A working preacher is one who works tirelessly for their community and in the great commission. They are called the workers affectionally by those who know what they do and how hard they work. They work in gathering with other people from different places for a mission. They may have to be in constant communication with their leaders for safety and security in this work. When the working pastor leaves, he takes his congregation along with him because of their popularity.
The idea of working in this manner is one that was founded in prayer. Because of the nature of this work, it is necessary to pray for these people. They are backbone of the church. Therefore, they need as much love and support as they can muster from the people they work to help.
The working clergy will work the hour or two a week for the church in an area that they have chosen. This may be at the church of their choice or in another location. Wherever they are they will wear the uniform of the clergy, the same long coat or pants, white shirts, and tie. The only difference is the uniform may be more colorful, or they might have on a coat or cap that looks like the uniform. These men will often take turns in the caring and tending of the elderly or sick in the local area.
When a man or woman is not working for the ministry, they may be called to fill in for a working clergy when they are absent for some reason, such as being ill or attending to the sick. A person who fills in for a working preacher will usually have different responsibilities than the normal pastor would have. It is not uncommon for the working preacher to take the children to school during the day, teach Sunday school, or lead Bible studies in the evening. Some will even take the children to lunch and dinner, while they are on their walk or jog around town.
They have to find a way to bring people into their area to listen to their message. One way that they do this is by holding open houses. Any time there are children present at a house, the working preacher will set up a table outside of the house holding cards and brochures for people to look through and learn more about the work they are interested in. Sometimes they may also offer hot meals or desserts at the house. Some churches use the services of a caretaker to take care of the children during the day so that the work preacher can go and preach to the children, without having to worry about childcare.
Because they are paid so little, working with a paid clergy is extremely important to the ministry. Without the preachers, many churches would not have very large following or be able to function properly. They are an incredibly important part of every working church and make sure that everyone is always working hard so that everyone has a sense of purpose and meaning.
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