Church planting is a wild ride. You’re building something from the ground up—reaching people, changing lives, and following God’s call. But let’s be real: planting a church can get complicated, especially when you’re also trying to balance the demands of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re bi-vocational, co-vocational, or just hustling to make ends meet, the challenge is real.
So, how do we balance these two massive callings without losing our minds, burning out, or losing focus? Let’s dive in.
1. Your Work is Worship—Own It
Sometimes, we compartmentalize, thinking business is business and ministry is ministry. But Scripture paints a different picture. Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work “as unto the Lord” in everything we do. Whether you’re running a coffee shop, managing a business, or leading a startup, your work is worship. Paul made tents to support himself while spreading the gospel—he didn’t see that as less spiritual, and neither should we. Your entrepreneurial hustle can be an extension of your ministry.
2. Keep Your Calling Front and Center
While you might wear multiple hats, don’t lose sight of your primary calling—planting the church. Business can be demanding, but it’s not the main event. God called you to lead people, not just to build a business. Establish clear priorities and boundaries to protect your time for pastoring, preaching, and shepherding. Keep asking yourself: “Am I leading this church well? Is this still about people, or has it become about the grind?”
3. Entrepreneurship Brings Skills the Church Needs
Here’s the cool part: your entrepreneurial drive isn’t a distraction from ministry—it can actually be a massive asset. Business skills like marketing, leadership, strategic planning, and financial management? Yeah, the church needs all of that. Especially in the early days, you’re basically an entrepreneur anyway—casting vision, raising resources, and building a team from scratch. Leverage what you know from the business world to grow your church with purpose and intention.
4. Bi-Vocational Doesn’t Mean Second-Rate
In the past, there was this misconception that bi-vocational pastors were somehow “less than” full-time ministers. That’s nonsense. Being bi-vocational can actually give you greater freedom and flexibility, not to mention credibility in your community. Your job or business can provide financial stability while your church is growing. Just make sure that your entrepreneurial efforts don’t consume so much time that your ministry suffers. You’re not called to hustle harder—you’re called to hustle smarter.
5. Surround Yourself with the Right People
You can’t do this alone. If you’re trying to juggle ministry and entrepreneurship without a solid support system, burnout is lurking right around the corner. Get people around you who will push you to keep your priorities straight—mentors, coaches, and friends who aren’t afraid to speak truth into your life. And don’t underestimate the power of a strong church leadership team. Empower others in the church to lead, so you’re not carrying the full weight of ministry by yourself.
6. Rest is Holy—Don’t Skip It
Here’s the thing: you’re not a machine. Jesus took time away from ministry to rest, and so should you. Whether it’s weekly Sabbath or planned vacations, you need time to unplug. If you’re constantly in hustle mode—both in your business and the church—you’ll eventually crash. Don’t wear burnout as a badge of honor. Protect your time with God, your family, and for rest. When you’re well-rested, you lead better in both your ministry and your business.
7. Align Your Business with the Church’s Mission
This one’s key. If possible, find ways for your entrepreneurial efforts to tie into the church’s mission. For example, if you run a business that allows you to build relationships with people in your community, use it as a bridge for ministry. Or if your business generates extra income, consider using some of those resources to fund church initiatives or outreach programs. When the lines between your business and ministry blur in a healthy way, it can create synergy that blesses both.
8. Don’t Let Money Drive the Bus
Money is a tool, not the mission. One of the risks of balancing entrepreneurship and ministry is letting financial success take over your decision-making. Be transparent about where your business ends and the church begins. Keep your finances separate and above reproach—integrity in this area is critical. No one should ever wonder if you’re in ministry for the money or if your business is leveraging the church. Keep it clean, and stay accountable.
9. Build a Team and Delegate
If you’re an entrepreneur, chances are you’re used to being hands-on and making things happen. But if you’re doing everything, you’re doing too much. A healthy church and a healthy business both require delegation. Invest in leaders who can carry the load with you. Your goal isn’t just to build a church—it’s to build a team that can lead the church with you. When you give others room to step up, you multiply your ministry and avoid burning out.
10. Stay Faithful, Even When It’s Hard
Balancing ministry and business isn’t easy. There will be days when you feel like you’re failing at both, when the weight of responsibility feels overwhelming. But remember this: God didn’t call you to balance it all perfectly. He called you to be faithful. Stay grounded in prayer, stay connected to your purpose, and trust that God is working through both your church and your hustle. At the end of the day, it’s not about how hard you hustle—it’s about staying faithful to the One who called you.
Final Thought: Keep the Mission in Focus
If God has called you to plant a church and be an entrepreneur, you’re in good company. The key to balancing both is keeping the mission in focus—serving people, building the Kingdom, and glorifying God in everything you do. When the hustle gets hard, remember why you started. It’s not just about building a business or a church—it’s about bringing hope, love, and Jesus to the people you’re called to reach.
