MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

If I Weren’t a Pastor, I Would…

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, April 21, 2008
Viewed 101
(42) comments so far

I'm on the plane waiting for take off for Orlando as I'm typing this morning... just a sec before I have to close up shop. So... I thought I'd ask a question that I hope you all will take a moment to respond to... here it is: "If I were not a pastor, I would probably be..." What career track do you think you would have taken if you didn't choose the church vocation? I'd love to hear from many of you (especially you lurkers!). I hope to give you some great updates from the National New Church Conference in Orlando this week. If you are there, be sure to look me up! There's talk of a special bloggers dinner one evening; and Scott Hodge, Chris Elrod, and myself will do a breakout Q&A on blogging on Tuesday. Until then, let's hear it... what would you be doing if you weren't a pastor?

Comments

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fishon on Mon, April 21, 2008

I worked in the Timber industry until I was 48. Then I went to Bible College. I love being a pastor. However, if I was not a pastor I would be a Professional Poker Player. Some would say, “WHAT?” Yep, that’s what I’d be.

fishon
Adam on Mon, April 21, 2008

I serve as a youth pastor at my church, and I really can’t imagine doing anything else. If I had to pick something though, I would work at the YMCA as a camp director or somthing like that. This is what I got my college degree in and what I was planning on doing before God called me into ministry.
Leonard on Mon, April 21, 2008

I’d probably be the Dali Lama
Brian Richard on Mon, April 21, 2008

I would of been a weatherman! I love to see the majesty of God played out in our weather. It is also kind of cool to get paid for being wrong more than 50% of the time!
CS on Mon, April 21, 2008

Leonard:

“I’d probably be the Dali Lama.”

Are you sure that’s not the Deli Lama? You know, the guy in saffron robes who serves up a good pastrami on rye?

—

CS
paul on Mon, April 21, 2008

confessed lurker.

I never felt like I was called “for life” as a pastor. I realize that tomorrow God could call me out of ministry and I want to be open to that. And I think I don’t see my calling like many of the others… in that “I can do no other.” I could.

I would go into law, or hotel management or teach at a college or seminary.
Wendi on Mon, April 21, 2008

I kind of agree with Paul, the confessed lurker. I had a whole career as an HR exec before vocational ministry and seminary. While I feel very confident that I am in the Lord’s will, the road to ministry seemed less like a resounding call and more like an unfolding of opportunities and opening doors. To me it seems that sometimes when we who serve in vocational ministry talk of our “call,” we set ourselves apart from the blue and white collar folks we’re called to serve. Is the school teacher called? The lawyer, the assembly line worker, the restaurant server, the farmer? And by that I don’t mean he/she is “called” to volunteer ministry outside of his/her job, I mean “called” to farming, teaching, restaurant serving, etc.?

Plus, I’ve too often made bold and over-confident statements about how SURE I was about God’s will for my life, only to have Him change the circumstances enough to remind me that being in His will means being open to new opportunities and flexible.

What I am sure of is that God will use all the gifts He’s given me, the experiences He’s led me through, the passions He’s placed in my heart . . . when all those are fully submitted to Him. I anticipate wrapping up my vocational life in ministry, but I also feel confident that there are other “secular” things I could do to make a living that would be enjoyable, pleasing to the Lord and a good fit with my God-given wiring.

Wendi
Paul Kuzma on Mon, April 21, 2008

Great question Todd! I actually think it’s a HEALTHY thing for Pastors to think this through and to come to terms with really being OK if they were to decide to do something else.

My other vocation .... Police Officer.
Eric Deeter on Tue, April 22, 2008

I did choose the other option. I was a pastor for 9 years & left to start my own remodeling/handyman company. My wife joined me a few years later and we have moved into only doing faux painting. It’s been 15 years. It has been a good move for us.
Wendi on Tue, April 22, 2008

Interesting Eric. I’m glad that your move to self-employment was a good one, and I’m guessing that you are still vigorously serving the Lord. So how would you respond to the concept of “calling”? Do you think that you missed the correct calling? Was it more like then and now were obedient and correct responses to the Lord, with a course change orchestrated by Him along the way?

Wendi
Eric Spangler on Tue, April 22, 2008

Dude:

If I were not a pastor, I’d be applying to be your assistant. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif

(I’m your new Seattle buddy… remember?)

If you would not hire me, then I’d be working for some Social-Justice or Relief and Development organization… I worked for our denomination in Missions Mobilization for five years and loved it.

My local church is WAY cool now, or I’d ask you for an application.

-Eric
Pastor Ken on Tue, April 22, 2008

I would be a lawyer if I wasn’t a pastor, they are really similiar because both serve to “defend” a position, but I really can’t imagine doing anything else with my life but what I’ve been doing since 1991.