddleback church in California. They could afford it but I still pay my own salary. I have been a bivocational pastor for 36 years by choice. It has not always been easy but always rewarding. Someone mentioned in an earlier reply how it keeps us in the "real or normal" world. It is also powerful for displaying integrity. No one can accuse you of being after their money. It also gives freedom in teaching because you are living in the same life that the listeners are. I tell my people, " I go to work at 6 am every morning just like you, If I can find time to do this so can you." Make no mistake, the bible says clearly that those preaching and teaching from the word have a right to expect financial compensation. There are many reason benefits for that and many difficulties and reason not to be bivocational. I just want to encourage my fellow pastors who may not have a choice that it can be a very fulfilling and rewarding way to go. Don't lose heart. .-= Sam´s last blog ..<a href="http://samdlewis.blogspot.com/2010/03/power-of-social-media.html" rel="nofollow">The Power of Social Media</a> =-. Great Topic. The fact is that 75% of pastors in America are bivocational, most not by choice but because most churches cannot afford to pay them. I am a pastor at saddleback church in California. They could afford it but I still pay my own salary. I have been a bivocational pastor for 36 years by choice. It has not always been easy but always rewarding. Someone mentioned in an earlier reply how it keeps us in the “real or normal” world. It is also powerful for displaying integrity. No one can accuse you of being after their money. It also gives freedom in teaching because you are living in the same life that the listeners are. I tell my people, ” I go to work at 6 am every morning just like you, If I can find time to do this so can you.” Make no mistake, the bible says clearly that those preaching and teaching from the word have a right to expect financial compensation. There are many reason benefits for that and many difficulties and reason not to be bivocational. I just want to encourage my fellow pastors who may not have a choice that it can be a very fulfilling and rewarding way to go. Don’t lose heart.
Sam´s last blog ..The Power of Social Media My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Perry http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8793 Perry Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:33:59 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-8793 Dave Ingland: I agree with you as you said..."Four years ago when people heard I felt called to plant a church and be bi-vocational I didn’t get a lot of respect and even my faith was criticized at times." Before our deaf church had hearing full time pastor, he moved to Chicago from BC, Canada, then I became interim pastor...took an year, not find any full time so I became former deaf bi-vocational baptist pastor....2 deaf leaders criticized my work, even I never gone to Bible College. It was hard on me that I had to manage my time for home and church. Result was division and also I was divorced. My exwife and I had bad experinced from that like church abuse. I know it was hard because not many have deaf churches and not many to keep fellowship with deaf/hearing pastors who work for deaf ministries....I know I had been alone. I understand that there are many hearing churches that can keep contacts. Pray that deaf christians will understand the different from full time pastors and bi vocational pastors. Dave Ingland: I agree with you as you said…”Four years ago when people heard I felt called to plant a church and be bi-vocational I didn’t get a lot of respect and even my faith was criticized at times.”
Before our deaf church had hearing full time pastor, he moved to Chicago from BC, Canada, then I became interim pastor…took an year, not find any full time so I became former deaf bi-vocational baptist pastor….2 deaf leaders criticized my work, even I never gone to Bible College. It was hard on me that I had to manage my time for home and church. Result was division and also I was divorced. My exwife and I had bad experinced from that like church abuse. I know it was hard because not many have deaf churches and not many to keep fellowship with deaf/hearing pastors who work for deaf ministries….I know I had been alone. I understand that there are many hearing churches that can keep contacts. Pray that deaf christians will understand the different from full time pastors and bi vocational pastors.

]]> By: Sam http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8274 Sam Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:24:20 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-8274 awesome posts.... not an easy life but rewarding. It can be easier though. Check out my blog for my story. http://bivocationalpastors.wordpress.com/ awesome posts…. not an easy life but rewarding. It can be easier though. Check out my blog for my story. http://bivocationalpastors.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Don http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-8080 Don Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:06:20 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-8080 Been doing ministry nearly 20 years as a bi vocational social worker and minister. We have two small but stable churches we have planted and a couple we a ramping up with in the Providence, RI area, bivocationalpastoradventures.blogspot.com and our web site will give you a sense of our experience if you are interested. God has blessed us with a rich and rewarding life, but it is not typical. Been doing ministry nearly 20 years as a bi vocational social worker and minister. We have two small but stable churches we have planted and a couple we a ramping up with in the Providence, RI area,

bivocationalpastoradventures.blogspot.com and our web site will give you a sense of our experience if you are interested.

God has blessed us with a rich and rewarding life, but it is not typical.

]]> By: Eddie Jacobs http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7840 Eddie Jacobs Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:47:59 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7840 I am a church planter and in bivocational ministry for 6 years. although it helped us financially 'thats the church', it just becomes to hard to do it, especially if you work on a 9-5 job. I firmly believe that the growth of the ministry is connected to the commitment we as pastor make. I am a church planter and in bivocational ministry for 6 years. although it helped us financially ‘thats the church’, it just becomes to hard to do it, especially if you work on a 9-5 job. I firmly believe that the growth of the ministry is connected to the commitment we as pastor make.

]]> By: JBaker http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7464 JBaker Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:05:38 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7464 It seems that most bivocational pastors start as pastors and then acquire an additional career. Are there many who start in another career and then become pastors as well? Do you know of any conservative seminaries that provide an abbreviated training program for the latter? It seems that most bivocational pastors start as pastors and then acquire an additional career.

Are there many who start in another career and then become pastors as well?

Do you know of any conservative seminaries that provide an abbreviated training program for the latter?

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7339 rhettsmith Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:11:38 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7339 Daniel, Wow! Sounds crazy busy, fun, etc. I respect your integrity in this process. Keep me updated as things come along. Daniel,

Wow! Sounds crazy busy, fun, etc. I respect your integrity in this process. Keep me updated as things come along.

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7338 rhettsmith Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:08:07 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7338 Daniel, Wow, 7 streams. Thanks for sharing. Seems like you have thought through this a lot and are doing well. Not sure what happened to the polls. Daniel,

Wow, 7 streams. Thanks for sharing. Seems like you have thought through this a lot and are doing well.

Not sure what happened to the polls.

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7337 rhettsmith Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:05:02 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7337 Jon, I love how you do ministry at HPPC. I think you strike an awesome balance. It's a pleasure working with you. Jon,

I love how you do ministry at HPPC. I think you strike an awesome balance. It's a pleasure working with you.

]]> By: rhettsmith http://rhettsmith.com/2009/04/20/bivocational-pastors-are-you-one/comment-page-1/#comment-7336 rhettsmith Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:04:22 +0000 http://rhettsmith.com/?p=2309#comment-7336 group leadership, collaboration...I agree. and I think it's a beautiful thing too. group leadership, collaboration…I agree. and I think it's a beautiful thing too.

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