It would be a mistake to pretend that bivocational ministry or side-hustles are a new phenomenon. After all, in many contexts bivocational ministry has been the standard for ministry leaders for decades as communities could not afford to support full time ministry leaders due to systemic inequality or lack of resources. For other communities, bivocational ministry is a reality due to cultural context or even just preference. In fact, even as we have a conversation about bivocational ministry we don’t want to treat it as a deviation from the norm. 

That being said, it seems as though bivocational ministry and having a side hustle is on the rise. 

Due to global inflation, rises in the cost of living, and lower rates of giving and church engagement, churches are slashing budgets at the same time that personal budgets feel tighter than they have ever been. 

So, many ministry leaders find themselves in bivocational ministry for the first time or looking for a side-hustle to supplement their income. 

So, what are some best practices bivocational ministry leaders can engage in to lead sustainably? 

How can ministry leaders start a side-hustle while building trust with leadership? 

Leslie Mack, Charlie Conder, Shane Sanchez, and Heather McCreary sat down to have a conversation about what they are rethinking related to bivocational ministry and dove into those big questions. 

Here are a few of the big ideas and best practices that came out of that conversation. 

What are some best practices for bivocational ministry leaders?

1. Create boundaries.
   Rest is so important. In fact, rest is often an act of faith. Whether you need to create boundaries in order to rest, fulfill other job obligations, or prioritze family, creating priority-based boundaries will help you thrive and avoid burn-out. At the same time, without pre-set boundaries and schedules, you may find yourself saying yes to things that matter, but neglecting what matters most. 
   
   As a reminder, no matter what season of life you are in, you are worthy of having boundaries and a life outside of your work. That is true whether you are single or you are a parent. That is also true whether your boundary helps you do other vocational ministry jobs or work in the public sector. Doing good work matters, and you can do ministry wherever you are. 
2. Empower volunteers.
   Your ability to have boundaries will at least partly depend on how you empower volunteers and delegate tasks in your ministry. This may require extra work on the front end as often training someone to do a task can take as much time as executing a task yourself. However, if you are willing to invest in volunteers who can truly own aspects of your ministry, you will create more sustainability in the long run. This may not be easy and you will have to give up some control. However, when you empower volunteers you are not just building a ministry, you are investing in people.
3. Partner with senior leaders.
   You need to know what is expected of you. Your senior leaders need to know what is fair to expect. How you collaborate with and communicate your boundaries, schedules, and responsibilities to senior leadership will build a foundation of trust. Inevitably there will be moments when you can’t answer the email, can’t attend the meeting, or need to reschedule an event. If there is agreement about priorities and trust from the beginning, these situations will cause less friction.

What are some best practices for starting a side-hustle? 

1. Consider your passions and skills.
   What tasks do you love doing? What tasks are you good at? What skills do you want to grow? These are some of the first questions you should ask yourself if you want a side-hustle, but you aren’t sure where to start. Many creative talents and hobbies can be parlayed into side-hustles to make extra income. At the same time, a side-hustle doesn’t have to be some creative or entrepreneurial venture, but it is wise to choose something you are decent at and don’t hate doing. You may not want to Uber if you hate driving or dog-sit if you hate dogs. 
   
   No matter what your side hustle is, consider how it can help you grow in skills that can be beneficial to your ministry or personal growth. When you are able to clarify how a side-hustle is benefiting not just your finances, but your character or professional capacity it can be more enjoyable.
2. Let go of shame.
   Whether you are starting a graphic design business, working a retail job, Ubering or learning a new trade, it’s important to let go of shame. Doing good and honorable work in order to meet your needs or financial goals is something you shouldn’t be ashamed of. In fact, your ability to grow a business or even just build trust will depend on how well you communicate about your side-hustle to your communicate.
3. Communicate with leadership.
   This practice largely depends on your team culture and the nature of your side hustle. If you are picking up hours Door Dashing outside of work hours it may not be necessary to communicate your plan. However, if you are becoming a ministry coach and advertising your services, leadership probably needs to find out from you instead of on your social media feed. Check your church’s policy on outside work and consider ramifications for communicating or not communicating. Often communication can help you build trust and avoid potential conflict. It may even help you have more conversations about growing your leadership capacity and income potential. Whether you plan to communicate or not, having a plan for answering any questions they may have (should they come up) is wise so you can be prepared.

While these are all practical steps you can take to either thrive as a bivocational leader all of these practices actually boil down to one thing:

Trust.

How we trust God will change how we practice rest. 
How we trust our volunteers will determine how we delegate and equip them to lead. 
How senior leaders trust staff will determine if they are willing to provide flexibility and opportunities to experiment or grow. 
How we trust our communities will determine how we communicate new ventures or passions.
How we trust God and ourselves will determine whether we are willing to try something new. 

Whether you are a bivocational leader, someone who wants to start a new side hustle, or someone leading bivocational staff, in what ways can you build trust or practice trust? You may be surprised by how it leads to growth. 

This blog is adapted from Episode 130 of the Rethinking Youth Ministry Podcast. We would love to know what you are rethinking related to bivocational ministry or youth ministry in general, so be sure to join the conversation by checking out our Facebook community or listening to the Rethinking Youth Ministry Podcast.