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Re-imagining Church Planter Training | Part 6 | Bi-Vocational Training
The last 5 posts I’ve outlined: (Post 1: Issues with church planter training), (Post 2: The missing ingredient in church planter training), (Post 3: A proposal for training), (Post 4: Three barriers to this kind of training), (Post 5: Three more barriers to this kind of training).
And with this post, I’d like to outline a couple of ideas I’ve been working on for how to train people to be bi-vocational church planters. If you’ll remember from my 3rd post, the proposal I made was that people needed two years to immerse themselves fully into a community and their practices to really walk away with the skill-set necessary to plant this new kind of church. Furthermore, that two years would include learning a skill that would help them pay the bills. 50% of their time would be spent learning the practices of the church, 50% of their time would be spent on developing this tentmaking skill.
I suggested that a tentmaking job would need to:
- Flexible so that it would coincide nicely with planting a church as well as having a family.
- Pay the bills with a little to spare.
- Not emotionally taxing (church planting is hard enough on the emotions).
- And if possible, intersect nicely with missional opportunities within church planting.
What I and a couple of other people have started to work on specifically is this piece of the training. We are still in the beginning stages of it, but it’s where a lot of my free time and “dreaming” energy is going right now outside of my work with 3DM. I think our dream is to come up with between 20-30 vocations/jobs that would fit the criteria above and put together training modules for each of them. That way, instead of trying to fit a round peg in a square hole, we can offer a variety of training opportunities based on personality typing, background, interests, missional context, etc.
So allow me to play this out for you.
Let’s consider two of the more “popular” bi-vocational jobs for church planters: Web designers and baristas. Each of these fit 3 out of the 4 criteria set forth above (both work for #4, but #4 isn’t a non-negotiable like #’s 1-3 are).
BARISTA
- Flexible (check!). You can work early morning hours, afternoon or night, depending on what works best for your missional context.
- Pay the bills with a little to spare (nope!). Even with a place like Starbucks covering some health insurance, it’s just over minimum wage and with a family, this isn’t a living wage for a family. Because of that, it kills this one as a good option.
- Not emotionally taxing (check!). You can clock in and clock out and the job requires little of your emotional or cognitive faculties.
- Blends into missional space (check!). Being a barista is a great way to meet a lot of new people, including persons of peace.
FREE LANCE WEB-DESIGNER
- Flexibility (check!). It has this one in spades.
- Pays the bills with room to spare (sort-of). Most web-designers I know do a combination of raised support and the church paying some of their salary.
- Not emotionally taxing (sort-of). Most web designers I know find designing emotionally invigorating. The problem with free-lancing is that it’s a kind of sales. You always have to be mining out new business and you know that if that business doesn’t come in, you might not be able to feed your family. And most web-designers I know aren’t great at mining out relational networks to drum up new business in a systematic way.
- Blends into missional space (check!).
In both situations, these probably aren’t the best way to go because to survive, you need a combination of raised support AND the job itself. It’s not self-sustaining by itself. But wait?! What if we could spin it a bit with some good training and investment and turn it into something else altogether?!
BARISTA
The big issue here is that you simply don’t make enough money. A scoach above minimum wage just isn’t going to cover it…and that would be true even if you are working 10 hours a day. What we really need is a way of doing this job where we can work fewer hours but make more money. Work smarter, not harder. Enter smart investing. In the two years of training, you’d do two things. In the first year, you’d train them to be AMAZING baristas who make incredible coffee. In the second year you train them to be BRILLIANT business-owners. An owner you say? How do?
Easy.
Rather than giving them seed money, give them $10K for a fully stocked, state of the art, curbside coffee cart. There is no overhead except keeping it stocked (and as we all know, coffee is cheap, the markup is ridiculous). Take that second year when they are still being immersed in another church, learning the ins and outs of mission, to learn the coffee business. Part it in a quad at a university. Park it in the business district. Park it in a major car pool area. Find out which one sells the most coffee at different parts of the day. Take all the money that you make and put it into savings (because at this point in the training, the personal support is still covering the salary). Then, when the church planter moves into their missional context to plant a church, they have a job that will more than pay for the bills, they are already experts at it with a very small learning curve, savings in the bank and they have a way to meet loads of persons of peace each and every day. Where do you think their first MIssional Community or Huddle would come from? Silly question! From the people they see every day who buy their coffee! That’s the kind of ingenuitive training and investment we need.
FREE-LANCE WEBDESIGNER
The issue for the web designer is they are always going to under the gun of coming up with new business, putting some emotional pressure on them as well as possible financial pressure if the business doesn’t come. The main issue at work here is that most creatives don’t know how to drum up new business or lock in accounts that are recurring. A web designers training would exist on two different fronts. First, creative training. If they are already getting freelance work, chances are they are pretty good. But that doesn’t mean they are GREAT. You know one thing you can do to drum up new business pretty easily? Be one of the best at what you do. This two years of training allows the space for advanced training so designers are doing things that are aesthetically breathtaking while functionally ingenius. Second, they need to be trained in how to land new business and recurring accounts. This can be done. They may not find it as life-giving as actually designing websites or apps or posters, but they can get really good at it. And with a two year window of training, this is easily doable. Think of it this way: Free lance webdesigners would have TWO YEARS of salary coming in (because they have raised support) where they can learn to land recurring accounts so that when they enter into their mission field, they have enough recurring accounts that it’s a full-time salary already with only a little time spent each month to mining out new business. Again. This is about working smarter, not harder.
All of this kind of training is already out there, it just needs to be coalesced and made accessible for church planters. It’s already out there. It’s just that in Christendom, we haven’t been thinking this way. Some of what we have been working on is generating the kind of ideas like the two stated above. The first thing we need to do is come up with 20-30 jobs that fit the criteria stated above. The second thing is the practical side of developing the training modules necessary so that people leave with a killer career as they are planting their church. This is what we’ve been dreaming about and have started to lay down some work on.
Some other job ideas off the top of my head:
- I have a friend who developed a system of selling books with Amazon where he was making upwards of $10K a month. Chances are, at some point, I’m going to sit down with him and ask him to help me develop a training module (probably video based with a written manual) on how he did this. And pay him to do it.
- Training pastors to lead Huddles. I have friends who make their entire living off training pastors to lead Huddles. They spend 10-12 hours a week doing it. There is a HUGE market for this. Most pastors agree they don’t know how to disciple people well and Huddles are this amazing discipleship vehicle. Training looks like becoming an expert Huddle leader while also learning to find pastors who are looking for this kind of training (there are lots out there).
- Diaper service. There is a growing market and demand for washable organic diapers and there are a good number of people who want to go this route as opposed to disposable diapers who will pay other people to collect their used diapers each week, receive a fresh pack and for this company to wash the used diapers. To see a church planter who is using this idea, check out my friend Alex’s company, DenverDiaperService.com. Here’s the interesting thing: You only need about 80 customers to make a full-time salary. When you think about a mid-major to major city, that’s really not a lot of customers. You just need to be able to find those customers. Opening expenses would probably $10K for local marketing and equipment (industrial sized washer and dryer). Training would include how to use local marketing, the process of collecting and washing diapers and running time efficient routes, building a recurring customer base and how to run a solvent business. It’s entirely feasible that within the two years of training before going to the mission context, a business could be built up that is running well, that you can leave behind to hourly workers or perhaps a franchise owner, that you make commission from. The point being, even if that doesn’t happen, you’d have the experience necessary to replicate it in a new city while have year three’s salary already coming in, giving you a year to grow the business to full-time money without the learning curve.
Here is where I need YOUR HELP.
- Leave some comments about this specific idea of going about training bi-vocational church planters. Am I crazy? How would you improve it? What works? What doesn’t?
- Could you comment below with any ideas you’ve thought of or seen before for jobs that might fit the criteria above? Again, we’re looking for 20-30 ideas that we can build training modules for. As has been said before…there are no bad ideas!
- If you are friends with people who are interested in this kind of stuff (whether it’s church planters, people who are interested in these kinds of topics, denominational leaders, etc), could you send them a link to this series of posts? While we may be working on this endeavor, it’s going to take much more than my networks and friends to pull it off. If you’re passionate about this, spread the good will! Email it around or share it on twitter or facebook with the buttons above.
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26 Responses to Re-imagining Church Planter Training | Part 6 | Bi-Vocational Training
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2011/10/14
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Doug Paul
Doug Paul serves as the Director of Content at 3DM, where he works alongside Mike Breen developing books, blogs, webinars, whitepapers and other content initiatives. Before moving to Pawleys Island, SC, he served as a Teaching Pastor and Director of Multi-Site at a church in Richmond, VA. He went on to plant a church using Missional Communities and Huddles while participating in 3DMs first Learning Community.
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Doug,
More great thoughts, as expected. As someone juggling a web design/dev business, I thought I would comment on that particular “job” but it relates to others. The work of pastoring, at least as I think I’m wired to do it, is inherently creative work. It is the work of staying connected to my own soul and to my surroundings and out of that to form ideas and understandings of how the Spirit is at work. It requires attention and presence.
The difficulty of design, or any other creative work, for bi-vocation, is that it requires much of me too. Yes, it is often energizing, as you say, and I often like being able to see completed work when the type of ministry we do is often not tangible. But it also requires a certain amount of attention and presence. It is flexible, as you describe, but also not very easy to check out of. Right now, it still feels like the best option for me, and for many others, but there is some cost to the flexibility that comes with not having to punch a clock with the defined hours and responsibilities of a “day job”.
Love the insights, John. In your estimation, would you say it may not be the right fit for someone who is bi-vocational if they could do something else, or just that it’s a real delicate tightrope?
One bivocational work idea that I have started to explore is starting a grocery delivery service. I am looking at it covering a part-time salary, but it might be able to go as big as you are able to do it. Haven’t gotten far down this road yet, just an initial thought.
Great idea, John. Is there a target market you’ve been going after?
I’m not at a place where this is fully paying off, but I’ve been pursuing serving as a trainer for new hires in a local corporation. I spend about 3 days a month with a company at $25/hr. It’s a start. I’m currently looking into branching out into additional companies. This plays into the “teaching” or “public speaking” skill set and allows for community connections as the company doesn’t limit my ability to speak about my “full-time” gig.
Hi Doug
I think you’re missing something here. Running your own business is emotionally demanding (whatever the form of business), tax administration, ordering, sales, fixing things that break, meeting suppliers, advertising etc… So that needs to be taken into account and in a small business there is usually just one person who has to do all that plus the actual job.
Secondly you’re hoping that the businesses will hit some kind of weird business ‘sweet spot’ where it will be successful but not too successful. If it’s not successful it is both stressful and financially insecure, it is successful what do you do with it when it’s time to invest more in church. You’ve just built a great and growing business and in your scenario been the vehicle for evangelistic growth and now you give it up? It’s easier to give up a job than a business you’ve built, having done both.
Phil, that’s a great point and one that should definitely be added into the conversation. I do think there are certain businesses that can be managed into a sweet spot, but I wonder if it means we’re ok with it staying there rather than expanding. I’ve been a part of both….ones where we pressed for more and ones where we stayed in that sweet spot. It’s a tough one, though.
I love where this is heading. As one who is planting a church and working a day job, this plan seems to be some of the same stuff I’ve been encouraging others to think about.
My day-to-day job is working with special needs students in my local school district as a teaching assistant. I work 35 hours a week, don’t have any responsibilities outside of my classroom (no prep, testing, grading, etc.), and make enough with my wife working part time to live off of. Money is tight, but it is enough to get things done with. We’re about to enter into some fundraising to help supplement our disciple-making efforts. Overall, my TA job is a great gig as I get to engage with people from all walks of life everyday, I’m out in our community of context, and the kids open my eyes to sides of God I would have never seen without them. Perhaps it’s something to look into.
A friend of mine lays carpet and has established a decent business with it. His hours are flexible, he pays his bills, and he can take the skill with him where ever he may move.
Another friend of mine owns a franchise of Chem-Dry, which is a carpet cleaning business. The fees were rather low and seems to be a decent money-maker, if you’re willing to put in the time in getting your name out there.
Just some thoughts. Peace.
Great ideas, Scott. Interesting how they are much closer to physical skills like tent making with your two friends.
Hey Doug,
I am also bi-vocational but I guess I’ve taken the more straight forward approach and am working in corporate America. I am a supervisor at Johns Hopkins and while this consumes my time from 8-5, Monday - Friday, it more than pays the bills and allows me to interact with hundreds of people in my building who are far away from Christ. I don’t consider myself an ‘entrepeneur’ so starting a web design company or a mobile coffee shop is not up my alley but using my talents in the corporate enviornment is.
Don’t rule out getting a ‘normal’ job…it pays the bills and exposes you to a ton of people you would have never met otherwise.
Troy, 100% agree with you. Honestly, it’s probably a million times easier to have a skill that could give you a corporate kind of job than needing to start an entrepreneurial endeavor. I think for most church planters (at least currently), they have no vocational skill-set outside of being a “pastor”. Glad you do! I’ve had conversation with friends who think we should actually start finding church planters who are still in college and help them develop a worldview that would allow them to change their major to something more practical while still developing the skills to plant a church.
Doug-
I agree w/ your friend who thinks we should start finding church planters still in college! My husband and I were having that exact conversation this weekend in regard to your blog. I am a Registered Dietitian and although have longed from time to time to be full-time minsistry, I have been SO grateful for the skill I have. I’ve been able to maintain entry-level jobs in the field of nutrition which has allowed me to take seminary classes, disciple, lead missional communities, etc. I’ve quit jobs in which were too taxing mentally or emotionally and said no to opportunities w/ more challenge within my field so I have the space or church planting that I want and because I’ve got a specific skill, I’ve been able to find a new job at each change of season when it’s been needed.
None of this would be the case if I hadn’t stuck out all the chemistry classes (C’s get degrees) needed to get a degree in nutrition or if I hadn’t turned down 2 full-time ministry positions post-college to finish my credentials/licensing as a dietitian. I didn’t necessarily like turning down the ministry positions, but now I see how good God was to keep me on that path. I also know countless college friends who got English or psychology degrees, planning for full-time ministry and now back getting alternate degress to be trained in somethign specific (counseling, med school, teacher, etc).
This is the right conversation to be having!
Hi Doug…
I’ve been reading your posts for a bit…good stuff!
Here’s a link to a recent post of my own, with thoughts on the future of ministry in my own region…
http://homiliesprayersbread.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/does-it-taste-as-good-as-it-smells-career-vs-calling-part-ii/
I would suggest looking at the demographic in your area, see what the most common occupation is, and get a job doing just that. Three church planters I know who started at least 5 congregations that have lasted, some as long as 50 years, started out as bi-vocational…all three did some type of construction work. They were literally down in the ditches with the people God sent them to reach. This was way before the days of Barna, Stetzer, and market studies, but I don’t think it’s any mistake that the most common occupation in a three-county area here in NE Georgia is, in fact…construction worker.
As a side note…all three of these guys were full-time in ministry by age 30…
And here’s part one of the post…
http://homiliesprayersbread.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/does-it-taste-as-good-as-it-smells-a-crystal-ball-look-at-the-future-of-american-christianity/
Great thoughts, Lee!
I’m a planter / ebay-PowerSeller.
ebay selling …. Fits all 4.
You can hook up w/ a local library, antique stores, thrift stores, etc.
You can teach selling classes and meet folks and talk deep life stuff….
Doug… THANKS for what you’re doing here.
Amazing insights, reflections, links, comments…. Wow!
Dave, what a GREAT idea. Thanks so much for your contribution. Will definitely be adding that to the list we are accumulating. Thanks!! definitely keep in touch, would love your thoughts on this ongoing conversation.
Consider tutoring as vocation that meets your criteria. Given the sad shape of our public school system there is a need for tutors, particularly in math and the sciences. Pay can be excellent if you are good. (See current issue of Smart Money magazine for a discussion on this subject.)
Also a thought on another subject your blog posts elicited: I very much agree with your apprenticeship model. However, you haven’t said anything explicit about an evaluative dimension of this period. I would suggest that proactive, searching, sharing the truth in love evaluation of an apprentice’s demonstrated skills and progress should be a critical part of this period. Two of the goals of this evaluation should be 1) to identify and encourage development of the strengths an individual brings to the planting task and 2) to make sure there are no weaknesses that would disqualify the individual for church planting. Believing I am called to plant churches doesn’t necessarily mean I am. I should welcome confirmation of the call via my own experience as an apprentice and by the Godly counsel of my coaches. Unfortunately much kingdom damage is done when unsuitable individuals are allowed to assume roles of responsibility in the church.
I currently serve as a full-time pastor of a church but we are getting ready to launch out and plant a church. The first thing is to financially care for my family of 6 (home, insurance, food, clothing, schooling, etc…), the second is to plant the church. I thought about going and raising support, but the thought of dragging my growing kids all over for people to “kick the tires” is out of the question. Thus, I began to seek God’s mind in the matter. The question that came back is this: “What have you always done?”
I have spent the larger part of my adult life in law enforcement and public safety. Thus, I am heading back to that line of work so I can provide, have a job with few obligations outside of scheduled work hours, have a job with a graveyard shift option and it allows me to meet oodles of people. The prison system of many states offers great pay and benefits as well as shift flexibility to meet the needs of ministry and family.
There are two places we have considered and I am leaving it to the Lord to arrange for my employment in the right place and then pursue planting a church there.
Doug,
Thank you for your work here. I think this is a great discussion. Here are some other ideas for low cost start up business ideas.
http://www.48days.com/wp-content/uploads/free_documents/48businessideas.pdf
Also, I agree with a comment above, that running a business could at some point become disqualified from the “right” job due to it not fallowing your guidelines. Such as demands on time or emotions.
What about developing needed job skills in the marketplace, and go a step farther, develop a network of companies that are Christian owned and that would have a vision to see church plants happen. These businesses could provide work, have an openness to flexibility and adequate compensation.
Thanks again.
I’m a public school teacher and a church planter. I have worked hard to be in a position at school which allows me to be a coordinator and not a classroom teacher.
1. Flexible? No. But I’m home by 4:30 each day. Holidays, weekends, and summers off.
2. Enough to pay the bills? Easily.
3. Emotionally taxing? It can be while I’m at work, but most jobs can be.
4. Intersects with church planting? I’m not sure there is a better place to engage the community than the public school.
Thoughts?
Jeremy, really good thoughts! I think this is a really good option for a lot of people, but not all. For me, I don’t think i could do it well (because I’m such an introvert). However, i could see how lots of people would really thrive doing both of these!
Doug,
I would love to chat further about this topic. My wife and I felt called to plant a church and felt the way to do it was through a coffee shop http://www.overflowcoffeebar.org that is focused on Changing the World for the better. We have been open for almost 2 years and have seen some amazing things happen.
Through the process we have been planting a church through the older gather model and been extremely challenged. In the past year however, I have been in a huddle and I am starting huddles with our church. We are also now positioned to train others in how to possibly do this coffee shop thing in other neighborhoods.
Anyway what you are saying works but it does take tons of work and sacrifice but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have also seen God open doors and provide in some really amazing ways.
Health care professional(nurse, social worker, etc.) is a good one. on call and casual work and good pay and benefits. Can be emotionally taxing, but rewarding.