The Tri-Vocational Pastor

Church planting is a risky endeavor that requires a lot of faith, tough skin, and perseverance.  Unless you are independently wealthy, the issue of providing for your family is always at the forefront of living out this calling.  Since we began the process of planting C3Magnolia (@c3magnolia), I've had several discussions with other planters, supporters, and friends about how I plan on providing for my family.

Please note that what I have been doing and what will be shared here is not intended to be prescriptive, but descriptive of how we've been 'making it' so far.

When we began this adventure, I was serving as an elder at Christ Church in Brenham, TX, building websites through my media company, publishing books through my publishing company, and traveling and speaking.  By God's grace, even in the midst of the recession, we were able to make ends meet, but there was very little margin of time to work on planting the new church.

In May 2010, I was assessed by a group of peers for the Acts 29 Network to be a member of this great church planting organization.  During my assessment, I was confronted by the pastors about being so busy.  This was hard to hear, especially since I felt that the multiple projects I was involved in were necessary for the survival of my family.  However, one of the conditions following my assessment was to work towards getting out of day-to-day operations of all of my interests so that I can focus primarily on planting a new church.  This was hard to hear, but it really was the best recommendation.

Since that time, I have been working diligently on planting the church, and working on my other companies to transition myself out of the daily operations.  One of the best decisions I have made was to bring on a partner in my media company and publishing company.  Together, he and I have hired an administrative assistant who has done a phenomenal job, and my partner, Brad, has assumed the reigns of the daily management of the companies.

The church has been growing steadily, and I am almost making as much as a first-year teacher (in 1996), so I am still working some outside of the church.  Most of my outside time is spent traveling and speaking, helping behind the scenes at the publishing company, and doing some very select consulting with a handful of clients.

Our hope and prayer is that by September I will be able to be full-time at the church.  I'm already serving full-time, but not compensated as such.  Until then, I will be focusing primarily on the church, speaking at 3 summer camps, and doing some side projects.  It is my responsibility to love, lead, and provide for my family, and by God's grace I have been able to do so.

What questions can I answer for you?