Some pastors may see serving bivocationally as a stepping stone to serving in a full-time pastorate. But for Ed Horsley, recently retired from Lake Highland Baptist Church, Birmingham, the word bivocational simply meant he had two workplaces in which to minister.
Besides serving churches in Bibb, Blount and Jefferson counties for 48 years, Horsley was a product engineer at Stockham Valves and Fittings for 42 of those years. He ministered to his coworkers by teaching Sunday School lessons during their lunch breaks until he retired from the company in 1983.
Horsley said when he first surrendered to the ministry, he felt it would be full time. But as he worked at Stockham and served Antioch Baptist Church, Bibb County; Riverview Baptist Church, Trussville; and Rose Hill Baptist Church, Irondale, he felt led to remain bivocational in order to serve those churches that could not afford a full-time pastor. He did serve full time at Lake Highland, his only full-time pastorate. He retired from the church Aug. 31.
He said he also discovered that a bivocational pastor had to be self-disciplined, especially in time management.
Since he worked at Stockham during the day, Horsley had to visit his congregations at night or on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons.
But he enjoyed these visits, especially the ones to the hospitals where he could respond to special needs as well as opportunities for personal witnessing.
As a pastor’s son born and raised in the farm country of Cullman County, Horsley had felt the call to preach at the age of 15. At that time, however, he could not see himself as a preacher. “I had other plans,” said Horsley. “I tried to bargain with God saying that I would teach Sunday School and visit members and prospects.”
After serving in the Navy for 22 months during World War II, Horsley returned home to his wife, Wille Ruth DeLoach. They had three sons, and were attending Tenth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham. And even though Horsley was serving as a deacon and trying to fulfill his bargain with God, he still felt God’s call in his heart.
So in 1955, Horsley began attending Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham. He accepted his first pastorate at Antioch Baptist during his senior year in 1956, and graduated in 1957.
When Horsley first began as pastor, Antioch was having services only twice a month.
After six months he asked the deacons if the church could meet weekly with no additional salary for him. The church grew when they began meeting weekly, and the offerings doubled.
Horsley said that in every church he has led, he has tried to help the members grow as Christians. He made certain the congregations he served had opportunities for spiritual growth through associational, state and local church training.
He also said the churches he served never had any major conflicts, due to his determination to “pinch it in the bud” when he saw a problem brewing. Horsley said he accomplished this by going directly to the people to work it out.
For Horsley, being a bivocational minister in all but the last of his pastorates took a special calling from God. He added that having a wife like Willie Ruth for 62 years helped. “[She] has been a real warrior and supporter.”
Horsley said his retirement from Lake Highland opens up the chance for more supply and interim preaching. He added that his hope is to one day hear the Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
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