I would love to get a copy of the guide to effective and healthy bivocational ministry. I’m an all-volunteer guy right now, but I am interested in the model. Thanks!

Curtis Marshall

And the 9-5 quiet time thing was meant to be more about perception of some in churches than reality. Sorry if it came across as something else in the summary above. There are many full time pastors who work hard for 80 hours/week with little thanks, support or appreciation. I think that also speaks into our need for new models.

Adam – Yes! Yes! Yes! We can’t do it alone, and we’re going to be more effective the more people get involved and use their gifts.

Thanks for all the continuing input and conversation on this. I’m still learning on this, and it’s not always easy, but it’s a fun journey….

But bi-vocational teams can bring a group of people together around a shared purpose focused on the gifts that each has. It is also rare that they all will have life or work issues at the same time and can take up the slack from one another temporarily.

This mindset might be good for someone wanting to have a small church, but a growing church continues to demand time, resources and people. I look forward to the day I have a full staff whose goal is to further the work of the ministry and touch the lives of people.

I must say that I do agree wholeheartedly with the money drain statement. I believe in multiple streams of income and have begung to model that to my church. Pauls was a tent maker, but he traveled full-time for most of his ministry, so he had a stream of income that did not take his time and attention off of his ministry.

Justin – Yes! What I love about bivocational approaches is that they open the door for various models. I’m working with a more “traditional” model of church right now, but eventually hope to work with and support more of a house church network. That’s where a lot of this thinking comes from. We must have other ways to support different styles.

Jim – I’m sorry to hear it. I know there’s a fine line between an opportunity and a challenge. I don’t think it’s for everyone, and I believe it requires the right kind of job. I know for me, it’s not as easy as full-time ministry, but the belief it’s where I’m supposed to be pushes me on. Plus, like I mentioned in one post – this is the type of life everyone in the congregation lives – following God and using time to serve him while working another job. I do think it works best with a scaled down ministry model. It’s very hard to be a bivocational pastor in a traditional “full time” role of preaching, leading, etc. I think it’s healthy when we can build teams and lead/serve together (like thought #6)

Jared – I completely agree about the compatibility piece. It takes the right kind of job.

Micaiah – I think I’ll have to lean on the piece I mentioned that this isn’t for everyone. I actually think a lot about that idea of focus (It’s going to be my next blog post, I think). It’s best to focus in and do one thing. But one thing may not mean one job, but one focus. It’s important to focus in on our gifts and passions, but I know the gifts and passions I have are being used both at my job and in my ministry. They feed each other.