You didn’t get into ministry for the paycheck. At least, let’s hope you didn’t. (If you did, you either received some really bad advice or your heart’s in the wrong place!)
Money is a necessity for folks in ministry. A necessity that we don’t like to focus on.
Ministry professionals need income keep doing what they’re doing, but don’t seem to want to spend a lot of time thinking about how to get it. In many cases, the income that is coming in simply isn’t enough.
That’s not everyone in ministry, mind you. But it certainly illustrates my own experience. Same thing with many of the ministry folks I talk to.
If There’s No Money, There’s No Ministry!
As a national financial leader once put it, “If there’s no money, there’s no ministry.” You can’t build a church when you’re broke. (At least not well.) The greatest intentions, practically speaking, won’t see the light of day unless they’re properly funded.
There’s a temptation at this point to say something along the lines of, “Well if God’s called me to do it, he’ll provide!” While not discrediting God’s provisional power, we, as ministers of the Gospel, have a responsibility to earn a living. In other words, you have to get off your butt and do something about the dream God has given you.
Providing a Resource for Ministry Professionals
That’s why I’ve set out to build a resource that will help people in ministry with their finances. Simply put, I want church workers, pastors, and ministry leaders to make more money.
When I was in full-time ministry, I searched far and wide for ways to supplement our family’s income. The search wasn’t easy, but I learned a few things along the way. I want to combine my experience with your experience to provide a rock-solid resource ministry professionals can use to beef up their bottom line.
Here’s how:
Last month in my newsletter, I asked ministry leaders to share some of their biggest pain points around income. Many of you responded. You were candid, honest, and realistic. Here is what you said:
Finding the time to put into something other than ministry is a big challenge to being able to make some extra money. — Ontario
Churches want to pay part-time salaries for what usually ends up being full-time work, relative to the number of hours as well as the amount of work. — North Carolina
Not enough money at the end of the month. — Texas
Purchasing quality health insurance for our family [has been difficult]. The one provided by the church is super limiting – no maternal coverage. So it’s a very large monthly expense for all four of us. — Asia
Do any of these resonate with you? How much we make isn’t the easiest thing to talk about. In fact, it can be downright painful. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Are You Making Extra Income in Ministry?
That’s why I’m asking for stories from ministry folks who have been successful in building multiple revenue streams. Can you help?
If you’re someone who’s supplementing your ministry income with a side project, business, or extra job (also know as “tentmaking”), I want to hear from you. Please fill out this short survey:
Survey for Ministry Professionals
Here’s an example of someone who has shared their extra-income story already:
[Because we have extra income coming in], I’ve been able to save money and things like the A/C going out in the car or in the house are expected bumps in the road instead of stressful events. — Personal fitness coach
As a “thank you” for sharing your story, you’ll receive a free copy of the finished resource. You’ll also be helping thousands of ministry professionals across the world to provide better for their families, dreams, and ministries.
Join in. Share your story. Let’s change people’s lives together.
