Bi-vocational ministers

It has been over a month... since my last blog- and i'm fine with that. I don't live to create blogs, and as far as i know, two people read this. My job has become more demanding, and i'm fine with that, too.

You see, i've been coming to grips more with my job, and i've been thinking about this for a while, and... I must give a hats off salute to bi-vocational ministers! I just don't know HOW you do it! I mean, I'm a full time pastor at a church, and I have 3 jobs that require my time! And between those three jobs, I could easily put in a double work week- just connecting with people, planning for ministry, and going beyond simple maintenance.

It is a big job, and although I love it (i'm not complaining- it's great), it is exhausting sometimes. and I'm not even where i WANT to be. But i'm getting there! If I had to take on an extra job, my ministry would suffer. As it is, I already have to plan in each week which ministry(ies) get more planning than the other(s). And I have to balance that.

Bi-vocational ministers- i can't believe it! I mean, peopel that work full time and do ministry on the side, or part time and part time ministry, or however they do it- ministry is more than a full time job whether you're simply a youth pastor, or an associate like me with 3 jobs, or a senior pastor, or whatever your job is. It's HUGE because it's this- people! People is what ministry is about- it's about connecting them with God, and in the process, connecting to them ourselves, as best as we can (smaller churches have pastors connecting with everyone, larger churchs have smaller groups).

Because of the people aspect of the job, you're never really "off duty." sunday nights are a great night to relax, however, the past handful of sunday nights, my wife and i have spent with people from our church doing stuff- and it's been great, but i guess that means i don't have sunday night off, right? and if someone has to go into the hospital, visiting them is something nice to do. except, people don't get sick in the middle of the day all the time, right? and...

anyway, suffice it to say- my hats off to bi-vocational ministers! This is a tough job and i've been discovering more aspects of it- and those of us who do it full time have a tough time finding enough time for it- those of you who are part time must feel even more like you are stretched. I talk with friends who are ministers of one area (youth, or worship) and they are as pressed as i who have 3- so...

don't know where i was going with that, but... yeah.

blessings