No, you are not the sucker of all time. There are many others who have made the same mistake of not setting specific timeframes and deadlines for receiving appropriate compensation. We tend to “blur or spiritualize” those ministry-related areas of our lives that should simply be handled as business (i.e., get it in writing). I cannot say whether 5 months or 5 years is too much time, that depends on your goals and most especially, on God’s calling in your life. I can say however, that it is time to consider your options and make an informed decision. You can always give your current church the option to match or exceed your offer(s).

Sounds like it’s time to move on.  Regardless of whether or not they will compensate you in the future, they have failed to take care of you in the present.  It seems very controlling and manipulative to ask that you not consider other offers.  I would say it’s time to get out there and look for a church that will not only let you minister, but will minister to you as well.  And helping you meet the basic needs of yourself and your family (or future family) by providing a steady income is part of that ministry.

I agree that it is probably time to move on.  My first ministry position as part time youth pastor I held for 4 years with the hope that it would turn into a full-time position.  I went 4 years without a raise too.  I have sense moved on and God is doing incredible things here.  Pray about it, but I believe that you have family needs financially and even if the church means well, they need to make it happen or it will never happen.

If your heart is to be in full-time ministry and you need to be paid then follow God’s arrow. Just don’t leave until you are anointed vs. being annoyed. We have to love our God, our family, our church and our way of life. I suggest you pray over any and all offers but wisdom of what God wants is the most important. Our purpose in life may be in full-time paid ministry or bi-vocational ministry.....Trust me it is wiser to be happy than rich...ON the other hand you need to live and money is needed..so you are a sucker if you leave without the anointment of Christ....Pray brother pray.

Have you asked the church to make a contribution to your schooling? Sometimes they have a benevolence line in their budget. 
Seems like most churches are hard up for workers and have no money to hire people. If you are a sucker, would you say you’re a sucker for God?
I’ve seen volunteers that give it up for the church and leave offended because they didn’t get the respect they desire. I think if you are volunteering it should be because that’s where God wants you for whatever reason, not because you expect to receive anything from people.
As for finding a job, I’m surprised no one has said to look for God’s will. If God wants you to work in that church, it will open up but I would seek his face. It’s your future you’re talking about, not really about the church you are volunteering at.  It’s a big old world out there and He’s got a plan for you. Don’t ask me, Ask HIM! Take it as a compliment that they would love to have you on their staff but don’t base your decisions on what they think or what they would like.

I have found that good paper makes for good relationships.  in other words allways get it in writing especially when you are dealing with churches.  you can have a lawyer draw up a contract that includes growth markers like, when the church reports 100 in attendance then we will pay you this much. when it hits two hundred then this much. you might want to use short time lines like, in 6 months we will do this or that.  trust me even if the pastor is one of your best friends they will squeeze every thing out of you that you will let them.  it is sad to say but i have been in full time ministy for over 15 years and it only stopped when i stopped it. my lawyers have really helped me to come to terms with these kinds of situations. your ideals of the church being concerend about your future must change.

When dealing with Russia, Former President Ronald Regan said, “Trust, but verify!” When dealing with churches, I say, “Trust the Word of the Lord, but get everything else in writing!” WJE

Wow!  what a hot button.

Paul says in Scripture that the worker is worthy of his hire. 

Unfortunately Churches are often run less effectively and less fairly than secular companies.  Practices that would not and could not exist in the marketplace exist in Churches because those Churches hide behind the Separation of Church and State.

Having worked with Churches for 20 years, here’s what I wished I knew at the beginning that I know now.

1.  The most important thing is call.  If God has called you, then you follow and allow Him to work things out.  But it is your responsibility to know if you are indeed being called and it is not always easy to know.  Pray.

2.  A call is a 2 way street.  God calls you but he also calls the Church to do their part.  If the Church will not respond to God’s call to provide for yours and your families needs then that is grounds for a release from my call in my opinion.  It is your responsibility to define a boundry and see that you keep your part and do not allow a Church to defy their need for faith, sacrifice and commitment to their Christian Worker.  That is just as important as your responsibility.

Church leaders who heap guilt on a Christian Worker for not sticking to a position when they themselves refuse to make a commitment with dollars and time limits attached are hypocrites.  Do not enable them.  Be gracious, be merciful, be understanding but the care of your family is entrusted to you and if others will not meet their responsibilities then that releases you from that call.

If you know that there is no money and no commitment to begin to pay you and you continue in that position, then reconcile yourself that you are a tentmaker and trusting God.  If He’s called you he’ll provide.  You’re the one responsible to make that determination, however, not the Church.  They are responsible to care for you as a Christian Worker.

I’d walk away sooner rather than later if I were in that situation.

Wow!  what a hot button.

Paul says in Scripture that the worker is worthy of his hire. 

Unfortunately Churches are often run less effectively and less fairly than secular companies.  Practices that would not and could not exist in the marketplace exist in Churches because those Churches hide behind the Separation of Church and State.

Having worked with Churches for 20 years, here’s what I wished I knew at the beginning that I know now.

1.  The most important thing is call.  If God has called you, then you follow and allow Him to work things out.  But it is your responsibility to know if you are indeed being called and it is not always easy to know.  Pray.

2.  A call is a 2 way street.  God calls you but he also calls the Church to do their part.  If the Church will not respond to God’s call to provide for yours and your families needs then that is grounds for a release from my call in my opinion.  It is your responsibility to define a boundry and see that you keep your part and do not allow a Church to defy their need for faith, sacrifice and commitment to their Christian Worker.  That is just as important as your responsibility.

Church leaders who heap guilt on a Christian Worker for not sticking to a position when they themselves refuse to make a commitment with dollars and time limits attached are hypocrites.  Do not enable them.  Be gracious, be merciful, be understanding but the care of your family is entrusted to you and if others will not meet their responsibilities then that releases you from that call.

If you know that there is no money and no commitment to begin to pay you and you continue in that position, then reconcile yourself that you are a tentmaker and trusting God.  If He’s called you he’ll provide.  You’re the one responsible to make that determination, however, not the Church.  They are responsible to care for you as a Christian Worker.

I’d walk away sooner rather than later if I were in that situation.

I have served several congregations over the past 30 years at little or no compensation.  I have done so by choice; God has blessed me with a good job and adequate salary to provide for my needs and be able to help young or small and struggling churches.  However, I have come to the conclusion by not allowing them to provide financial remuneration I have done them a diservice.  They have at times become dependent; at others they have become almost resentful and when they reached the point they could and should have been paying a minister they were unwilling.

I do not think you are a sucker.  I think you are a good and caring man of God who wants to help and has invested a great deal of your time and energy into a body of believers that you want to see succeed.  However, you need to ask yourself, “am I really helping them or am I crippling them by not requiring them to stretch their faith.” Only the Holy Spirit can answer that for you.  But it is important you lay the issue before him.

YES...Been there and done that..
You are a sucker because you let them turn you into one!  Get more decisive with them or just get out…
Just some friendly advice, my brother

Check out the offers and give the present ministry an opportunity to do the same. Be confident of your gifts and your call. a ministry like you are a part of now will never see the importance of ‘specialist’ in ministry. There concept of ministry is obviously different from yours. I am a Senior Pastor who believes in paying, as one stated, if I can only start you out at $50.00 a month - the ministry needs to take responsiblity for their ministers and only the Senior guy can lead them there.