The statistics are disturbing: 100 to 200 churches close weekly. That is 6,000 to 10,000 yearly. We see mega churches growing and give praise to the Lord. But the number of churches closing does not necessarily result in those people going to other churches. When a church closes, it leaves a geographic area with one less witness.

I have considered myself a change agent for most of my years in ministry. One change I have been resistant to is the bi-vocational pastor. The resistant most likely goes back to my earliest years of ministry. While serving in a well known ministry the executive director, a man I respect very highly, discouraged me from a type of bi-vocational ministry. 

As often is the case, my Equipper blogs are either directly or indirectly related to ministry areas I led in the past or am currently ministering in. After almost 25 years with BBM, helping churches through difficult transitions, we have never seen a church close the doors. 

One of the realities of “Riding a Wave” in ministry is you are likely to find critics. Some will say you are following “man’s ideas,” or you are just doing this because you want to be contemporary. A lesson I have learned after decades of ministry is, if you do something new or different you will find the critics.