1. Bi-Vo Planting In Small Town USA
Joel Seymour
Michael Houle

2. Joel Seymour, Lancaster, OH (pop. 40,000)
Leader of Small Town USA specialty group for Multiply Vineyard
Area Leader for SE Ohio, WV, and Western PA
First church plant age 22 in Wauseon, OH (pop. 5000)
Second church plant age 26 in Lancaster, OH (pop. 40,000)
Was Bi-Vo in the beginning of both plants

3. Michael Houle, Chippewa Falls, WI (pop. 13,000)
Bi-Vo for 11 years as planter and pastor of Valley Vineyard
Member of the Small Town USA specialty group for Multiply Vineyard
Serves as a coach for church planters
Part of N. Wisconsin church planting triad
with 8 small town plants in the pipeline

4. Bi-Vo Planting In Small Town USA
Joel Seymour
Michael Houle

5. Statistics on Bi-Vocational Pastors
70% of African-American Churches are pastored by Bi-Vo’s
83% of all Southern Baptist Churches less than 125 Sunday attenders
50% of all SBC pastors are Bi-Vocational (higher in places like TN & KY)
33% - 40% of Nazarene Pastors are Bi-Vo
Dennis Bickers’ research indicates a safe, conservative percentage of pastors who are Bi- Vo is 33%
Sources:
Interview with Dennis Bickers, October 27, 2016;
PBS Religion & Ethics Weekly “Bi-Vocational Pastors” Report
SBCLife, Journal of the Southern Baptist Convention, December Bi-vocational, Small-Church Pastors Intentional by Diane Chandle

6. Why being Bi-Vo in the small town is challenging
The Current Definition of Church “Success”

7. Why being Bi-Vo in the small town is challenging
The Current Definition of Church “Success”
Physical Fatigue & Poor Health of the Pastor

8. Why being Bi-Vo in the small town is challenging
The Current Definition of Church “Success”
Physical Fatigue & Poor Health of the Pastor
Less Time For Ministry

9. Why being Bi-Vo in the small town is challenging
The Current Definition of Church “Success”
Physical Fatigue & Poor Health of the Pastor
Less Time For Ministry
Limited Time For Family

10. Why being Bi-Vo in the small town is challenging
The Current Definition of Church “Success”
Physical Fatigue & Poor Health of the Pastor
Less Time For Ministry
Limited Time For Family
Connecting With Denomination & Other Pastors

11. Why Encourage Small Town Planters to be Bi-Vo
Opportunity to Bless the Community
More weddings & baby dedications
You pastor your community - and someone else pays you to do it!
You’re seen as a financial contributor to the town

12. Why Encourage Small Town Planters to be Bi-Vo
Opportunity to Bless the Community
Opportunity to Bless the Church
It takes the pressure off of the church
Reversed tiered funding may be more beneficial
It takes more than 10 tithing families now
Congregants are blessed because their pastor is in the workforce living their life

13. Why Encourage Small Town Planters to be Bi-Vo
Opportunity to Bless the Community
Opportunity to Bless the Church
Opportunity to Equip the Saints
Make them aware of your limited capacity
Priesthood of all believers is emphasized by bi-vo’s
Bi-vo is then free to focus on long term & not just urgent

14. Best Practices For Denominations who want To Support Bi-Vo Planters
Train Bi-Vo Planters (prepare, train, & continue to train)
Assessment
Train them for Hard
Ongoing Training
Triads

15. Best Practices For Denominations who want To Support Bi-Vo Planters
Train Bi-Vo Planters (prepare, train, & continue to train)
Event Scheduling with Bi-Vo’s in mind
Evenings or Saturday Morning
Retreats for the Bi-Vo’s schedule
Consider paying not just their way but for missed work

16. Best Practices For Denominations who want To Support Bi-Vo Planters
Train Bi-Vo Planters (prepare, train, & continue to train)
Event Scheduling with Bi-Vo’s in mind
Affirm Bi-Vo Planters Often
Affirm them as Kingdom & Small Town Heroes
Pay attention to them
Provide a way for 4 Sundays off a year

17. Q & A
Michael Houle Joel Seymour