by Spencer Harmon
As you feel the reality of your unique burdens and embrace the opportunities of your unique position, there are four basic, obvious rhythms I would commend to you as a bi-vocational pastor:
1. Remain vigilant over Bible meditation and prayer
Get up earlier. Stay up later. Leave the email unanswered. Answer that text later. When we neglect our souls, we become disoriented and overwhelmed. When we drink daily from the fountain of life it transforms the way trials are received, weaknesses are handled, and limitations are confronted.
2. Develop leaders.
We are not spiritual renaissance men who are gifted in every area. We need support. Start a bi-weekly discipleship group and invite any person who is eager to serve and learn. Pray, share your burdens, generate ideas, and dream about the church. You don’t need young men to do this. Pour into that deacon who wants your church to revive. This fights against the isolation so many pastors feel.
3. Create a “pseudo-elder board” from pastoral friendships.
Most bi-vocational pastors are solo pastors who serve with a handful of deacons. Whether the bi-vocational pastor is in a rural setting with no surrounding churches, or in an urban setting neighboring several like-minded churches, tremendous encouragement and insight can be given to the intentional bi-vocational pastor. Through a monthly face-to-face meeting, video or phone call, or even email, the bi-vocational pastor can build a “pseudo-elder” board of like-minded pastors who can confess their sin in safety, get trusted counsel, and build friendships. Although bi-vocational ministry often occurs in isolation, the bi-vocational pastor does not have to feel alone.
4. If possible, take regular preaching breaks.
Regular breaks from preaching promotes opportunities to breathe, meditate on God’s Word, and spend time with family. Take the time you normally spend on sermon preparation to spend some extended time in prayer, or to take your wife out for the day. This will aid your ministry, not hinder it.
Editors’ note: This article originally appeared at Practical Shepherding.
Spencer Harmon is the Nocatee Campus Pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. He is currently completing his M.Div at Southern where he was an intern with the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization (2017-2018 class). Spencer is married to Taylor and they have three children. He is also the co-author of Letters to a Romantic: On Dating and Letters to a Romantic: On Engagement.