Serving bivocationally: Hunger for God’s word, vigorous biblical study important for ministry leaders

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.

Fourth in a series — Trei King, pastor of Pine Forest Baptist Church, Ashville, since 2015

Q: How long have you been bivocational?
A: I have served 6 years at Pine Forest and served 3 years at my previous church, Prescott Baptist Church, Pell City.

Q: What type of work do you do?
A: I am director of neurophysiology at Children’s (Hospital) of Alabama. We perform physiological/functional testing of the nervous system.

Q: How many people did you have to start your ministry?
A: We began with 20 people.

Q: What type of facilities did you have for gathering as a church?
A: Our campus includes the sanctuary, fellowship hall, Sunday School rooms and home.

Q: How long did it take before you started seeing growth?
A: It took about a year before I began to notice spiritual growth. This has increased over the years.

Q: What percentage would you estimate is transfer growth and evangelistic growth?
A: Transfer growth: 50%; Evangelistic growth: 50%.

Q: What type of outreach has been the most effective for your ministry?
A: Our work with the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries.

Q: What has been your greatest discouragement?
A: Seeing people fall away from the Lord into unbelief. This has been one of the most heartbreaking things to endure. It hurts deeply.

Q: What has been your greatest encouragement?
A: Seeing God grow our people in the knowledge of Him and seeing them repent and turn from sin.

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. Let your church into your life and be in theirs. Don’t be distant from them. You are part of your church also. This does open the door to being hurt by others, but it is biblical. You will find that church members will be a strength and encouragement to you in difficult times. It’s OK to model repentance from sin. Pastors still sin, but God is honored as we display growth and repentance. He is working in us. He is perfect, not us. Seek your church family’s prayer.
2. Trust in God’s means of grace: the Word, baptism, Lord’s Supper and prayer. The means that God has established in His word work. Our place is not to convert but to be faithful and trust that God knows what He is doing.
3. Read vigorously and always seek to improve biblically. Read the Scriptures constantly and sit at the feet of other godly men through their writings. You will gain so much from learning from others in their writings especially the older ones before the 18th century. The 17th century was full of great Baptist works. They have a wealth of knowledge and insight.
4. Do not neglect your family, and make plenty of time for them. There are too many missionaries who did wonderful things for the Lord but who have brought shame upon that ministry because they neglected their families. There is a reason for the qualifications of an elder to include how his family is. You will also find strength from them as God works through them to provide you with rest and encouragement.