I have not been shy on this blog about my encouragement for Christians workers to consider partnership development, or support raising, as a way to fund their ministry vocation. I have been doing it for over ten years, and I have found that once you overcome some of the misunderstandings about the topic, it can be a great solution for many people.
With that said, I want to give you a few reasons why you should probably not pursue partnership development.
1. It is not easier than a normal job
Perhaps you are bored with your job. Or even worse, you may be terribly frustrated with your manager and current employment. If you have spent quite a bit of time volunteering with churches and ministries, then you may have considered going into full-time ministry. Would it not be nice to be able to quit your boring job and serve the Lord as your vocation? That would take away your stresses and give your life fulfillment, joy and purpose, right?
The truth is, life is generally hard. It requires a lot of work, responsibility, and perseverance in the midst of constant challenges to be moderately successful at any career. Vocational ministry is notoriously difficult. Burnout among pastors is extremely severe. 50% of those in full-time ministry say they would change jobs if they thought they could make a living some other way. 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their jobs. Sounds fun, right? Vocational ministry is challenging and including partnership development can make it even more challenging.
I do want to say that full-time ministry can be very satisfying in certain ways. But satisfying is not the same as easy. It is usually satisfying the same way a good workout is satisfying. It hurts like hell in the moment, but you feel good later when you finally see the results. Easy is not the right descriptor for raising support.
If you are heading into vocational ministry, know that you are heading into a lion’s den. Count the cost. And do not do it because of how it will fulfil your personal purpose or make your life better. Ministry is not about you. It is about Jesus. If you can not enter into ministry with proper motivations – the glory of God and the love of the people to whom you minister – then do not do it.
2. There are alternative funding solutions
Partnership development is a fantastic, proven way to fund laborers for the harvest. It is biblical, financially stable and increases the number of Christian workers dramatically. If you feel called to overseas missions work, campus ministry or prayer ministry, it seems to be the ideal solution.
However there are many alternatives which may be more suitable for you and your calling.
Local Church
Perhaps you could serve in ministry at a local church. For many people called to give their lives in vocational ministry, this is a great pathway. Local church leadership is a noble profession. This is where the the nitty-gritty, long-term disciple-making takes place. Local churches are the bastions of the kingdom of God on the earth. If you take this route, my suggestions would be to begin serving at your local church as a volunteer immediately. Serve humbly and work hard. Learn as much as you can about how a church works. Communicate your desire for full-time ministry with your local church leadership, and see how your pastors recommend you move forward. Take their advice.
Bi-Vocational
There are massive advantages to working full-time in the marketplace while also giving yourself to ministry. Number one, it means that your income is not connected to your ministry activity. You are, in a sense, free to minister however and wherever God leads you, because finances are not an issue. It also keeps your plugged into the real world for missional purposes, so that you can maintain relationships with unbelievers and minister to people at your workplace. The obvious challenge with this approach is that it is quite time-consuming to work a full-time marketplace job and pastor a church, evangelize a college campus or lead a house of prayer. Some people find creative job solutions that require fewer hours (such as freelancing) that enables more flexibility with ministry activities.
Grants and Fundraising
For those who feel called to mercy & justice-oriented ministry, there may be some alternative fundraising options that would work better than missionary partnership development. If you are wanting to open a food bank to feed the poor or start an after school program with inner city children, there are ways to fund these kinds of non-profit organizations with grants and mass-fundraising (such as banquets and other campaigns) that might be more successful than personal partnership development. You are also far more likely to get financial assistance from government programs, businesses or non-believers for doing humanitarian work that even non-Christians would appreciate.
3. You might need to minister in the marketplace
Most Christians are not supposed to be vocational ministers or in church leadership. Full-time ministry is not the epitome of Christian devotion or commitment. The most radical Christian thing you can do is to love and obey God. This means that most believers will find their calling in the marketplace or at home, and that is the most effective thing they can do to honor God and serve His kingdom.
If God wants you to be in full-time ministry, then that is what you need to do. But please do not think that you are less committed, less radical or less God-honoring because you are not doing ministry “full time.” Employees, let your job be your ministry and your mission field. Parents, let your home be your discipleship training school. In this sense, every Christian is called to “full-time” ministry, because all of our lives should be lived for God’s glory. Everywhere we go, we should be manifesting God’s kingdom and sharing His love.
Summary
I am a huge fan of partnership development, but it is not for everyone. If you are only considering it because you think it will make your life easier, then think again. If your ministry vision could be funded in other ways, consider the alternative funding options. If you are pursuing vocational ministry because you think it makes you more radical for God, then know that obeying His voice is what’s radical. Go wherever He is calling you, which for most Christians, is into the marketplace.