Bi-Vocational Missions
By John Yingling
When I began my missionary career a couple of decades ago bi-vocational missions was frowned upon. In fact, a missionary would lose support if he or she was found to be “double dipping.” No one wanted to support a missionary that was not devoting one hundred percent of their time to missions. Are things different today? Should a missionary do secular work and receive support as a missionary too? Let’s consider bi-vocational missions.
Missionary Highlight
The Martinez Family
Rey and Nichole Martinez
Please pray for Rey and Nichole Martinez. After 31/2 years they have finished deputation and will be moving to the Rosebud Reservation to begin their ministry alongside the Berg family among the Lakota Sioux. Their commissioning service will be held at Wayside Baptist Church in Maryland this coming Sunday, June 2nd.There is much to be accomplished. Please pray that Rey will be able to sell their RV. Pray for the sale of their home in Michigan. Pray also as they look for the perfect housing situation in Nebraska/South Dakota area and for their subsequent move and adjustment.
Most importantly pray for a moving of the hearts among the Lakota Sioux. They are a broken people caught in the grips of substance abuse and all that goes with it. Only God can help them! If they do not repent soon they will be lost forever. Pray that God will “…give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3.
Missionary Humor
Found in a church bulletin: Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Baptist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
First, let’s look at it scripturally. What does the Bible have to say about bi-vocational missions? Immediately, Paul comes to mind. This is Paul’s testimony from Acts 20:34, “Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.” The learned Paul was not above manual labor. He was a tent maker. Acts 18:2-3 illustrates this; Aquila and Priscilla joined Paul in Corinth because of his occupation. “And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.” [emphasis added] Paul received support while he was making tents in Corinth. He told the Corinthians this much in 2 Corinthians 11:8, “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.” Obviously, the Scriptures support this approach to missions.
Next, let’s look at bi-vocational missions strategically. According to Joshua Project 43.2% of the world is unreached. That amounts to about 3 billion people in over 7,000 different people groups. Many of these forgotten people live in countries that limit or restrict missionaries. We call these countries limited access nations (LAN) or restricted access nations (RAN). The only way to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these people is by unconventional means. Before our Savior said “go” in Matthew 28:19-20, He said “All power (exousia – authority, jurisdiction, right) is given unto me…” He has authority over all limiting and restricting governments, and He says go! We must therefore find ways to go; this includes bi-vocational missions. Today many good and effective missionaries are getting into these LANs and RANs as English teachers, businessmen, medical practitioners, etc. and earning money too. I say, “Praise God!”
Since I mentioned money let’s consider bi-vocational missions financially. On average independent Baptist missionaries spend at least three years on deputation raising support. While this is a topic in and of itself, suffice it to say our economy is not making this any easier. I am not too optimistic about our economic growth in the near future either. Bi-vocational missions is a way for missionaries to get to the field faster while giving local churches more bang for their missionary buck. It just makes sense, or should I say cents.
Finally, let’s look at it spiritually. I believe that in countries where bi-vocational missions is appropriate and effective accountability is the key. We all need accountability, but we especially need it as missionaries who are supported by the sacrificial gifts of God’s people. A bi-vocational missionary must be candid about his true needs and transparent about the missionary work that is taking place. BIO exists, in part, to assists with the accountability of our local church sent missionaries. Paul and Barnabas are a fine example of accountability. They willingly made themselves accountable to their sending church. Acts 14:26-27 records this, “And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Missionaries today have many tools at their disposal to help them communicate “…what God had done with them…”
I believe a bi-vocational missionary can do secular work and be an effective missionary who is worthy of every dollar of support. Many times the secular work itself becomes sacred by opening many doors of opportunity for the missionary to clearly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that bi-vocational missions are for today. We cannot harbor any excuse. We MUST go and tell!
Missionary Quote
“‘Not called!’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father’s house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.” – William Booth
This article was originally written for 
Bro. Childers will take part in an ordination for Pastor Laban. Bro. Laban was saved within a few weeks of the Childers’ arrival in Africa. Later Bro. Laban became the assistant pastor and finally the pastor of the Rumba Baptist Church in 2000. He will be ordained on April 21 and then the church will host a Bible Conference the next few days. Bro. Childers will take part in the meetings.