Art of the Assistant

Interview with our Wives

You will find this podcast both practical and thought-provoking.  Carrie and Holly give an excellent perspective from the wife's point of view.  We talk about expectations, finances, and kids.  You will hear about some struggles as well as blessings.  I trust you will enjoy this podcast!  

Interview with Steve Miller

Hey assistant pastors, if you only listen to one podcast this week, make this the one!  Steve Miller has been through the highs and lows of serving as an assistant.  He gets real with us about the trials and hardships that ministry can bring.  You will take away many insightful lessons from him on this podcast. Download it now!!

The Art of Knowing your Position

QUESTION: Are you the assistant to the pastor, the assistant pastor, or the administrative assistant pastor?  Possibly you are all of the above.  Does it really matter which one you are?  We believe it does.  This podcast deals with all three positions and explains how you can excel in whichever one you find yourself in.  

Art of Pleasing People or an Audience of One.

I believe this is something all of us have struggled with at one time or another.  No matter the situation we find ourselves we are always trying to keep everyone happy.  Even though we know this impossible, we still burn ourselves out trying.  I trust this episode will help you do a self search on why you are consumed with pleasing people.   

Interview with Clay Bounds: Assistant Golf Coach at WVU.

There is so much to glean from this podcast.  Clay gives us the inside scoop on what it is like to be an assistant coach at WVU.  He also gives awesome advice that will apply to all areas of life no matter what position you find yourself in.  I know you will enjoy this podcast!

Art of Time Management

Let's face it, we all have the potential of being lazy.  Some spend more time staring at a during the day than they do accomplishing anything.  Time Management is a topic that is much easier to talk and write about than practice.  This is a practical guide on how to use your time wisely for the Kingdom.  

The Art of Dealing with Distractions

This episode is an introduction to time management principles.  Time is a terrible thing to waste, and yet we wast more than we often utilize.  According to current research the average person spends 2hrs and 22min on social media alone!

We trust these time management helps will encourage you to begin redeeming your time.

For resources about time management you can click on the link below.

https://www.tregspicer.com/aoa

Art of Working with Family: Interview with Johnny Crane

Are you thinking about working or currently working for a family member?  Johnny Crane not only served as his father's assistant but also as a teacher in the school where his mother was the administrator.  This interview will give you some practical advice if you find yourself in a bind when your pastor and boss is your father.  

Art of Entrepreneurship

Bi-vocational is becoming more and more the norm as we see churches struggling from Covid.  But honestly, the second source of income can be a blessing not only to you but your ministry.  

In this podcast, we will discuss ways to supplement your income without taking time away from your ministry or families.  

Art of Poverty

“I love having the elephant in the room conversations,” said no one ever! I have been in several meetings over the years when you knew everyone there understood what the problem was but no one had the guts to speak up.  

 

You’ve been there.  Countless times.  It’s always in the budget meeting. Staring at you is the elephant in the room yet you sit remaining silent.  

 

These stories are “almost true” but the names are not real.  

 

It is the night of the dreaded financial meeting with the elders.  Your wife begs you to speak up this time.  She sees the stress your current financial situation puts on you and is not only concerned about buying groceries but also her husband's health. “When the subject of raises comes up,” she says, “you had to let them know you were struggling.”  Finally, the question came, “Should we hand out raises this year?”  You sit in silence.  Granted, you are making the same you did 5 years and three kids ago, but who’s counting anyway.  You are thinking: “Surely the board will see everything I have done and how much help I have been around here.  Man, without me this ministry would be dead in a year max.  They must see that!”   You continue to sit in silence.  “Well I think it would be unwise to hand out raises again this year,” Bill says.  “I think you are right Bill,” says the Pastor. “The economy is shaky, the old factory in town could close down at any time and money doesn’t grow on trees.  It will be ok,” he continues, “God always meets our needs.”  

 

You think! That is easy for him to say! It’s just the two of them with a combined yearly income of more than I will make in five years!  

 

The meeting is over.  You have a difficult time making eye contact with any of the board members as you leave.  Worse yet, you know your wife is waiting at home for the big news.

 

If you have been in those meetings, I am sorry!  I know what that feels like!  

 

The fact is when you signed up for this (or when God signed you up) a vow of poverty seemed to come along as part of the calling.  somehow many churches and senior pastors feel by having their associates live like a monk or priest it is somehow good for them.  It is not.  Jesuit Father James Bretzke says about living within the realms of his vow to poverty, “Poverty is also meant to mortify us…”

 

Some of you reading this right now have been mortified.  You were mortified while standing in line at the DHHR applying for food stamps.  You were mortified while applying for WIC.  You were mortified when you had to do Christmas on December 27 because you needed the Christmas bonus to be able to afford presents for your children.  You are mortified every time your car pulls into a public parking lot.  

 

But YOU DID NOT TAKE A VOW OF POVERTY. 

Now what I am going to say is from my own personal experiences.  If you are looking for the strategy I recommend Dave Ramsey for a good shot in the arm. But please remember his book is not an appendix to the Scripture as some make it out to be.  

 

So what can you do that I wish I would have done when I was an associate.

 

 1.  Stay away from credit cards!  

 

2.  Get a “real” job.

 

My oldest son was sitting in the back of the car when he was probably 6. Out of nowhere, he said, “Dad, I want a real job like Papaw when I grow up.”  I said, “What do you mean?”  “Well, Papaw works with tools and fixes things all day, all you do is read the Bible and talk to people!”  He was right.

 

It took ten years of living in poverty before Carrie and I finally realized I needed a “real job.”  The problem was I wasn’t like Papaw. I can’t fix anything!  So we began to pray about what we could do to help ends meet.  After much prayer, we felt I needed to start a martial arts business.  I love to teach, I love kids, and I love Tae Kwon Do.  I asked the pastor for permission to use the “annex” building on Tuesday and Thursdays and he graciously allowed me to do so.  Long story short we outgrew the annex gym and I leased a building and had a very successful business going.  

 

3.  Have a difficult conversation.

 

Still not convinced bi-vocational is the way to go.  Then sit down with your pastor and have a heart-to-heart. 

 

I then sat down with my pastor and told him we were struggling financially and asked if the church could help.  He said, “One time when we were in our early years of ministry we had no food in our house at all.  We had no money and weren’t sure what we were going to do.  When I got home from church that Sunday someone had filled our kitchen full of food.  God took care of our needs.  God will take care of your needs.”

 

He was right, God’s provision was there. It was most likely at another ministry or second job and I was too dumb, stubborn, and proud to consider it.  

 

You have no one to blame for your current financial burden other than yourself.  Is your wife and family not worth providing for?  Is it fair to them to be the ones without?  Is poverty really a sign of spirituality?  

 

No.  

 

Pastor, get a real job!  If your church says you cannot get a second job let them know that is fine because it is soon to become your first job!  

 

Be innovative and look for other ways to make money and when someone asks you “What's in your wallet” you can say, “Cash, NOT Capital One.”