My full time job is a combination of two part-time roles in ministry. The first role is Harvest Ministry Teams. Harvest is a unique ministry of involving people to serve as worship teams for ministry weekends, conference, churches around the Midwest. We send teams of young adults to serve as a worship band during summer camps, we develop conferences and events for ministry leaders, students and children.
The other half is to serve on part-time staff at a local church in Troy, IL in the area of worship. The church is situated in the St. Louis Metro area with about 800 members and 400 average attendance. About 38-40 Sundays a year, I help lead worship at the middle Sunday morning service, help with the ministry teams relating to worship and assist in some of the presentational side of Sunday morning.
On many occasions I have run into people who are serving on part-time staff at a local church while leading or directing another ministry such as music, speaking, consulting, etc. Though I am sure there are downsides to this, I wanted to share some of the information for those who are in it or those who feel called to be in a similar set up.
Being involved in two roles is more than just two part-time jobs. It’s a way of living out a call in ministry. Anyone who is serving in an aspect of the church is participating in the kingdom work. And this is just one more tiny slice of how it can be done.
I felt a call to ministry when I was senior in high school. I began to pursue pastoral ministry as the natural first step, though, I sort of knew that I was designed for something slightly different. As I journeyed through college and seminary, doors were open for music and ministry in hundreds of little ways and it became both a passion and a job as I was in school. Upon receiving an M. Div from Asbury Seminary, I realized that I needed to continue in this specialized ministry in some way. It worked out that our church needed a part-time role and asked if I would be interested. That was 14 years ago now and both the part-time role and the other ministry I have worked with since college and seminary are still going strong, are well connected and exciting.
In a nutshell the benefits to the church include: 1) Presence in the church office, 2) more manageable financial investment, 3) self initiated staff, 4) Specialized roles, 5) experience and insights from outside the church in other parts of the region or community.
There are also benefits for the Harvest Ministry including, decreased overhead costs, a home base, accountability, and prayer support. And there are obviously personal benefits to such an arrangement. If you are interested in a more detailed plan of how this plays out for Troy Church and Harvest Ministry Teams, I have written some of the basic details down. The information contains the financial breakdowns, typical schedule, benefits to the church, benefits for the ministry, and personal benefits. If you have any questions, or want to get connected, feel free! (tim@harvestministryteams.com). Click here for the extra information.