Finding Work-Life Balance as a Bi-Vocational Pastor
Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize.
Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize.
When you’re juggling a nine-to-five job with preparing for Sunday sermons, weekly counseling sessions with church members, spending time with your spouse, and raising Godly children, time becomes your most valuable asset.
In this episode of Modern Church Leader, we sit down with bi-vocational pastor and Tithely employee Rob Nieves to discuss his way of finding and maintaining a work-life balance.
“If you are not good about time management, then bi-vocational ministry is probably not for you. The demands on your time and your family are really serious.” - Rob Nieves
Rob speaks on the unrealistic expectations that can come with bi-vocational pastoring. Managing your congregation’s expectations can be just as difficult as managing your time. Church members may be used to having a full-time pastor available at all times. But the key to keeping expectations realistic is clear communication with your church.
Leading by example and teaching the values of the family from the pulpit are great ways to communicate how your family functions outside of the church doors. Once people see your priorities and values, they start to see how you balance work and family.
Finally, give yourself grace. Preparing for sermons might look different week-to-week because of your work schedule. You might have to take time away from your day job because of a church emergency. But continually trying the best you can is all you can do.
“I give myself grace. There are some Sundays when I am less prepared, but I know I did my best… those tend to be my best Sundays anyways.” - Rob Nieves
Committing to the life of a bi-vocational pastor is committing to a life of surrender. It is a constant act of surrendering your calendar, your time, your finances, your passions, your family, and your work.
As we all know, God shows up the most when we are weakest.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Learn more about New Walk Church here --- https://www.newwalk.me
Learn more about Rob as the Skilled Pastor here -- https://www.youtube.com/@SkilledPastor
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Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize.
When you’re juggling a nine-to-five job with preparing for Sunday sermons, weekly counseling sessions with church members, spending time with your spouse, and raising Godly children, time becomes your most valuable asset.
In this episode of Modern Church Leader, we sit down with bi-vocational pastor and Tithely employee Rob Nieves to discuss his way of finding and maintaining a work-life balance.
“If you are not good about time management, then bi-vocational ministry is probably not for you. The demands on your time and your family are really serious.” - Rob Nieves
Rob speaks on the unrealistic expectations that can come with bi-vocational pastoring. Managing your congregation’s expectations can be just as difficult as managing your time. Church members may be used to having a full-time pastor available at all times. But the key to keeping expectations realistic is clear communication with your church.
Leading by example and teaching the values of the family from the pulpit are great ways to communicate how your family functions outside of the church doors. Once people see your priorities and values, they start to see how you balance work and family.
Finally, give yourself grace. Preparing for sermons might look different week-to-week because of your work schedule. You might have to take time away from your day job because of a church emergency. But continually trying the best you can is all you can do.
“I give myself grace. There are some Sundays when I am less prepared, but I know I did my best… those tend to be my best Sundays anyways.” - Rob Nieves
Committing to the life of a bi-vocational pastor is committing to a life of surrender. It is a constant act of surrendering your calendar, your time, your finances, your passions, your family, and your work.
As we all know, God shows up the most when we are weakest.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Learn more about New Walk Church here --- https://www.newwalk.me
Learn more about Rob as the Skilled Pastor here -- https://www.youtube.com/@SkilledPastor
podcast transcript
Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize.
When you’re juggling a nine-to-five job with preparing for Sunday sermons, weekly counseling sessions with church members, spending time with your spouse, and raising Godly children, time becomes your most valuable asset.
In this episode of Modern Church Leader, we sit down with bi-vocational pastor and Tithely employee Rob Nieves to discuss his way of finding and maintaining a work-life balance.
“If you are not good about time management, then bi-vocational ministry is probably not for you. The demands on your time and your family are really serious.” - Rob Nieves
Rob speaks on the unrealistic expectations that can come with bi-vocational pastoring. Managing your congregation’s expectations can be just as difficult as managing your time. Church members may be used to having a full-time pastor available at all times. But the key to keeping expectations realistic is clear communication with your church.
Leading by example and teaching the values of the family from the pulpit are great ways to communicate how your family functions outside of the church doors. Once people see your priorities and values, they start to see how you balance work and family.
Finally, give yourself grace. Preparing for sermons might look different week-to-week because of your work schedule. You might have to take time away from your day job because of a church emergency. But continually trying the best you can is all you can do.
“I give myself grace. There are some Sundays when I am less prepared, but I know I did my best… those tend to be my best Sundays anyways.” - Rob Nieves
Committing to the life of a bi-vocational pastor is committing to a life of surrender. It is a constant act of surrendering your calendar, your time, your finances, your passions, your family, and your work.
As we all know, God shows up the most when we are weakest.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Learn more about New Walk Church here --- https://www.newwalk.me
Learn more about Rob as the Skilled Pastor here -- https://www.youtube.com/@SkilledPastor
VIDEO transcript
Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize.
When you’re juggling a nine-to-five job with preparing for Sunday sermons, weekly counseling sessions with church members, spending time with your spouse, and raising Godly children, time becomes your most valuable asset.
In this episode of Modern Church Leader, we sit down with bi-vocational pastor and Tithely employee Rob Nieves to discuss his way of finding and maintaining a work-life balance.
“If you are not good about time management, then bi-vocational ministry is probably not for you. The demands on your time and your family are really serious.” - Rob Nieves
Rob speaks on the unrealistic expectations that can come with bi-vocational pastoring. Managing your congregation’s expectations can be just as difficult as managing your time. Church members may be used to having a full-time pastor available at all times. But the key to keeping expectations realistic is clear communication with your church.
Leading by example and teaching the values of the family from the pulpit are great ways to communicate how your family functions outside of the church doors. Once people see your priorities and values, they start to see how you balance work and family.
Finally, give yourself grace. Preparing for sermons might look different week-to-week because of your work schedule. You might have to take time away from your day job because of a church emergency. But continually trying the best you can is all you can do.
“I give myself grace. There are some Sundays when I am less prepared, but I know I did my best… those tend to be my best Sundays anyways.” - Rob Nieves
Committing to the life of a bi-vocational pastor is committing to a life of surrender. It is a constant act of surrendering your calendar, your time, your finances, your passions, your family, and your work.
As we all know, God shows up the most when we are weakest.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
Learn more about New Walk Church here --- https://www.newwalk.me
Learn more about Rob as the Skilled Pastor here -- https://www.youtube.com/@SkilledPastor
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