Thoughts from a bivocational church planter

Okay. So I’m going to rant for a few minutes. It may be scattered, but I want you to truly understand what bivocational church planters are thinking.

We feel called.

I’m an intentional bivocational church planter. I believe God has called me to be bivocational. And this isn’t a temporary thing. I’m planning on staying bivocational. I don’t want to ever take a salary from the church. If the church is a community of believers who keep everything in common, shouldn’t they also share the leadership responsibilities of the church?

I’ve posted on why I’m bivocational. I have been asked, “How can you balance your job and ministry?” To which I responded, “My job and my ministry are the same thing.” I can’t compartmentalize my life between work and church, between secular and Christian. My entire life is to be a life of service to Christ, right?

Bivocational is a true calling. Church planting networks and denominations need to recognize it and support it.

We are modeling what we want our church members to do.

Some pastors expect their members to work full time but also volunteer full time. But most “full-time” pastors don’t really know what it is to work a full time job AND commit hours upon hours to church. If they do, it’s because they used to be bivocational. I am not saying that pastoring is not a real job. What I am saying is that laymen and laywomen (regular Christians) are sometimes asked–expected–to be at three church services a week, serve on a committee, and attend a small group, while at the same time working 40-60 hours a week.

In my experience, the fact that I am working a regular job adds instant validation to my ministry. People are much more interested in what I have to say when they see that I am like them. And those same people will step up and volunteer because that’s what they see me doing. I’ve been a paid church employee. And when you are, people expect you to do it. And with good reason! But if I’m not getting paid, and I’m still busting my butt for Jesus, others will likely step up and do the same thing.

We feel like the black sheep of church planters.

This is how we feel. Trust me. We’ve all been looked down on by other church planters or networks. We’ve all been told by someone that it’s not the best approach. I’ve even heard church planting gurus who you would know make jokes that bivocational ministry isn’t real ministry. And to top it off, there are no church planting conferences for bivocational ministry. I don’t even know that I’ve ever seen a bivocational track at a church planting conference. But it’s probably because we can’t go because they are in the middle of the work week. I’m not bitter or angry about it. This is just how it is.

Let’s face it: Most church planting networks shun being bivocational as a valid method because it doesn’t fit with the idea of a big launch with hundreds of people. That needs to change.

The bottom line: The isolation of bivocational church planting is magnified by the lack of support and resources from other church planters.

We are thankful for those who support us.

I am thankful for David Potete, Casey Cariker, Randy Wilson, Josh Taylor, Jason Taylor, and men in the Illinois Free Will Baptist Home Missions who continually offer support and encouragement. These guys are all full time guys who believe in us and what God has called us to. I am truly blessed to have them in my life. All bivo guys have people like them in their life. Know that you are appreciated.

I’ve opened myself up in this post. This is a raw and honest look at how bivocational church planters feel. Did it hit home? Does it ring true for you bivo guys or does it sound like sour grapes to you full-timers?

4 suggestions for worship leaders

I am critical by nature. Guilty as charged.  I’m (still) learning that most of the things I’m critical about are just my preference.  This post is one such example.

http://extraordinarylivingbydrscotty.blogspot.com/2012/01/worship-leader-or-lead-musician.html

Let’s talk about worship. My first thoughts are that worship will look different in many churches, and I personally think that’s okay. As long as Jesus is exalted, I’m cool. But there are some things about worship that drive me nuts and should be addressed (please note that these are not about any specific church I’ve attended). So here are 4 suggestions for worship leaders from a non-worship leader.

1. Be professional. As pastors challenge their members to use their gifts for God, please do the same. God has gifted you to lead worship. Make sure it is done well. This includes chords, lighting, tuning, timing, etc. When I’m at church, I shouldn’t be thinking, “Did they even practice this week?”

2. Check your levels. I’m okay with loud music. But I personally don’t think it should be so loud that it drowns out the audience. We worship together to glorify God but also to edify each other. Edification will be greatest when I can hear others (and myself!). And whatever the volume, all the worship team should be leveled with each other. In other words, the alto should not be louder than the lead.

3. Plan and practice transitions. When you pick out music, you should keep in mind how you will get to the next song. Does it require a chord progression? Will you talk in between? Any Bible verses or prayers? Plan it all. If you plan your transitions, not only does it keep the service flowing, but it also keeps you from talking too much. I’m not sure what it is, but sometimes worship leaders (with all good intentions) start talking between songs (while the audience is standing) and 8 minutes later no one is listening to you because they’re too busy rubbing out a cramp in their leg.

4. Stop performing. I don’t think very many worship leaders think they’re performing, but test yourself with this: If you’re singing and the audience isn’t, you may have crossed the line from leading worship to performance. This would include a run on a chorus that varies from how you normally sing it. It also includes singing so high that you would bring down the Crystal Cathedral. You may think you’re leading worship, but it just comes across as showing off. So listen while you lead. If no one else is singing, there’s a problem.

Of course, they may have passed out from standing so long, but I digress.

 

Immigration and Missions

I see a lot of Christians post things about immigration. I haven’t seen very many that are biblical.

Through the lens of the gospel, one understands that throughout history, God has used immigration to make sure people hear the gospel.

I remember hearing about the four types of missions in college from my professor, former missionary, and current pastor, Tom McCullough. I don’t remember where he got it, but the four types were voluntary going, voluntary coming, involuntary going, and involuntary coming.

Voluntary Going – This is what Christians normally think of when we think of missions. Someone answers the call to take the gospel, they prepare themselves, and they pack up their life and go. The Apostle Paul is the key biblical example of this.

Voluntary Coming – This may be the rarest form of missions. This is when people understand that they need to hear about Jesus, so they make their way to find someone who can tell them.

Involuntary Going – There are sometimes in the Bible when believers refused to go and God made them. Jonah comes to mind. This was also a result of the dispersion of the Jewish people. God told them to tell the nations. They didn’t, and God put them in a position where they had to go.

Involuntary Coming – This is when people are displaced from their home and end up in a place where believers can share the gospel with them. I’m not sure that the reason they are displaced is for the sake of the gospel as much as it is God working out his story. Either way, in this situation, God’s people are not going to the nations, so God is bringing the nations to them.

I think that American Christians are in a time of involuntary coming. Millions of people are coming to us. But our response hasn’t necessarily been to give them the gospel. Some responses hint that these immigrants should go back. Some responses say that explicitly.

Be careful with your stand on immigration. I’ve read lots of comments online recently, and I must say that views about immigration laws can sometimes come across as hateful comments toward immigrants. Remember that God wants us to make disciples of all people groups, regardless of how they got here.