Why I'm Going Bi-Vocational

One of our daily prayer requests this week is about developing a bi-vocational DNA within the plant, especially amongst the leaders. You may or may not be familiar with the concept of bi-vocational ministry, so I would like to share briefly why we (mainly me) are transitioning from full-time paid ministry to bi-vocational, part-time paid ministry. While there are a plethora of reasons why we are making this shift, here are the 3 primary ones:

1. Mission - For me to set the tone for taking the Good News of Jesus to those living in darkness, I need to put myself in positions where I am constantly developing relationships with those who are in such a condition. While it is true and Biblical that those who provide the Gospel have the right to make their living off the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14), it is also true that in 2014 America, especially in an urban environment, church leaders ought to consider imitating Paul and forfeiting that right for the advancement of the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 9:18).
2. Leadership Development - In our planting strategy, we take VERY seriously 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11-12. In order to better understand and equip our Gospel Community leaders, I feel it advantageous to live a life that is more similar to theirs - one where discipleship and community activity take place in the midst of daily jobs and family life.
3. Finances - This is intentionally listed last because it is far from our primary reason for shifting to bi-vocationalism. In fact, through you and many others, God has been incredibly generous to the plant - so much so that we will likely end our first fiscal year with a $40K-$50K surplus. However, it is evident that due to a wide variety of factors (style of plant, cultural shifts, economic shifts, etc.), we need to leverage ourselves now for fiscal longevity (Proverbs 6:6-11). With this move, we will be able to do more with a smaller 2014-15 budget. In my humble opinion, I would make the argument that even established churches, many of which are struggling to stay afloat, should consider taking seriously the bi-vocational route.

If you would like to learn more about bi-vocational ministry, I HIGHLY recommend reading through a book called Bivo by Hugh Halter. If you have further questions or concerns about our transition, please don't hesitate to email me.

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