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?

What would it really be like to move to Chicago? (infographic)

Church plant update

“So what’s going on with the church plant?” you may ask.

I’m glad you asked. Let me fill you in on all the major points.

1. Redemption Church. You’ve probably heard, but this is the name of the church.

2. Branding. We had a great guy help with the website, logo, and branding. We want to have a strong online presence so that when people hear about us, they will have no problems looking us up to find out what we believe and where we are meeting.

3. First meeting. Our first informational meeting (with a short Bible study to introduce God’s plan of redemption) will be March 3. These are the front and back of the information cards.

4. Neighborhood inundation. During the months of February, March, and April, we want to inundate our neighborhood with our name. This is purely to get people to recognize us. Later on, before we have our first service, we’ll have focused days of compassion for our neighbors. But for this month, we want 25% of the people in our neighborhood to have heard our name. Our estimated population (within 2 square miles) is 40,000. So we want to work to get 10,000 people to have heard and recognize our name. We are currently ordering the information cards and getting a promotional video produced. We will also use FB ads, and ask for local business to help us display posters and have extra information cards. I’ve found that many businesses (like the restaurant where we will be meeting) are more than happy to help if they believe we are there to help the community flourish.

By the way, if you would like to help with ideas for this, or if you would like to sponsor an idea, please let me know.

5. Personal contacts. The neighborhood inundation is nice, but it won’t replace personal contacts that we have made and continue to make. Pray that God will extend his grace to these, that the Holy Spirit will move, and that they will choose to explore God’s redemption plan.