5 Things Every Bi-Vocational Pastor Needs to Survive

Bi-vocational ministry is not for the faint of heart. If you are serving a church while working a day job, you know the unique pressures that come with it: the exhaustion, the time crunch, the feeling that you are always behind.

After 25+ years in small town and rural ministry, here are the five things I believe every bi-vocational pastor needs to survive.

1. A Realistic Sermon Prep System

You do not have 20 hours a week for sermon prep. You have 4-6 hours, and you need a system that works within that constraint.

Here is a rhythm that works:

  • Monday: Read the text. Pray over it. Let it simmer.
  • Tuesday: Study the text. Use one commentary. Identify the main point.
  • Wednesday: Write the outline. Find your illustrations.
  • Thursday: Write the sermon. Practice it once.
  • Friday: Final review. Pray over it again.

This is not lazy preaching. This is efficient preaching. A well-prepared 30-minute sermon is better than a poorly prepared 60-minute sermon.

2. Boundaries

You have two jobs. You cannot give 100% to both. You need to set clear boundaries and protect them.

Set specific office hours. Set specific days for hospital visits. Set specific times for sermon preparation. And then do not let anyone guilt you into breaking them.

Your church will not set these boundaries for you. They will naturally want more of your time. You need to be the one to say, “I can do this, but I cannot do that.”

3. A Team That Shares the Load

You cannot do everything. You should not try. Identify the tasks that only you can do (preaching, teaching, pastoral care) and delegate everything else.

Train volunteers to handle administration, facility management, and event planning. Use our volunteer management guide to build a team that shares the load.

4. A Day Job You Can Integrate with Ministry

Your day job is not an interruption to your ministry. It is part of your ministry. You are a pastor who happens to work at the bank, not a banker who happens to preach on Sundays.

Look for ways to integrate your day job with your ministry. The relationships you build at work are ministry relationships. The integrity you show at work is ministry integrity.

5. People Who Understand

Bi-vocational ministry can be lonely. Your church members may not understand the pressure of working two jobs. Your coworkers may not understand the demands of ministry.

Find other bi-vocational pastors. Build a network of mutual support. Meet regularly, even if it is by phone or video. You need people who understand what you are going through.

Related Resources

Brent Lacy is the founder of MinistryPlace and spent many years as a bi-vocational pastor. He created these resources because he knows firsthand how hard this calling is.

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