Most bi-vocational pastors I know are running on fumes. They work a full-time job, lead a church, try to be present for their family, and somehow find time to prepare a sermon every week. The last thing they need is another technology problem.
But here’s what I’ve learned from spending 25 years in both IT and ministry: the right technology, used well, can give a bi-vocational pastor back hours every week.
The Bi-Vocational Reality
About 70% of American churches have fewer than 100 people in attendance. A significant portion are led by bi-vocational pastors – men and women who work a secular job to pay the bills and lead a church because they’re called to it. That’s why I built MinistryPlace.net – a free resource hub specifically designed for small and rural churches, with ready-to-use Sunday school lessons, youth ministry guides, volunteer training tools, and church leadership templates.
Technology That Actually Helps
- Church Management Software Even a free tier of Planning Center or Breeze can change how you track attendance and manage volunteers
- Simple website with clear information Service times, location, and a way to contact the pastor. That’s 80% of what a small church website needs.
- Email newsletter Mailchimp’s free tier is more than enough for most small churches
- Facebook Page Still the most effective social platform for reaching rural communities and older demographics
- Online giving Tithe.ly or Pushpay make digital giving easy
The IT Perspective on Church Security
Small churches are increasingly targeted by scammers and hackers – from fake “pastor emergency” email scams to ransomware. The same principles I write about in Near Miss for businesses apply to churches: use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, back up your data, and train your volunteers to recognize phishing attempts.
Resources for Bi-Vocational Pastors
- MinistryPlace.net – Free ministry resources built for small and rural churches
- Rural Think Tank Podcast – Conversations about rural ministry and practical tools
- Rural Youth Ministry: Expanded Second Edition – A guide for youth workers in small churches
- This is NOT DiY – A practical guide to church revitalization for small congregations
You’re doing harder work than most people realize. The resources are here to help.