Survey of Bivocational Church Planters Sponsored by Send Institute Methodology The online survey of was conducted October 3November 5 2018 The study was sponsored by Send Institute The sample was provided by 57 church planting networks see following page ID: 801735
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Slide1
Bi-vocational Church Planting
Survey of Bi-vocational Church Planters
Sponsored by
Send Institute
Slide2Methodology
The online survey of was conducted October 3-November 5, 2018
The study was sponsored by Send Institute
The sample was provided by 57 church planting networks (see following page)
Emails were sent to each planter inviting them to complete the online survey. Up to four reminder emails were sent to non-participants.
The completed sample is 109 surveys
The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error from the provided lists does not exceed
+
7.8%
Margins of error are higher in sub-groups
Slide3Participating Church Planting Networks
Assemblies of God
Concordia University Irvine
Fuller Theological Seminary
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Converge
Hope Community Church
Association of Related Churches
Dakota Baptist Convention
Illinois Baptist State Association
August Gate Church
EFCA North Central District
Kairos
Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma
Evangelical Free Church of America
KNCSB
BCNYSBC
Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America
Loving Utah Network
Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches in Canada
Miami Baptist Association
City to City Miami
Five Two
Minnesota Church Multiplication - AG
Clarks Summit University
Four Square
Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention
Colorado Baptists
Foursquare Gateway District
Missionary Church USA
Slide4Participating Church Planting Networks
Multiply Vineyard
Plant Utah
Southern Nevada Baptist Association
Nashville Baptist Association
Presbyterian Church in America
The Evangelical Covenant Church
NC Baptist
PSWC - ECC
The Foursquare Church
North American Mission Board
Reformed Church in America
The Pillar Network
North Central District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance
SEND Minneapolis
The Summit Church (Durham, NC)
Northwest Church Planting
SEND NYC
The Wesleyan Church
Northwest Ministry
Seventh Day Baptists
United Methodists Churches of Indiana
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada
Sojourn Network
Urbancrest
Church
Plant Midwest
Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
World Impact
Slide5Region of participating churches
Q2: “Church state/province” n=106
Slide681% have worked an outside job since the church started
Q3: “Have you worked at a paying job outside of the church at any time
since the new church work began
?” n=109
Slide746% work more than 40 hours a week at an outside job
Q4: “How many hours did you on average work at an outside job each week in addition to working as a pastor? (Select one)” n=109
Slide863% say their spouse has a paid job to help with living expenses
Q19: “Does your spouse have a paid job that is needed to help sustain your family’s living expenses?” n=106
Among Those Who Are Married
Slide9Age of participants
Q20: “What is your age?” n=108
Slide10Year participating churches started
Q21: “In what year did this new church work start? (If you are not sure, please give your best estimate.)” n=105
Slide11Average worship attendance of participating churches
Q22: “What is your church’s average worship attendance on a typical weekend (including all ages from babies to adults but not counting anyone twice)?” n=105
Slide12Survey Responses
Slide1367% say that being a bi-vocational church planter has worked well or very well
for their church
Q6: “How well has being a bi-vocational church planter
worked for your church
(during the period you have worked an outside job in addition to church planting)?” n=108
Slide14What predicts when
bi-vocational is beneficial for a church plant?
Heart for it
Healthy family
Larger church body
Slide15Bi-vocational church planting works well/very well
for the church when…
HEART FOR IT
The planter would be
bivoc
long term if finances were not a factor
Percent saying works well/very well for the church:
42% among “I would stop being bi-vocational immediately”
95% among “Being bi-vocational is integral to our long-term strategy”
Slide16Bi-vocational church planting works well/very well
for the church when…
HEALTHY FAMILY
Their family is more emotionally healthy
Percent saying works well/very well for the church:
82% among those who Strongly Agree their
family is emotionally healthy
53% among those who Somewhat Agree/Somewhat Disagree their family is emotionally healthy
Slide17Bi-vocational church planting works well/very well
for the church when…
LARGER BODY
Churches with larger attendance
Percent saying works well/very well for the church:
91% among those with attendance of 100+
66% among those with attendance of 50-99
60% among those with attendance of 0-49
Note: no indication paid staff size is predictive
Slide186 out of 10 say that being a bi-vocational church planter has worked well or very well
for them and their family
Q7: “How well has being a bi-vocational church planter
worked for you and your family
(during the period you have worked an outside job in addition to church planting)?” n=108
Slide19What predicts when
bi-vocational is beneficial for the church planter and their family?
Heart for it
It opens ministry doors
Healthy Family
Slide20Bi-vocational church planting works better
for the planter and family when…
HEART FOR IT
The planter does not work out of financial necessity
Percent saying
bivo
works well/very well for them and their family:
91% those who
don’t
select “It is a financial necessity for my family”
52% those who
do
select “It is a financial necessity for my family”
Slide21Bi-vocational church planting works better
for the planter and family when…
IT OPENS MINISTRY DOORS
The planter has developed a good reputation in the community through the outside work
Percent saying
bivo
works well/very well for them and their family:
72% those who
do
select “Developed a good reputation in the community”
33% those who
don’t
select “Developed a good reputation in the community”
Slide22Bi-vocational church planting works better
for the planter and family when…
HEALTHY FAMILY
Their family is more emotionally healthy
Percent saying
bivo
works well/very well for them and their family:
80% among those who Strongly Agree their
family is emotionally healthy
43% among those who Somewhat Agree/Somewhat Disagree their family is emotionally healthy
Slide23“What are the reason(s) you have or are working an outside job in addition to working as a pastor?”
Q5: “What are the reason(s) you have or are working an outside job in addition to working as a pastor? (Select all that apply)” n=108
Slide24If finances were not a factor, 38% say they would stop being bi-vocational immediately. 41% say it is integral to their long-term strategy.
Q8: “As you think about leading your church toward health and growth, if finances were not a factor how long would you continue to plant bi-vocationally?” (select one)” n=101
Slide25“What ministry opportunities have arisen through your outside work?”
Q9: “What ministry opportunities have arisen through your outside work? (select all that apply)” n=108
Slide26Number of churches their church has directly helped start
Q10: “How many churches has your church been a part of helping to start?” n=108
Slide27Bi-vocational pastors are more likely than typical Protestant pastors to agree the role is frequently overwhelming
Q11: “The role of being a pastor is frequently overwhelming.” n=108
Comparison to 2015 survey of 1,500 Protestant Pastors by LifeWay Research
Slide2893% agree that their immediate family is emotionally healthy
Q12: “My immediate family is emotionally healthy.” n=108
Slide29Number of paid staff
Q13: “How many paid staff does your church currently have including you (full-time or part-time)?” n=108
Slide30Q14: “How helpful have the following types of
outside
support
been for you and your church plant” n=108
Very Helpful
Somewhat Helpful
Not Helpful
Did not receive/ Wasn’t offered
Training
44%
33%
11%
11%
Networking with
other church planters
48%
40%
7%
5%
Networking with local pastors
39%
44%
12%
6%
Active prayer support
75%
22%
1%
2%
Financial oversight
26%
38%
13%
23%
Volunteers or mission teams
38%
30%
10%
22%
Expression of encouragement (cards, gifts, calls)
50%
36%
5%
9%
Professional advice (legal, accounting, technology, etc.)
26%
43%
7%
24%
Coaching/mentoring
45%
36%
6%
13%
Parent/Sponsor/Sending Church
34%
33%
14%
19%
Helpfulness of Outside Support
Slide31“What types of training have you participated in that were provided through your denomination/network?”
Q15: “What
types of training
have you participated in that were provided through your denomination/network? (Select all that apply) Training on…” n=96
Among Those Who Are Married
Slide32Half of churches are not yet self-sufficient
Q16: “During which year (if at all) did your church become financially self-sufficient, meaning no financial support is being received from outside sources.” n=108
Slide33“From your experience, what has been the greatest benefit and the greatest challenge in planting bi-vocationally?”
Time management (Challenge) 35%
Financially independent/stable (Benefit) 31%
Balancing work, church, and family time (Challenge) 26%
Building relationships in community (Benefit) 23%
Sharing the gospel at outside job (Benefit) 22%
Leadership/vision casting (Benefit) 11%
Q24: “From your experience, what has been the greatest benefit and the greatest challenge in planting bi-vocationally?” n=105
Slide34“What is one thing you want those who support church plants
to know better about bi-vocational church plants?”
Slide35Be prepared for hard work
It's very difficultIts really hard. It limits you to what you can do. It hurts the family sometimes.
How exhausting it can be and how lonely it is.
It is difficult/challenging
Slide36It isn't a lesser form of church planting or pastoring. Realistically, it's the only viable model to see lots of churches planted everywhere.
Bi-vocational church plants are sustainable, mainly due to the relief of any and all financial burdens, for the lead planter.It is a viable and sustainable way to plant churches!
It is a sustainable, effective planting strategy
Slide37Even if it's not said in words,
other pastors and leaders often give you that, "you're not really a real pastor yet" look. It doesn't bother me, but it's a definite reality.
Encouragement is needed
Slide38Language that doesn't treat bi-vocational strategies as an afterthought but as an integral part of reaching cities for the gospel.
It's not only the future of church planting but the present reality, we need to move the conversation in that direction.
Encouragement is needed
Slide39We are not "bi- vocational". Wherever we are we are trying to do the work of God.
The ministry we do outside of church ministry is just as important to us.It's about integration. You don't work one job you hate to do another one that you love (vocational ministry). Live life integrated. Do what you love!
Outside work is ministry
Slide40Bi-vocational Church Planting
Survey of Bi-vocational Church Planters
Sponsored by
Send Institute