bivocational pastors:

In addition to Pastoring the church, I have two different side jobs that help "ease" the budget.

1. I build storage buildings (8X12 & 10X12) for a local lumberyard. They pay me by the building not by the hour. I usually take my 14 year-old son with me and count it as a HS credit for building trades.

2. In the winter I referee HS basketball. It is something I enjoy and it keeps me involved in the game now that I'm too old to play. I played in HS and college then coached HS for 7 years. This is a great way to earn extra money and still be a part of the game.

 

I sell cars, actually i'm the finance manager for an independant dealer. It' has provided a good living for my family while we wait upon the Lord. Also, I find myself applying many of the things i've learned in sales to the ministry. Not trickery, but how to present something in the most positive light!!

Changed like Saul,

Elder Chris Folsom

www.pbsermons.org

 

My parents chose ministry and I chose architecture, so I took both. For most of my ministry, my parishes were self supporting, but one church could not afford a pastor. We both thought God was leading me there. There was development underway, so I did architectural work on the side, which paid far more than any pastorate could afford, but seemed of God. Once I left there, I resumed full time ministry and never had to do other than recreational architectural work.
I am not averse to a minister working out. The PB's have no paid ministry and they do just fine.

Jim

 

I did do a morning paper route for a couple of years, but for the most part, I have always been fully supported. As the director of our state fellowship, I see many of our bivocational pastors struggling. We have about 20% of the 100 pastors in our group which are bivoc. I try to encourage those congregations to bring their pastor to full support as soon as possible.

 

We see the same thing here on the West Coast. There are 5 churches here that are just getting started, with bivocational pastors. I am preparing two church planting missionaries to go out and plant new churches, and 3 of the five churches have contacted me regarding taking them on for support. I told them that the first missionary they should support is their pastor, then think about supporting other church planters.