balancing act--work & ministry

[rkymtnhi]

I'm just curious how you guys have ordered your lives so that you can do ministry and still make the $$$ needed to meet the bills. I'm really curious how those of you who travel occasionally for ministry balance those aspects of your life :dunno

Is there anyone who can offer a brother some advice in this area?

I'm going to be needing to have most of the month of June and a few weeks in the fall off to travel with my band. I've already got 3 days this month planned off for the same reason. What types of jobs allow a guy to pursue music ministry while still providing for a wife and dog?

[Teleguy]

After the Lord called me to be His minister, He immediately closed the doors for me at the Bible College I was attending full time (I was also working full time), provided me a day job -that I'm still in 28 years later- to provide for my family, and began providing ministry opportunities in jail ministry, visitation to shut-ins, and eventually Deacon and Elder duties.

Over the years I've been able to participate in many rewarding missions and ministries -looking after the needs of my wife and children first- and the Lord has provided extra funds for road trips to prisons, time to do services and Bible studies at local jails and visitations to elderlies in homes, and be involved with the ministries of my local church.

What I thought would was to be a professional pulpit ministry has in fact been an education in what it means to be a "minister."
Just a servant. No Lone Ranger for Christ (many get shot out of the saddle).
God speaks to me through my wife. Not always of course, but especially when I wished it wasn't true. :oops:

My family has come first. And every professional pulpit Minister I've met has also put their family first.
Some of us have been called to paid positions in churches, some of us have been called to still minister, but pay our own way.
Still others are called to be missionaries, supported by specific others.

I'm not trying to preach to anybody, by the way, just sharing my experiences since I became a Christian in 1976, and was called to Minister in 1978.

My family is first (after God, of course, but that's never been a conflict really), and the Lord has taken me into marvelous places and showed me glorious things he was doing in peoples lives.
And I got to play guitar, be myself, and watch the show of shows! :cool:

It continues, blessing after blessing, trial after trial, every day.
I guess I'm s'posed to be a "tentmaker" type minister.
Reading Ecclessiastes occasionally keeps me balanced too, as I tend to be Grandious, left to my own mind (which is like a bad neighborhood: dangerous to be in alone)! :crazy

[rkymtnhi]

thanks for your input bud! I've noticed some serious wisdom out of you in the posts that I've been reading. I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions....

I know that when the time comes to minister, God provides the ways to get it done. Right now, our whole band is beginning to go through some times of transition and change. Eventually, this could lead to some serious sacrafices and changes of lifestyle. I guess I'm just getting an education in God's provision. We're going to be gone most of the month of July doing worship in high school camps, and our manager is talking to us about doing a couple of weeks trip in the fall as well. I've already had to ask for a few days off this month for a youth conference, and playing on the weekends is sometimes a problem as well because I'm in real estate and expected to open the models at 10am. I sense a carreer change in the weeks ahead..... Even with a change in jobs, I don't know many companies that will allow me take 6+ weeks off to worship.

God provides. God provides. God provides. He's done it for me multiple times, and He will do it again. Even knowing that, transition can feel pretty scary.

Anybody else want to chime in? What kind of work do you do that allows you the freedom to do ministry as well?

[kewlpack]

Anybody else want to chime in? What kind of work do you do that allows you the freedom to do ministry as well?
Let's see...

Trying to put it succinctly, here is a quick historic rundown:

I was the lead singer in a heavy metal band in the late 80's; I loved music and messed around on guitar a bit too. I became a Christian and husband in March, '91 - when I gave up all music for the Lord (felt I'd been into the evil side of it too long, and was ashamed).

In Sept. '91 I went to Bible College, gung-ho to be a preacher...boy was that wild. In '89, I had also begun working in Graphic Design, and leaned on these skills to "pay the bills" while in college. There were literally times when I had 2 or 3 part time jobs (yuck). During college I also managed to get in with several guys and we formed a quartet, doing Christian covers - including a lot of acapella stuff. That was so much fun!

In December '94 we moved to west Nebraska to work in a small church and finish my training as an associate minister. Ended up being the full time lead evangelist for a couple of years. All the while, I had to work in graphics and technology to pay our bills. It was hectic much of the time.

In mid '97 I stepped down from the lead position and began honing web development skills with various companies and on side jobs. I kept preaching in our house church until '99. In June '99 we moved to Texas to preach again with a small church. Didn't work out - the little church folded (not enough momentum). So I picked up another technology position here in north Texas in 2000...been there ever since. Still wondering what God wants me to do now.

My current job gives me reasonable flexibility (really good actually), and we live ten minutes from the campus so it makes things a lot more convenient. In the last five years I've had the opportunity to work with a few churches, teaching classes on the early Christians (80-300AD) and have led quite a few small groups and men's Bible study groups; and for the last year I've been helping with the kid's P&W band.

I would love to be back in full time ministry and I always look for opportunity if it comes around. At the same time, I have come to realize that everywhere I go, every day, whether I'm at work or in church or at the grocery store - I am called to be a minister to the people I am around; meeting their needs; loving them and encouraging them - friend or enemy equally; to be a living epistle of the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

It doesn't matter whether I'm playing a guitar or standing behind a pulpit. It doesn't make any difference if I have an Associate, Bachelor, Master, or PhD hanging on a wall. All that really matters is that I take time to know God's Word; pray for people's souls; and bring the light of truth into their lives when I'm around them. I do enjoy playing music. Yet, if God decided to call me to a different ministry that meant I could no longer play, I would readily give it up. I love him before all other things.

My job is secondary. I am extremely grateful that God has given me a skillset (graphics and programming) that I can use for a company, and also for many side jobs. It is a blessing to live very close to work so I don't end up blowing hours in a commute every day.

But my first priority is to my Lord, then my family, other people, and after all of that - various ministries and "tent making". God, family and people have to be first - without them, you have no ministry. Also, remember that your job is a ministry! Be a light!

My answer to you would be: Set your priorities in a similar fashion. Find a skillset that you can excel at so you have a way to support your family and bring glory to God. Do not compromise your relationship with God nor with your beloved family. Without them, what do you really have? Be willing to realize that your current ministry may not be the "right ministry" to match your priorities. Things will most assuredly change in the next few years and you will have to continually refocus your energies in order to make ends meet and stay spiritually vaiable with God and your family.

It probably goes without saying - Do not live beyond what you need or what your budget reasonably allows. Avoid using credit for things you can save for. The less peripheral/accessory stuff you have in your life, the less $$$ you will require to get by. The less $$$ you need to get by, the wider your opportunities for ministry will be. Use good judgment and wisdom (godly wisdom) above all. Debt is a mire that will keep you encumbered, restrained, distracted and frustrated. I know this all too well. :banghead

Always be willing to learn new things where they can add to your skillset - making you more valuable (to God first) and fruitful. Don't waste your time on things that are a waste of time. It sounds silly, but chew on it awhile and you'll understand.

Finally, be willing to make real sacrifices when God calls you to do so. Find a decent way to make a living, but don't chain yourself to it. It may only be a stepping stone toward a greater ministry.

He loves a cheerful giver, and that even applies when you have to give things up.

Guess that's enough out of me. I hope this all helps.

[ptrallan01]

Good going brothers excellent advice.

Because of the travelling nature of what you're ministry seems to be leading towards you need a job that goes with you where ever you go! Try your hand at freelance writing, music reviewing. You can write on the bus using a laptop. Mobile work solutions include personel recruiting using a laptop and/or blackberry and good cell phone to keep you intouch with your clients..

Be prepared though, to change direction!!!! God moves in mysterious ways: HIS wonders to perform.

Take this time to do a skills inventory. Start by listing the jobs you have done and the skills you needed to do them. List your skills in two major areas, hard and soft. Hard skills are those that are concrete you can use Excel or you can't. Soft skills are those that are personality and character based. Getting along with people is a soft skill, good communication skills is another soft skill area because it can't be quantified. List your skills in terms of things you've done for fun and/or for free. Then start listing these skills by what you can take in the car with you and what you can't.

Pray! Pray alot, and when you've finished praying pray some more. God will direct you.

Yours in Christ

Peter

PS I support myself by selling Men of Integrity and Today's Christian magazines for Christianity Today. Not much money but a GREAT atmosphere.

[rkymtnhi]

Thanks for the replies!

ptrallan01--I think I'm going to take part of tommorrow and do what you've suggested. Thanks for the very practical advice!

The advice so far has been very helpful--I really appreciate the responses!