About Bi-vocational Ministry

 Before I get into this, there might be someone wondering, "What is bi-vocational ministry?" Good question and glad you asked. So, allow me to talk about bi-vocational ministry. Bi-vocational ministry is basically someone who works in the secular field full or part time and also holds a ministry position. The most common type of bi-vocational ministry is that of a pastoral type position. I'm not sure if it was just me or also the opinion of others, but it appeared that bi-vocational pastors were looked at as a lower caliber of minister. "He must not have what it takes to get staffed full time at a local church."

I can't say that was an across the board opinion but it seems I heard that here and there. I spent many years in bi-vocational ministry; I used to ask God why He never allowed me to be in a staffed full time position. I thought for many of those years that I was not good enough or I just didn't have what it took. But even as I might have thought those things, I worked as hard as the full time person in ministry. It was only after years of ministry that God showed me the benefits of bi-vocational ministry and why He had me there. 

As He had me look back on those years, I was then able to see how the Lord used me in those secular positions. In all the years of my career, I only spent three years staffed full time in ministry and it wasn't a church. It was an inner city rescue mission type ministry. And, I wasn't in a counselor or pastoral position. I was a facility manager and was responsible for the building maintenance regardless if I did it or hired a contractor. But even in this position, I was still in a type of bi-vocational ministry. While there, I was able to witness to contractors, teach after hours Bible studies and answer many questions during the day. It was like being in bi-vocational ministry while being employed by a ministry. During this time, I was also a Men's Pastor at a local church which was also a bi-vocational ministry.

As a bi-vocational minister/worker, God used me at the secular job site as a counselor, Chaplain, Bible teacher and Pastor. There were times when I was busier with ministry at the job site than I was in the church. At those times, I loved it; yes, I still was curious why I never was called to a full time church position but I never lost my love for the ministry at the secular job site. There were common questions about the Christian life from other believers and questions about salvation from unbelievers. I spent a lot of hours talking to men about their marriages or financial accountability, how to talk to their children about God and so many other topics. Discipleship was a big part of that ministry; just helping men who were still somewhat immature in their faith or men who had recently been saved was a blessing. Now, you're probably asking how I was able to do all this on the job. Well, I wasn't working in a factory or on an assembly line. I was working in an environment which had a lot of down time. It wasn't time in which we weren't being productive but time when we might have been in a type of wait mode. I don't want to go into the details of the job but I will say this was all legitimate and we weren't cheating the employer. God used that down time for His purpose and had me there for those reasons.

Many times, I was asked this question, "If you have a degree in Theology, why aren't you pastoring a church full time?" And, my response would always be, "Because I'm right where God wants me." Yes, I questioned God about why I wasn't staffed full time but I always knew He had me where He wanted me. (I wasn't asking in a complaining way but more of a curious way) This is what I was able to realize after all those years: God had me in a mission field of sorts. I was where the rubber meets the road as some might say. If a man is in a full time pastoral role, he will not be among as many unbelievers as a man who isn't. I was given an opportunity by the Lord to spend time among nonbelievers and talk with them about Jesus. I never forced anyone to listen but God always opened a door. 

Sometimes, it might be a person I was familiar with and other times it would be someone I didn't know. I taught Bible studies and invited anyone and everyone to attend (these were done during the lunch hour). There is a great advantage to being bi-vocational; it will keep you busy for sure. There are pastors who prefer bi-vocational ministry. It's not for the extra money but for the reasons I have already stated. Some will work full time and some part time in a secular position and refuse a salary from the church or take a reduced salary. 

If you read about the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys, you will see that he was bi-vocational. He didn't want to burden those he was ministering to with the responsibility of trying to provide for him. That made perfect sense; he wanted them to concentrate on one thing and that was Jesus. So, if it is possible for a pastor to do that now, it can be a big advantage. 

Now, there are those situations when a pastor or any pastor in the local church will not be able to do this. If a local church is a large church, it might not be wise to attempt this. The day to day business of a large church could possibly demand full time attention of pastors. Also, the church board might not permit this. The other side of this topic is a pastor should be provided for by the church when possible. There are many local churches in this country which are small and cannot afford to pay a pastor a full time salary or any salary. In these cases, the pastor is forced to work a secular job to provide for his needs. But the pastor realizes this when he accepts the position or he should.   

I did some church planting and as a church planting pastor I knew I would have to find secular employment. But I was used to this type of ministry. The worst thing a pastor or Christian worker can do is accept a position which would require that person to support themselves in a secular job and then regret it. When I was involved in a church plant, I had to work a couple of jobs that were terrible but I knew the Lord had me there and was working in ways I couldn't immediately see.

The world doesn't really understand bi-vocational ministry; as far as that goes, many Christians don't understand it. The world has a stereotype of a pastor's job as working one day a week, Sunday. They don't understand everything a pastor really does. They don't understand that a pastor might put in ten to twelve hours on a given day. They don't understand the emotional and spiritual strain a Sunday can have on a pastor. Many Christians don't know or understand these things!

They is no shame in working as a bi-vocational pastor for the Lord. I have always believed that God has us right where He wants us, doing what He wants us to do. Of course, I'm referring to the Christian who is in step with Jesus and not in a rebellious state. He knows who He can put to work in a full time position and who He can't. He knows who He can use in bi-vocational ministry and who He can't. No one should ever be ashamed or embarrassed by being in bi-vocational ministry. That is worldly type thinking and we should never allow the world to influence us.

If you are a pastor or Christian worker who is bi-vocational, God has you right where He wants you and you should take advantage of it. If your pastor is bi-vocational, don't think of him as less than a full time pastor and support him in whatever way you can. There is a place in the Church for bi-vocational minsters and they work every bit as hard as those in full time positions and are probably reaching more people on a weekly basis.

-Bill Petite

A Christian Controversy

While watching video of the mob, which stormed the nation's capitol on January 6th, I noticed a man with a Jesus flag. At first, I was a little surprised but then I wasn't. Donald Trump has had quite a Christian following during his presidency. He has had a gathering of religious leaders around him at various times and some others have been very outspoken concerning him, and the circumstances he has found himself in. But this has created a Christian controversy within the Church.

 I'll be the first to admit Trump has done some great things for this country during his time in office and he also has been attacked and investigated more than any other president. But none of that makes him a saint or a martyr. He has his issues and many times has acted like a ten year old spoiled brat. Did he incite the mob? Did he cause the attack on the nation's capitol? Well, if you listen to the national news media, he did and he is the brother of Satan.

The Church has been divided over this man during his entire time in office. And, following the mob attack on the capitol and the recent impeachment (a second time), there is a stronger division in the Church. For example, here's a quote from Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention, 

“The sight of ‘Jesus Saves’ and ‘God Bless America’ signs by those violently storming the Capitol,” he said, presented to the world “a picture of Jesus Christ and of his gospel that is satanic.”

That's one opinion, a very strong one. Another, an opposite view, was by Franklin Graham who said in a Facebook post that those Republicans who voted for Trump's impeachment, the most recent impeachment, were like Judas taking the 30 pieces of silver. He also mused about what Nancy Pelosi might have promised them in return. Now, that's not an exact quote but it is basically what he posted. I would suggest the Speaker promised them nothing and they voted yes to protect their seat the next time around.

Allow me to add another which I have to strongly agree with.

People are dying without Jesus, and the church is debating other issues. It’s time for us to wake up and remember that the gospel is more important than anything. The gospel is more important than our preferences. It’s more important than our politics. It’s more important than anything else. The gospel is our message to our culture.  -Greg Laurie

And, those opinions sum up the controversy that lies within the Church concerning this one man, Donald Trump. I remember back in the 1980s when I was still young in my Christian maturity; I would engage in conversation with other Christians, who were at the same level of Christian maturity as me, and we would always wonder how would people so easily be deceived into following the antichrist? Considering what we have seen in most recent times, it's easy to answer that question now. Regardless of whether you like Trump or not or if you're a devout Republican or Democrat, it's easy to see the sharp divide and the strong dedication.

I have always believed that one of the biggest problems in the Church is Christians don't read their Bible. A Christian cannot know what God would have us do or not do if we don't know what His word tells us. This is a major problem among Christians. So, when you see a person in the mob at the Capitol with a Jesus flag or one that says Jesus Saves, what do you say to them? Do you say anything to them? This, of course, is hypothetical. So, if you could approach this person, what would you say or ask? I believe starting a conversation with the person is important. We don't know the person so we gently begin the conversation with a question. Maybe we ask if they believe Jesus would actually be involved in an assault on our nation's Capitol and if the answer is yes, then why. 

Of course, the account of Jesus in the Temple will be mentioned, maybe as a response to the question. But this is a great opportunity to explain why Jesus did what He did in the Temple and the difference between that and this act of civil disobedience. Maybe the question of where and when did Jesus attack the Roman government could be asked. When did Jesus storm the steps of Pilot's headquarters and attempt to overthrow the Roman government? There is a big difference; Jesus didn't come the first time to overthrow governments, He came to save us from our sin. The Apostle Paul stood before Caesar and told him about Jesus but he never attempted to start a revolt or a revolution. Even if the person doesn't want to discuss anything with you, at least you made the attempt. I was told by another Christian not to even waste my time attempting to talk to someone like this. Like what? We have the great commission to make disciples of of all the nations of the world (MT 28:18-20) and that includes a possibly deceived person in the midst of a mob with a Jesus flag.

So, on which side to you find yourself? Or are you not on a side of this worldly debate and divide? I like what happened to Joshua before he led Israel against Jericho.

When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Joshua 5:13-14

Should Christians have a worldview?  Yes, they should. Should they place their allegiance to this worldview above their following of Jesus? No. Going back to the Bible, I believe as we read and study God's word, we learn and understand where everything, including our views, opinions and Jesus rank in our lives. Jesus is always first, always. And, when we get that mixed up and out of order, we run the risk of big trouble. 

This worldly divide and worldly situation of who is right and who is wrong or following a person to the bitter end is a big controversy in the Church today. There is a simple solution; Jesus is our Lord and savior. He died for our sin on a rugged cross which was a brutal death. But the grave couldn't hold Him and He rose and lives today and has made eternal life available to us. For the person who has Jesus as their savior and stops to seriously consider what He has done for us, how can any man or person ever come before Him in our lives?

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.   PS 118:9  

 

-Bill Petite