The Case for Bivocational Ministry I
By Rev. Mike Chipman
n 2012, my family moved to Mur- ray, KY, as I transitioned out of full-time ministry and into the secular workplace. I started a posi- tion as a school teacher at Murray High School. Through old ARP con- nections, I discovered a core group of believers was seeking to plant a re- formed church in Murray. After meet- ing together in homes for a year, Re- deemer Community Church decided 2015. We organized in March of 2021, and I currently serve as the minister of the church. During that time, I con- tinued to work as a school teacher, and I continue in that role today. Many have asked, “Mike, how do
your church would be better if you were in a full-time role?” Time isn’t a thing to be found, and I can’t answer the second question. What I can point to is God’s faithfulness to our church, and how he has used bi-vocational ministry in a way I never thought possible. Over the years, I have dis- bi-vocational ministry. It is for these reasons (and more) that I recommend this model for new church plants and even for rural revitalization efforts. The immediate reason I’ve experi- enced is community engagement. As an introverted man, I would avoid most community events. Like many -
tion in reading or studying. With my position as a school teacher, I’ve be- come a known entity in the commu- nity in spite of myself. It has allowed me opportunities to meet hundreds of families and make connections I would not otherwise have made. Many of the people that attend Re- deemer come because of those con- nections. My relationship capital at the school has also decreased the amount of time it would take for me to build our church’s reputation as a Bible-believing and gospel-preach- ing church. Folks in the community translate my work ethic at the school to our church, and they aren’t sur- group and a thorough treatment of the Scriptures. - nancial security that we have as a family and that Redeemer has as a church. The church has been able to purchase property in our short exis- tence and is looking toward becom- ing debt-free in the next few years. nor do we have to feel the pressure of becoming a burden to a small church. My church has been free to grow at a slower pace with no tension between my next paycheck and the bottom of the ONA funding jar. I’ve watched church planters and small church pastors have to seek additional em- ployment because the church had
to lower their salaries. This usually leads to mistrust and the formation of a new pulpit committee. Bivocational ministry has given my family and Re- deemer freedom from those concerns, which has allowed me to focus on the important things of ministry. And Redeemer has excelled at those important things. In fact, be- cause of my decreased time at the church, we have been able to focus only on the important things. From the beginning, we set one of our core values as the ordinary means of evangelistic events and targeted pro- gramming, we have chosen to grow through relationships and the regular, clear preaching of the gospel. Our only stated meeting is our Sunday morning worship service. There are a few other Bible studies that are led by members, but we have focused the majority of our attention on the wor- ship of God and the preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ. That isn’t to say that programs and events don’t have their place, but they aren’t our focus right now. We have kept things ordinary, and that is the most frequent compliment we get from visitors. Bivocational ministry may not work for every situation, and it may not al- ways work for my church in Murray, but for now, we see it as a fantastic way to grow Christ’s church. Look me up on Facebook if you have questions.
Rev. Mike Chipman is a Biol- ogy Teacher and the pastor of Redeemer Community Church in Murray, Kentucky.
Helping You Reach Your Community 14 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Outreach North America
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