BIVOCATIONAL

Reimagining Bivocational Ministry

– My journey into ministry began unexpectedly. As an undergraduate at UCLA, I volunteered at my childhood church, leading youth groups and organizing events. During a beach camping trip with the teenagers, a moment of clarity struck me. Sitting by the campfire, listening to the laughter of the youth, a worship song echoing in the distance, I felt a profound sense of peace and purpose. This, I realized, was my calling.

However, the path of ministry was not paved with financial security. The adage “You don’t get into ministry for the money” proved truer than I ever imagined. After seminary, the financial strain intensified. Instead of increasing with experience, my income dwindled, forcing me to juggle a myriad of side hustles – handyman, janitor, Uber driver, mover, website designer, and more. I was determined to keep my passion for ministry alive, but the constant struggle for financial stability took its toll. Exhausted and stretched thin, I was eventually asked to resign from my church. The pastor’s assessment was that my heart wasn’t in it anymore, a painful misjudgment of a man simply trying to make ends meet.

This experience revealed a fundamental flaw in the current model of bivocational ministry. It’s a grueling system that pits ministry against work, leaving pastors feeling drained and disillusioned. The constant need to generate income often overshadows the passion for serving the church. But what if there was a better way? What if ministry and occupation could coexist harmoniously, each complementing the other?

I’m not offering a get-rich-quick scheme or a path to corporate success. Instead, I propose a reimagined approach to bivocational ministry, one that prioritizes balance and sustainability. Through my own journey as a missionary, church planter, and youth pastor, I’ve learned valuable lessons, often the hard way. Now, as a business owner with greater financial security, my heart still yearns to serve the church.

This blog is dedicated to sharing those lessons and helping fellow pastors discover fulfilling and financially sustainable paths. There are ways to make money in the margins, to integrate your passion for ministry with income-generating activities. Let’s explore these possibilities together and create a new model for bivocational ministry, one that fosters both spiritual fulfillment and financial well-being.