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Bivocational pastors often face unique issues related to church revitalization—especially when it comes to time. Today, we discuss how to prioritize the small amount of time bivocational pastors have.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM DOUG
I am a bivocational pastor replanting a church that has about 50 people. I work full time outside of my responsibilities there and am only able to give about 15 hours to the church ministry. With that in mind what is the best way to spend those 15 hours? What’s the priority in my time management? Thanks and keep up the good podcast!
Episode Highlights:
- Bivocational pastors need to know what kind of bandwidth they have to devote to the church.
- There are great sermon helps out there. Use them—but don’t plagiarize them.
- Tactical patience means knowing what to do when and waiting until the time is right to make changes.
- One of the marks of success in ministry is a pattern of making disciples who make disciples.
The six priorities that we discuss are:
- Focus on equipping others
- Focus on sermon preparation
- Have tactical patience
- Communicate clearly your time limitations
- Use groups to do ministry
- Stay connected with other pastors
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
A terrific podcast, Being 13 yrs into exclusively bi-vocational work I can relate to your topics and discussions. May exercise liberty and make a few comments?
Item 1. Equipping others is a necessity, however my experience’s have very, very few people willing to be equipped in the bi-vo church. Use what you have and develop it for the greatest impact.
Item 2. Sermon prep. my greatest discovery has been book studies. I have found preaching through a book on Sunday morning and teaching through books during evening services work well. I know my next text and by reading the entire book first I have a deep context. Finding subjects of study like the Sermon on the Mount also work well for me.
Item 4. Communicating time limitation is necessary but I find most times the congregation could care less. They have you for (X) amount of time and they want all of you for that time. A few really get it and given a steady discussion in deacon meetings and inclusion from the pulpit most refuse to give consideration to my pastorate and time limitation. I hear this “you have time for family, job and home we expect it too.”
Item 5. Connects directly to item 1, and too often folks want to be served and have no real conviction to serve others. Again, my experiences, maybe its the location of my ministry and not the norm.
I don’t wish to rain on anyone’s parade but small bi-vocational churches are usually that way for a reason. Often for the wrong reason. A small group of people expecting the pastor to carry the group. I have found light though. As the younger families have grown through my ministry they are now very slowly stepping up and beginning to take some responsibility. I can work with that. Progress is slow, sometimes at a snails pace but any movement in the right direction is good movement. Thanks for the podcast and the encouragement it brings.
Terry –
This feedback is great! I may use it on a future podcast. If I do, I will certainly give you proper attribution.
It has been tough being a bivoc.Early in the morning is the worst. Most times church work is left for me to do because even the volunteers all head to their jobs.Trying to handle that whilst having my personal preparation to my secular work is terrible.
One advantage of being a bivoc is that,I am able to bring experiences at the corporate world into my work as a pastor.