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As many of you know, I seemed to fall off of the map several months ago. Ministry is an interesting thing to step up to...be it pulpit or home-based. I heard some time back a person say that the responsibilities of the those who lead the church are no greater or different than those who are in it....I couldn't agree at all to that. The Bible makes clear that those who accept leadership within the church have a huge responsiblity before God...and that they will be held to a higher level of accountability. And that they are to be prayed for constantly b/c of the stresses both physical and supernatural they must endure.
Anyways, in accepting this position I could not have even imagined what we would be dealing with. Most of you knew that some time past my daughter was hospitalized and almost lost her life...but it happened again since we have been here...we were given a grave future for her...but the Lord pulled us through. My wife also was rushed in for emergency surgery under severe conditions...the enemy wages a war with no geneva code or anything.
Recently, we had to go bivacational in our ministry...which does not mean less ministry, just more work...I am back in the contracting world. Everyday I have to remind myself that I am committed to God...not comfort. As pushed as I feel...there are some awesome advantages to being bivocational...which I have been my whole ministry "career" until I took this position.
Many people in my line of work feel ostracized from congregational Christians b/c no matter how much they can clean themselves up, the effects of the job are permanently obvious in their appearance and mannerisms. As the mainstream church continues its recent trend of preaching (prosperity vs poverty...social norms as biblical laws...) it further distances itself from those who could never fall in the image they seem to portray...that is where I get to come in...and people like me.
Those of us who have to "endure" being bivocational...be it in the office somewhere or out in the field...have two choices.
1st: Complain about all of the extra work that must be done and how the church has failed to support you and become hardened...or...
2nd: Remember that it is God who controls every step we take and see this as an opportuntity to stay in contact with those who you are desiring to reach anyways.
I may get booed for this but I don't see much true success in ministries that allow the pulpit to be a dividing line between the ministry and those they are trying to minister to. (Not saying at all that full time ministry is not right or effective). It seems to me that when we have to have meetings and set up a calendar date to mandate a day that we will go out into the world during office hours to reach the world...that seems slightly superficial and in the reality of the supernatural...completely worthless.
If you, like me, are bivocational and are battling with balancing all of the responsibilities of both worlds...be comforted. Fulltime ministry seems like an awesome idea but in truth...it can be very confining. Your light will never shine brighter than when you allow yourself to be in the world but not of it.
I love it. Be encouraged. Always remember:
Proverbs 16:9 In a man's heart he plans the way he will go, but the Lord directs his steps. |
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| Direct Lord, direct. Thanks Patrick. And yes, stay in contact please. |
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| Mike I will definitely try...if I am silent, it is b/c my world is running too fast and of the time I have, my wife and children get 1st priority...still I love and have missed the "fellership" |
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I like that word, BiVocational bro P. I think all Christians should be BV. Even Paul had to lighten the load for the saints by making tents. In fact it would be nice if we all could be "tentmakers," not literally of course :). Tents are a temporary dwelling as we walk out this journey on earth..it kinda goes along with BV Christians don'tcha think?
Where will we set up camp? ... Inside or outside the camp?
(hint: Heb. 13:12-14)
Good to have ya back, my fellershipping buddy :) |
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Hey Charlie, good to be back...I think it is good for a leader of a congregation to be "full time" if there is something to be done. In many of my experiences, I have seen that most play on the comp or are tasked out on various "I will keep you busy b/c you're here and there is nothing to do" tasks...and that is unfortunate. Paul did state he was a tent maker but it was in defense of those who weren't...want to keep that in mind.
Still yet, I remember a certain iron worker (who happened to be my supervisor) telling me that the only reason he was interested in what I had to say (about the Lord) was because he saw me work everyday and that he would never allow someone who "hid from the world behind the pulpit" even offer an opinion...
The way I see it is that you push the plow you have been given and find joy in it. I am up late tonight...actually its morning...b/c I have to get stuff done so I can make ends meet while trying to balance the needs of others...I think at some point there is justification for being full-time...but only when what need doing among the body requires just that. |
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