EP 297 – The Healthy Bi-vocational Pastor Cares Attentively for His People – Bi-vocational Characteristics
Learn why balance is a myth and how bi-vocational pastors can practice situational priorities to attentively care for family, church, and community without burning out.
In this episode of the Replant Bootcamp, JimBo Stewart is joined once again by the “Bi-Vocational Bros,” Matt MacNaughton and Chris Snider, as they continue their series on the characteristics of a healthy bi-vocational pastor. Today, they dive into the fifth characteristic: attentively caring for your people.
Being bi-vocational brings unique challenges—balancing family, church, and work responsibilities. Matt and Chris share wisdom on how pastors can prioritize relationships without burning out, how to navigate pastoral “triage,” and why balance may be a myth. Instead, they encourage pastors to think in terms of situational priorities, learning to be fully present wherever God has placed them in the moment.
This conversation covers the importance of caring well for your family, shepherding your congregation attentively, and knowing when to say no to good ministry opportunities in order to protect your first callings at home.
Key Topics Discussed
- The importance of attentively caring for family, church, and community.
- Why “balance” is a myth and how to think in terms of situational priorities.
- Practical examples of when to prioritize family over church responsibilities and vice versa.
- How to be fully present and avoid treating people like “tasks” to check off a list.
- Tools like pastoral triage to help navigate urgent vs. non-urgent needs.
- Building healthy rhythms and small rituals to communicate attentiveness at home.
- Action steps for pastors to intentionally love, listen, and shepherd their people.
Quotes from the Episode
- “Your church can find a new pastor, but your wife cannot find a new husband, and your children cannot find a new dad.” – Chris Snider
- “I don’t think balance is possible. Instead, we have to practice situational priorities and learn to give attention where it’s most needed in the moment.” – Matt MacNaughton
- “I want the people I pastor, and especially my family, to feel that they are fully seen and heard when they’re with me.” – JimBo Stewart
Resources Mentioned
- Craig Hamilton’s book: Wisdom in Leadership (on situational priorities)
- Galatians 6: Bearing one another’s burdens
- Psalm 23: A pastoral fallback when unexpected circumstances arise
Action Steps for Pastors
- List your top five people-needs that regularly pull your time and energy. Label which can shift depending on season.
- Establish small, consistent family rituals (like a weekly meal) that communicate presence and priority.
- Practice pastoral triage by asking questions to discern urgency before rushing away from family time.
- Be fully present in each moment—eye contact, listening, and remembering details matter.
- Pray for attentiveness before entering your home or engaging in a pastoral conversation, asking God to clear distractions.
Subscribe & Share
Don’t miss the rest of this series on the characteristics of healthy bi-vocational pastors. Subscribe to the Replant Bootcamp wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with another pastor who may be navigating the challenges of bi-vocational ministry.