I just tried googling this, and didn’t find a thing that was relevant.

My Pastor and mentor, Philip, suggested this to me a few weeks ago as a possibility when we begin to move forward with our dream of planting a church in Alberta.  He was suggesting that going bivocational would allow us to be more financially secure as we set down roots in the new community.

It certainly fits with my skill set - I am currently in a sales position for a company that makes real estate software for agents.  From the first week on the job, I was convinced that it would be easy to make money in real estate if a person simply used the tools we sell - that’s probably why I sell it well - I actually believe in the product.  But it had me thinking for a few years now that I could do well in that industry.  In addition, I already have some training in geography and mapping in Alberta, when I was in Forestry.  So I get that lingo.

The job has it downsides.  It is an on-call, 24/7 type job which can get very hectic if you get a lot of business.  But it is scalable and ultimately you set your own hours.

A couple other downsides are it would cost me money to get my license, and starting up as a realtor in a town you haven’t lived in it would seem to me to be a little tricky - local knowledge is an advantage in that job.

The upside is the chance to be out in the community all the time, getting to know the neighbourhoods, the issues, the things that make the community tick every single day, and earn money while I am at it.

It seems like such a good idea, I am wondering why nobody ever thought of it before.  But, it does pose more questions.  When is the right time to start chasing that license?  Would it be smart to get into real estate right now, or soon, and give myself a couple of years to learn the trade?  Or would it be better to plan to get the license just before or after the move?  Where am I going to come up with the money for the training?  Where am I going to find the time?

Talk about a recipe for growth!  I just started thinking about all the connections I am going to be maintaining this fall.  If God is in this, I can’t help but learn something this year.

One thing my leadership courses taught me at ACTS was mentoring is critical to growth.  You need three types of relationships - peer relationships, someone older/wiser/more experienced, and someone younger/less wise/less experienced to speak into.  This way you can give a lot and receive in return, and not burn out.

Peer relationships that are deep enough to speak into my life (and me into theirs):

• Brandon
• Bill
• There could be a couple more but things are still early.

Mentoring me:

• Phil
• Ken

Being mentored by me:

• Harry
• Shane

Even those people I am mentoring, man, they are real God-followers!  I will be learning a ton from them too, no matter what happens.  But from what I have heard/read about people who mentor, they always learn from their students as well, so that’s supposed to happen.

Now the big challenge - keeping connected with all these people!  Luckily there are a lot of systems we can use to our advantage.  And not just technology!

First, let me just say that I have NEVER seen a rainstorm like the one that greeted us on the drive from the Orlando Airport to Innisbrook on the day of our arrival.  I’ve never actually seen the heavens fall like that before.  It was coming down so hard and fast that at points the traffic stopped.  The rain was hitting the windshield so fast that you couldn’t see the car 10 feet in front of you.

Innisbrook Golf Resort and Conference Center was a lovely place to visit.  They were excellent hosts, and their facilities were quite nice.  The grounds, with the golf courses were pretty, but not a lot of room for walking.  If they’d had more sidewalks we might not have driven our car around as much.  They did have shuttles, but it was hit-and-miss getting one during busy times.  A little frustrating that their only clear “family” restaurant on resort was closed for renovations.

We weren’t really sure what to expect when we went down there.  In retrospect, it is clear that what this was meant to be about was fellowship.    It was about reconnecting with all those people from other areas of the country, celebrating what is going on in the many organizations that the Grace Brethren cooperate with, and being encouraged with messages to keep on doing what Jesus wants us to be about.  Jim Brown was the lead person and spoke briefly at the beginning of each major session.  He is a really neat individual.  We got to see all sides of him that week: from his self-concious, but nonetheless brave foray onto the streets of Tampa to find out what people believe about life and the afterlife, to his huge heart to reach lost people and encourage others to do the same, to the crescendo of his message, pointing out humanity’s needs in all corners of the world at the top of his lungs and at the edge of heartbreak.  You can definitely see why his ministry in Goshen, IN has been blessed.

He wasn’t the only character there either.  It was a pleasure meeting many of the faces of the Grace Brethren, and I was honoured to have some great conversations and learn more from many of them.  Sometimes they weren’t necessarily speaking to me, but their words showed me a passion for people and for Jesus.  I think of Tim Boal’s moving talk about Go2 Church Planting, the new arm to encourage and equip new leaders to plant new churches.  I think of Jim Laird and his wife, who blessed us with interest in what we are doing in Canada, and with prayer for us at our table.  I think of Terry White, who invited me to sit next to him at the BMH breakfast and helped me get the inside track on publishing and how they work.  I think of Mark Cahill and his two challenges to take seriously the Christian job of sharing the gospel as much as you possibly can, planting seeds, watering, weeding and so on to help create the harvest.  I think of my own pastor, Philip Bryant, who stirred the pot of the fellowship everywhere he went.  I think of Tom Avey, who despite having a billion things to think about and do as far as organizing, still had time for us and remembered who we were, despite having only ever exchanged one or two emails.  I think of Glen Sykes, a man who likes his sushi, but was gentleman enough to help my feisty boys while we were out at the Kobe Steak and Sushi.  His story was one that moved me in the few minutes we had for intelligent conversation around my sons’ silliness.

There is something rich in being a member of a fellowship (not a denomination) where the people are intent on Christ and intent on not telling you what to do but walking beside you, and encouraging you, and being encouraged by that fellowship.  I really felt that while we were at iGo.  We are both really excited and plan already to go to next year’s event, Equip ‘09 which will be in Columbus, OH.  I understand it is much more focused on training, seminars and teaching which is fine by us.  The speaker list already looks very exciting.  But more, the opportunity to be with these men and women again is anticipated most of all.