Thriving In Bi-Vocational Ministry

I have worked two or more jobs since I got into vocational ministry. Some of that time, my church was paying me barely above minimum wage. Some of that time, I was part-time, and some of that time, I was on a full-time salary. But no matter the situation, I found that I had to have additional income to take care of my family. So, for those of you who may find themselves in that grind of a bi-vocational ministry context, here are two quick tips and encouragements to help you.

Boundaries Matter

Since we know the importance and impact of youth ministry and want to see the gospel be known, it can be hard to set boundaries for how many hours we give our church. I am personally really bad about this. However, I have learned that boundaries are a must for my health and longevity.

This is going to sound harsh. But if you are part-time, work part-time hours. It isn’t fair for you to be in the office or working youth events that add up to 40 hours a week when you have part-time pay. You need time to rest, time for your other job, and time for your family. I used to assume that people would think I looked lazy if I didn’t work more. It wasn’t long before I realized that wasn’t a fair expectation I had of myself. So, be okay with knowing that your part-time schedule looks different from the full-time staff’s schedule. There might be times every now and then when you should put in more hours, but if you’re only part-time and find yourself complaining about working too much, maybe you can reevaluate how much time you’re putting into certain parts of your jobs.

If you have a full-time salary but still need a second job, I’d encourage you to protect your evenings and weekends. Of course, youth ministry is not a typical Monday through Friday 9-5 job type job. You probably have student services every Wednesday night, annual camps and mission trips, and church-wide events on certain weekends. That is just part of it. But you still need to set boundaries. If you need a second job to help your family, don’t plan a fun student event every Friday night. The ministry will be okay, I promise. If you feel the church is adding a lot of church-wide meetings and events to your calendar beyond what should be standard, you have to be okay with speaking up. That’s also why I can’t stress the importance of not doing ministry alone. You’ve got to have a team around you to help carry the weight of the ministry. If the entire ministry makes or breaks with your presence, you need to look to find support from other adults.

I have had to tell my boss that I had to miss church-wide meetings or events because too many piled up in the same month, and it was too much. Of course, you need to use discernment and be tactful in going about this. But I think that if your pastor knows you need another job for your family, he should understand how you protect your time.

Keep Communication With Your Pastor Honest And Consistent

For some reason, money and salary can be such an awkward topic in churches. Trust me, I would know. I got in trouble for asking (yes, just asking) for a raise at one of the churches I worked at.

I think that having a solid relationship with your pastor, where you are honest about things, helps a lot in this area. This doesn’t mean you bring money up in every conversation. And it doesn’t mean you need to come to him in an angry or complaining way. But I think you should have the kind of relationship where you can say, “Things are tight, and I have been working hard in my other jobs to provide enough for my family. Do you think there is room for a raise soon?” Of course, this kind of conversation looks different in every context. But the hope is that you should have a relationship with your pastor that is safe enough to have conversations like this.

The same rule applies to communicating when you feel you are working too many hours or need some flexibility. I remember a summer that I was out of town for 20 nights for church events. That was a lot of nights for my wife to put the kids to bed alone. We were all exhausted. Thankfully, my pastor was great and understanding, and he and I had consistent and honest communication. He was cool about me taking some rest time and making sure I “made up” some family time I missed out on that summer. If you are a hard worker and maintain honest and consistent communication with your pastor, you have a good chance of getting the break when you really need it.

Again, I know being bi-vocational is a grind. There are so many different situations out there, and I know yours is unique. But be encouraged today to set yourself up for a healthy and life-giving career by setting boundaries and communicating honestly. But the work matters. It’s a calling, and it’s making a difference in your community!

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

1. How well are you setting boundaries in your ministry and second job, and what changes might be necessary to protect your time, health, and family?
2. How can you foster honest and consistent communication with your pastor about your workload and financial needs while maintaining a spirit of humility and teamwork?