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Ministry income can fluctuate from time to time and sometimes you might need to pick up some extra income. Today, we discuss several new opportunities to supplement your ministry income.
Episode Highlights:
- There are more opportunities than ever for pastors to make extra income when needed.
- Don’t see working a side gig in ministry as a step back. See it as an opportunity for gospel conversations.
- Side jobs offer good play and flexible hours for pastors and church staff who need to supplement their income.
- Bi-vocational and co-vocational church staff are blessed with gospel opportunities almost every day.
The six side jobs we discuss are:
- New economy delivery service (Uber Eats, Shipt, Postmates, Amazon Flex)
- Driving services (Uber, Lyft)
- Rent your own assets (Turo, Airbnb)
- App-based handyman or cleaner (Handy)
- Virtual assistant or bookkeeper (Belay)
- Survey taker (VIP Voice, Survey Junkie)
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchAnswers.com
- ChurchReplanters.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.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.
Great topic! I would like to expand its range a bit though. My wife and I have 4 boys and I have just graduated seminary this past December. I feel a burden for pastoral ministry through leading worship and want to be open to bivocational and even temporarily volunteer ministry in a church revitalization with a team from our church. However, all of my education (B.A. and M.Div.) are in ministry and all of my work experience is entry level manual labor aside from a few years I spent with a missions organization so finding a secular job to support a family of 6 is not the easiest.
Are there other job ideas you could suggest for someone who would rely on their secular job for 90-100% of their income? Thanks for any suggestions!
Tim –
It depends on where you live or will live. I am a regular Uber passenger, and I ask nosy questions of the drivers almost every time. I was in Houston and Orlando recently. My drivers work for both Lyft and Uber. One made $55,000 and the other made a little more. Keep in mind, they work in large cities, and they have no benefits as contract workers. But it is a possible starting point.
Thanks Thom!
I think our team would love to be near a larger city, but that will largely depend on what opportunities we find with churches looking for a team to help with revitalization. I had no idea that lyft or uber could make that much though!
Tim
I know a Financial Planner in North Carolina who has a bunch of associates on his team that are bivocational pastors.
Emergency services is also another possibility. It really becomes a two-fold opportunity for pastors as they can assist in their communities especially in small areas, volunteerism is down so most fire and EMS agencies pay per call or hourly depending on budgets etc, and in many cases the pastor can help or serve as a department chaplain which broadens not only the folks they minister to but emergency service personnel are different breeds of people and look at life a bit different so this would help make pastors more well rounded. As a matter of fact, I am retiring this year from a 30 year EMS career, was a late arrival in ministry but will pursue a part time staff job with local agencies which aids family income but also utilizes 30 years of work.
If interested reach out to your local community college and ask about fire and EMT classes that could help you get started. Chances are you may even have some members in church who are affiliated in some way.
Excellent advice, Jeff.
I delivered pizzas for a while and made about $15 an hour. The store provided the vehicle and gas, and I got to minister some folks in the kitchen who I never would have met otherwise. The fact that I ate pretty well was just a bonus!
One area to explore is substitute teaching. The hours are flexible, though not always consistent. Plus, being with that many kids forces you to connect with younger people!
My dad planted a church and started a carpet cleaning business at the same time. That was 27 years ago in which he is still senior pastor. Sold the cleaning business years ago for a nice profit to boot. Also if I could include another business option: I know several people who do very well earning a full time income selling on Amazon and Ebay.
In reference to side jobs for bi-vocational Pastors you can add the following jobs to the list: Para-Professional or Substitute teacher and work at UPS in the hub (full-time benefits at part-time hours and no weekends. These jobs allow you the flexibility to still perform ministry work.
Thanks, Jonathan.
I would love to see further discussion that considers the other job (besides the ministry position) not as a side job but as a co-career. I have found that developing a career in the business world (mortgage and real estate) has been immensely beneficial in my roles as a pastor. This is not to say it does not have its challenges. Yet, it has provided both a constant connection with the culture around me, provides a great reminder to what we are asking of our members when asking them to balance a career and serve with the church and finally has freed church monetary resources for other efforts beyond paying for my salary. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for the helpful info Thom. I really respect and admire your work.
I am a bivocational pastor, but I am looking to leave my full time secular work for something part time. I currently drive Lyft, but I am wondering if I need something a little more than what Lyft can provide.
What are your thoughts on pastors working part time as a real estate agent?
Thanks!
Sounds good to me. I would be careful, though, about taking church members as clients.