The Vocational Church
Vocational Church – What is being described as the “come and see” or “come to us” church is not “attractional” but rather “vocational.” By “vocational” I mean a church that is led by a “vocational” leader/pastor who sees his “job” as a means of income for his family and livelihood. He doesn’t necessarily feel “called” as much as he just enjoys the ministry as a vocation. He feels a strong suitability to the work and approaches it as his career. He is trained to lead a church, to teach his congregation and to provide guidance in the dispersing and partaking of the sacraments. He learns to be a good communicator, counselor, and leader…but it is his vocation…not necessarily the call of God on his life. This church is for the most part passive towards the community and inward focused. There is little or no concern for the lost and hurting unless there are family members of the congregation that are lost and hurting. Numerical growth is not an issue. As one pastor told me, “We are a small church that is not growing and that’s the way I like it.”
The Vocational Church focuses on its congregation. It is most often controlled by a family or a group of deacons or elders. It is mainly interested in having sermons on Sunday and the needs of its members attended to by the “preacher” or “minister.”
In most cases the Vocational Church does not have small groups and does not do community outreach. It seems to be somewhat opposed to having outsiders coming in fear that it would interfere with its quaintness or social order. One conversation I overheard on a flight from Atlanta to Birmingham two ladies were talking and one said, “That church was so big I didn’t know anyone there. At our church I know everyone by name.” Value is put on knowing everyone not on reaching everyone.
The Vocational Church is not attractive to the under-churched and is mostly avoided by people who think church is boring, irrelevant, and clannish.
Theologically the Vocational Church preaches its denomination or affiliation’s doctrine mixed with illustrations from everyday life. Application is not always made to the truth being presented.
Negatives – The overall lack of mission is the underlying weakness of the Vocational Church. Every other negative factor stems from that.
I will talk about the Attractional church later. Let’s not confuse the two….Billy Hornsby
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Comments
Tim Ferrill
I couldn’t agree more with you Billy! I was a part of a mainline denomination full of Vocational Churches lead by Vocational Pastors. I never felt a part of the “pack.” When I found out about the ARC and attended my first ARC Conference I said to myself and the others with me, “We finally found our Tribe!” Thanks for your continued leadership and trust in us young pastors. You are a great mentor and leader. I consider myself blessed to be an ARC Church Planter!
Pastor Bob Roach
The Vocational Church: I read your brief description on the vocational Church and felt that it should be renamed the vocational pastor. Jesus called these kinds of pastors’ hirelings. The prophets called them false shepherds that were often preceded by the words “woe unto you.” I have pastored for over 35 years in various denominations. I have pastored mega churches, small churches, and in-between churches, no matter the size of the Church they all functioned according in the same mode. They were all was based on programs; programs that were designed to build up the church and to promote all too often the pastor’s ministry. Christianity to a large extent has become a religion that is based on the concepts and ideals of the world’s business institutions. The church for most part has become an entertainment spectacle and big business. It has become a place of generational ascendancy and can be seen as a family business, nepotism is the norm in far to many places. Religion has replaced relationship and success has replaced significance. The church of today is often viewed by the world as one of many social exchanges. For the last 10 years we have been doing pure home church ministry. We continually are examing the book of Acts as our Church vision. We have seen lives changed, relationships established, maintained and nurtured. We have seen families restored. Evangelism has become a normal everyday outreach of the Church, it is lived and we have seen many lives changed as ordinary Christians do extraordinary exploits for Christ. There is so much more I wish I could say.
In the Masters Service
Pastor Bob
Umair
Zahid s/o Mushtaq Masih is of 4 months and living in a village 320 G-B Janiwala near Toba Tek Singh city. Zahid has tumor on his back. His father Mushtaq Masih is working on a brick kiln factory and is indebted for Rs. 25,000. He has 5 children 3 daughters and 2 sons and Zahid is at last. There are total 7 members in Zahid’s family and her father is only earning member of the family. Zahid’s father daily income is approximately Rs. 140 (less than $2) and it is very difficult for him to run his family in less income so his family is living from hand to mouth. Zahid’s father is also indebted for 30,000 and after deduction he get next to none money for looking after of his family. The owner of the brick kiln factory does not allow them to go anywhere else till they do not pay the loan of Rs. 30,000.
Zahid has tumor on his back by birth and doctors advised him operation which is very costly and because his family is a poor family and they are already spending their lives from hand to mouth, so it is very difficult for them to pay the heavy fees of doctors and bear the expenditures of operation which are approximately Rs. 4200 ($500). In the beginning it was minor but with the passage of time it is growing. The staff members of IES visited the home of Zahid and found that they are really in need and our little help can save a life of a child.
If you want then I can send you more details about Zahid and his family.
God bless you always
In his hands,
Umair
We research the village of Janiwala near the city of Toba Tek Singh. When we visit there then we saw that so much Christian’s peoples are needy and looking for help from the God. We visit different houses. Children’s play in the street all day because in this village no school and no church. But children’s are so much hard work but still looking for the study way. We are trying to distribute the food bags in the village. We need your prayers. The report is available upon request. If interested please email us brothergoodness@yahoo.com .
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