Serving bivocationally: Faith, humility, mentorship needed to reach lost and grow local church

EDITOR’S NOTE — An estimated 55% of Alabama Baptist pastors serve bivocationally or covocationally. Many more serve as bivocational ministers in other church roles. In this series, TAB shares some of their stories, adapted from information provided by the Alabama Baptist Fellowship of Bivocational Ministers.

Second in a series — Joseph Hill, Pastor of Mount Hillard Baptist Church, Birmingham, since 2010

Q: How long have you been bivocational?

A: I have served bivocationally for 11 years.

Q: Describe your work outside the church.

A: I worked 35 years as a UPS employee, 25 of those as a driver.

Q: How many people did you have to start your ministry?

A: We began with 25 people.

Q: What type of facilities did you have for gathering as a church?

A: I am blessed to serve as pastor at a church that has been established over 120 years. The new church building was built in 1997.

Q: How long did it take before you started seeing growth?

A: Six years.

Q: What type of outreach has been the most effective for your ministry?

A: Personal witness by the members of the church, and those outside the church seeing changed lives.

Q: What has been your greatest discouragement?

A: My greatest discouragement has been not being there for my congregation when they needed me and not being able to do Bible study and attend different activities as much as full-time pastors might be able to.

Q: What has been your greatest encouragement?

A: My greatest encouragement has been seeing how God can take unfavorable circumstances and make them favorable. He has many times met the needs of the church through various means.

Q: What are the most important lessons or suggestions you would offer bivocational pastors today who also want to reach the lost and grow a local church?

1. Find a senior pastor who has been down the road you must travel and learn everything you can from him. Learn through his experiences.
2. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You will make mistakes in ministry, but remember you are on the job to learn. Mistakes are stepping stones for growth.
3. Never be too big to say you were wrong.
4. Trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us He will lead and guide you in all truth. Pray to Him because He’s there for us. Depending on the Holy Spirit is pivotal for surviving the many perils of ministry.