Back to Bi-vocational
I’m back where I started. 25 years ago when I started pastoring I was bi-vocational. which means I held a full time job and I pastored a church. Roughly 38% of pastors in the U.S. are bi-vocational. Many people call this part-time pastoring but if you know pastors and ministry like I do you would know that there is no such thing as part-time. Yes I may not be physically in a church office but I’m constantly working on things for the church or my upcoming sermon.
The Apostle Paul was a bi-vocational guy; For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:9. Paul was a tentmaker by trade and he did not want to be a burden to the new churches that he was setting up, so he had a trade to obtain his working capital. Being bi-vocational has some draw backs (time) but has some distinct advantages. One of the problems for full time pastors is that they work around all Christians. They struggle to have any unchurched friends because they are constantly at the church. Now that I’m working in the “real” world I’m around people who have many different opinions about church. I work with one lady who is Catholic and she calls herself a “cafeteria” Catholic. She picks and chooses which of the church practices she follows( like confession for one). Another lady doesn’t do the church thing and sees no need for it. Others attend different churches and have different convictions. It all makes for great conversation.
The other day at work a few of ladies told me they were worried when I got hired because they knew I was a pastor. They thought I would judge them for the occasional swear word or give disapproving glances to things they said. I told them that I was not their judge only Jesus is. They told me I was “all right” and “good people.” What Paul knew about being a pastor in the work place is that it it gives you the opportunity to minister at a whole different level. I’ve been able to pray with a few clients over the phone, been able to sit and listen as a co-worker poured out her heart about a home issue. All these opportunities and relationships give me a chance to invite them to church and to hear the good news of Jesus. That’s what it’s about the opportunity. Paul said we must make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.(Ephesians 5:16)
Yesterday I was asked how I could be prayed for. In this season I’m in this is what you can pray for me; Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20
