If you are a Pastor and have a side-gig – you’re in good company! Paul, Lydia, Luke and JESUS are just a few examples from Scripture of leaders with another job! In a recent poll of our KidzMatter community, only 51% of participants reported to be full time in ministry. While I do believe being bi-vocational can be super-healthy and rewarding, it carries a unique set of challenges. Days are long, attentions are divided, and the schedule is packed! I have always been bi-vocational in ministry, meaning I do ministry and have another job, and I’ve learned a few things along the way that I’m excited to share with you today!

Tip 1: Remember Your Why: It’s important to remember why we are doing both of these roles, so we don’t get distracted from our calling as pastors. For example, my “why” includes – helping provide for my family, staying connected to my community and being Kingdom-minded as I free up money in the church budget to spend on ministry, not just staffing. Keeping these things in mind keeps me motivated when I’m feeling worn out or stretched thin.

Tip 2: Be Faithful in Each Role: It’s natural to be pulled toward one role, especially if we’re more passionate about it! But it’s important for the Kingdom and our witness to give each job the attention it deserves. When I’m at church, I’m focused on kids ministry and not talking about my business; when I’m at my secular job, I’m doing my very best for my clients. Our position at church has eternal consequences with our kids, and our position at our secular job puts Jesus on display to the world so I want to be faithful to both.

Tip 3: Be an Intentional Leader: Being bi-vocational, we must be super intentional with our time and energy. We cannot do everything ourselves without burning ourselves out completely. Here are just a few practical strategies to be an intentional leader. Team Build: Find leaders in your ministry to share responsibilities with and support them as they do it. Be careful with your “Yes” – You cannot do everything, so when you say “Yes” to one thing, you really are saying “No” to another. I recommend Josh Denhart’s Lead Ministry resources for more practical ideas on being an intentional leader.

Tip 4: Organize For the Win: Getting organized will help your two jobs feel so much more manageable. Put EVERYTHING on your calendar, develop written job descriptions for your leaders, invest in technology that could make your job more automated. For example, Planning Center helps me stay organized in ministry, and I use another database for my side-gig. I cannot imagine trying to keep it all sorted in my brain without these tools.

Tip 5: Learn In a Way That Works for You: When you work two jobs, ongoing training can be challenging. Here are a few ways to get creative with training: attend after-hours trainings, read blogs on lunch breaks, and invest in audio resources like The KidzMatter Conference To Go so you can listen in the car. Learn and grow however you can whenever you can!

At the end of the day, growing God’s Kingdom comes first for us, no matter what our paid jobs are. Instead of seeing only the obstacles of being bi-vocational, let’s embrace the opportunities and give our best for God’s glory!

Annie Double has been the Kids' Ministry Director at Judson Road Christian Church in Kokomo, Indiana for 13 years. She loves traveling with her family, snuggling her dog, Charlie, & serving with the best team ever.