Date: Jun 30, 2003 [ 8: 16: 55]
Subject: Summary - Going full-time
© 2003 BCP Harry Shelton Cole
Subject: Summary - Going full-time
SUMMARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING LIST
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Moderated and edited by Pastor Harry Shelton Cole
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>When is the right time to go full-time if you are bi-vocational?
Introduction: "When it's right, you'll know it," was the only advice I
had ever heard from preachers about going full-time. Perhaps this has
some truth to it but experience is sometimes an excellent teacher. Many
times the church planter is led by a sacrificial mentality that must be
regulated by Godly counsel. In other words, some church planters would
sacrifice everything (their health, family and resources) to see a
church planted. The attitude is not wrong but their application may be
carried to extremes. In the multitude of counselors there is saftey.
We asked the above questions and received some seasoned counsel from
Godly men. Thanks preachers for you help.
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Below is some practical advice from the experience of one who
has already walked where many young men are walking today. Brother Bob
Woosley offers some practical but Godly counsel.
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>When is the right time to go full-time if you are bi-vocational?
My own experience, though a few years past, may be typical. I was
operating in the era (1968) when the state fellowship helped me out more
than they had ever helped anyone else and that was $55.00 per month. My
fledgling church gave me $25.00 per week, whether I needed it or not.
There were a few one-time offerings of $50.00 or so, but not many. I
worked several jobs.
I worked several jobs. I sold insurance and was offered a position as a
regional director for the agency. The manager tried (unsuccessfully) to
get me to buy a new car on credit so I would be motivated to sell enough
to make the payments! I sold Encyclopedia Britannica and made a cash
sale the first call ... didn't know how to write up a cash sale since we
had been trained only in credit applications. I worked some
construction work for another "fellowship" preacher and still have the
bounced checks he paid me with!
Each time I knocked on a door to sell someone something the Holy Spirit
seemed to say to me, "You ought to be knocking on this door, but not for
this purpose. Make up your mind why you are in this town." Each time I
quit a job the church seemed to take a little spurt of growth. It
worked so well I started quitting them regularly. We had 110 in Sunday
School on our first anniversary. The church doubled my salary to $50.00
per week and we were "full-time."
It was seven years into "full-time" ministry before I equaled the pay
scale I enjoyed my last year of Baptist Bible College working for the
missions office print shop! But those were some of the best days of our
lives as we saw miracle after miracle of the Lord's provision. To this
day our survival defies explanation apart from the loving providence of
a merciful God. It's the stuff great sermon illustrations on faith are
made of!
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God is pleased with faith and faith alone. Often we try to line up all
our ducks only to have God shoot them down. Practically things may
never line up quite the way they should but the following advice is
certainly born out of experience. Read it all the way through. Brother
Marvin McKenzie has "been there and done that" and offers some practical
counsel with a Godly focus.
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>When is the right time to go full-time if you are bi-vocational?
The rule of thumb I was taught was 10 tithing families. It might take
another three tithing families after that to pay the church bills after
you have a salary.
Another rule of thumb I was taught was once the church can afford to pay
you the median wage of the city you live in.
I guess I would say
When the church has enough stability to ensure you get paid
When the people have enough need to make sure they give for your pay
When the preacher has few enough bills to get by without much pay
But I never did any of that! I went full time because I believed God
wanted me to!
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Pastor Don Robinson of Grace Baptist Temple, Bloomington, IN, is new to
the list but he is not new to church planting. On the question of
considering when a church planter should go full-time, he offers
thoughtful and pertinent advice.
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Question: "When is the right time for a man to go full time in the
ministry?"
I believe that a man must make sure that the needs of his family are
adequately met before thinking about going full time at a church that
cannot actually meet those needs. I realize that a man may be able
to do more actual ministry work to build up the congregation if he
isn't tied down with another job, but the ministry is more than just
starting a church. A man's ministry must also include first his
family. A man who loses his family has no ministry.
Another factor to be considered is teaching the men of the church the
importance of responsibility in this area. This should not be a
decision made solely by the pastor. He needs to have his men behind
him and praying for him. I have observed many men who made the
decision too soon, and the result was disasterous.