A career change for pastors often leads to an expanded ministry

Career change for pastors . . . is it really possible to change careers without leaving the ministry? Yes!

I wouldn't call this "Leaving the ministry"

Yet, if not serving a local congregation, a pastor who chooses a career change is often said to be leaving ministry (or in church lingo "leaving the ministry".)

Leaving the ministry? No way!

In my new career as a hospice chaplain, I had just made a pastoral visit to a dying patient, a resident in a skilled nursing facility.

As a hospice chaplain, SNF's (skilled nursing facilities) are known for many sounds and smells, but the sound I heard that day was angelic, if I had to choose a descriptive word.

Who was singing? WOW, what a great voice! And the masterful strumming of his guitar was a step above many I have heard. I confess I was amazed at his talent. . .OK, if I'm confessing, I was envious of his talent.

What a beautiful way to provide pastoral care!

As he exited the room of his concert, a little lady, sitting in her wheel chair in the hallway, caught his attention. She asked, "Would you sing a song for me?" He asked, "What do you want to hear?" She replied, "I can't remember. You choose."

It was then that his lyrical tenor voice captured the attention of everyone there as he sang "Danny Boy".

Tears were streaming down her face and when he finished his personalized concert, she asked, "How did you know my boy's name was Danny?" (She wasn't the only one moved to tears that day.) Yes, it was a a very moving way to provide pastoral care.

He then came to the nurses station where I was charting. I introduced myself to him and discovered he too was a hospice chaplain (with another hospice). I thanked him for singing and we both went on our way.

What Comprises A Career Change For Pastors?

As I drove to my next pastoral care visit, I wondered, "With such musical skills, why did he became a health care chaplain?"

Had he been a music pastor at one time? Perhaps he had been a victim of "worship wars" many churches experience these days. (That's when church folk fight over the type of music sung in their church services.)

Maybe he too was told by some that he was "leaving the ministry" when he chose a chaplain career and became a hospice chaplain.

I can imagine that some may even have said he was wasting his talent. But in my opinion, he didn't leave ministry (in making this career change for pastors), he expanded it!

By the way, if you are a mismatched or misplaced music pastor seeking another position, a better approach to find a music ministry job would be ChurchStaffing.com to consider how you can expand ministry rather than leave ministry.

A side note for those reading this who are not pastoring but you are concerned over the exodus of pastors leaving ministry. You can show your love and appreciation for your pastor. For some ideas, click on Pastor Appreciation Ideas.

Infuse New Energy And Passion Into Ministry

I have found that a ministry website that also earns income is a way to infuse new energy and passion into a stagnant ministry career.

For more information how you too could expand your ministry go to Website Reference Center for Churches and Ministries Yes, there are many ministry careers that are outside what is considered a typical church career.

As a heath care chaplain, my ministry is far wider than I ever could have imagined. But through my internet website ministry, I reach thousands each month!

That is the purpose of this website -- to share how a career change for pastors is a way to expand ministry, which is far different than leaving ministry.

Share Your Story Describing Your Career Change As A Pastor

One of the great discoveries in todays world is that there are ministry opportunities in every career. Somehow we have thwarted our impact on changing our world for good by relegating pastors to a local church ministry setting.

There are exciting stories of career change by pastors who have taken their ministry to the streets, infiltrating their world in what is often called a secular job.

Once a pastor has defined their purpose, fulfilling their God given purpose could be done in almost any career where hurting people are encountered.

Click On Share Your Career Change Story if you want to help others explore career change options for pastors.