Why I Choose to Be a Bivocational Pastor

Ed Stetzer says that being bivocational is not a penalty, but an opportunity. I can now affirm this to be true. But I didn’t always see it this way.

Ten years ago, at the age of 20, I left Bible college early for two reasons: marriage and ministry. Our lead pastor and planter—a bivocational teacher at the time—had cast a compelling vision to start a church-planting movement in Saskatoon and the rest of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

I chose to become an electrician, but by the end of my first week, I was ready to quit. I questioned whether I’d made the wrong choice by not completing my theology degree and entering full-time ministry.

But over time, things began to change. As my wife and I prayed and sought counsel, God made it clear that being bivocational was the right decision. Construction would be my tent-making ministry as I interned with Grace Fellowship Church. And as my skills in my trade grew, so did the opportunities for the gospel. Read More