Church Planting and Being Strategically Bi-vocational

Church Planting and Being Strategically Bi-vocational

According to the most recent NAMB statistics the average SBC church averages 80 people in attendance for their worship service. Only 67% of SBC church plants make it to year four and the trailing off from there is something which requires further study. The average attendance for these plants nationwide and crossing denominations is 40-80. The large majority of SBC churches cannot afford a pastor who will be paid a sufficient household income. This is most especially true in church plants. Many are realizing the value of being strategically bi-vocational. Thom Ranier recently wrote a wonderful article about the “Market-Place Minister” here http://thomrainer.com/2016/01/eight-characteristics-of-the-new-bivocational-pastor/.  I served in a similar capacity for 10 years working as a contractor while pastoring a new church plant. Recently I met with a few of our current church planters and we came up with a few ideas that will hopefully be a helpful contribution to this most important discussion.

1.     Diversify Your Vocational Training – Learn a trade. Be qualified in an occupation that will allow you to take care of your family. Don’t put all your eggs in one educational basket. If you gain degrees, consider one that will help you in your strategic employment.

2.     Live and Work in Your Community – It is nearly impossible to effectively pastor a church in a community where you don’t know the people of the community. As you work among the local people there will be the most natural occurrence for gospel engagements.

3.     Be a Leader in Your Community - Live with your people, its what a shepherd does. Interact at the café, with the Chamber, be present at funerals, the local ISD events. As you interact with the community people will ask you for prayer and they will see the love of Jesus working through you. Become the pastor in and of your community.

4.     Have a Long-View of Your Tenure – Stay. Don’t Leave. Be patient and persistent and establish the trust that comes when a pastor is seen as a force for stability in the community. Plant your life in your town/city and do whatever is necessary vocationally to stay there.

5.     Let’s Increase our Cooperative Efforts for Support – Our Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is placing a great emphasis on church planting. Our North Texas Baptist Association is seeing God raise up new church starts in tremendous numbers. These efforts are great and we need more. As we give more and work together for this great goal we will see more churches started for the glory of God.

6.     Avoid the Sacred/Secular Divide – Paul made tents. All things are to be done for the glory of God. Whatever you do is to be done to the Lord. We have been living in an historically small bubble of prosperity that has allowed many people to have sufficient incomes from church-related jobs. This has not been the case for most Christians in history. It is not the case for most Christians around the world today. It is not even as realistic as most of us think in our culture today. Even most churches that are “full-time” require additional household income to support a family. Work hard for the glory of God. Take care of your family. Preach the gospel. Make disciples.

So much more can and will be said in this great discussion. Rainer’s article is a must-read. Some of the greatest pastors I know are pastoring some of the smallest churches both here and in other countries. May you be encouraged as you faithfully serve Christ and enjoy His faithfulness in your service!