We just ended our lifegroup. This is the first session out of 20 of Global Leadership Summit Series. The first session was by Ps Craig Groeschel, “The Future of Leadership is Trust”. As I sent out invitation quite last minute, there were only about 6 of us present. But that’s okay, this series is targeting people who are keen with leadership.
After the session I’ve communicated with one of our teammate, whom I really look up to. Hunger for growth, great heart, a firm believer in Stellar’s vision. She hails from a very wealthy family background, decided to dedicate her life for education. However she was having tremendous pressure from family to run a business of their own. We used to watch drama when we were young and rich family always give pressure to children to inherit the business, or what’s even more exciting, arranged marriage with another rich family to expand their business empire and legacy. They have painted a wicked picture of the parents where they are too materialistic, never pay attention to what a child’s real need, interfere too much with the child, etc. But though we are not perfect, isn’t that out of love? the question that I as an edupreneur should really look out for an answer is,
Why can’t a teacher get a decent salary in Malaysia? How do we close the gap strategically?
This has been a constant struggles for years. Some of the most passionate teachers left to Singapore or changed industries simply because they were unable to survive with the salary that they are drawing. It’s also something that I’m trying to address. Ever since 2019 where we were preparing for the expansion of Stellar International School, we have been expanding constantly. with the international school alone, I was shocked by how much capital investment that we need to pour in over the years. It’s like a bottomless pit. Later on we learnt better at managing our budget as situation are more settled. Of course, we also braced through the bigest economic challenges back then — Covid. Now that we have 3 preschools in JB area, 1 international school in puteri harbour, and 1 preschool in Klang, we have higher maturity and clarity on how to move forward, though it’s still a constant battle. Financial resources are scarce. We have no other investors, expansion has always been funded by cash flow generated from business activities, or loan. Hence we can’t have everything and one important question we need to be clear about our strategy is,
What do we want to be? The best? The most profitable? Or the biggest?
It’s interesting that we have achieved all 3, at different season. When we first started Stellar Preschool, we strive to be the best. We gave our best. We hit the market in a very short period of time and we indeed shine like a start locally. Most of us work almost 7 days everyday, because we enjoyed it so much, we were also playing almost everyday. Lots of innovation happened in a short period of time. We were excited about every new innovation. We were fresh … I mean, my team was, except me.
We needed to survive, at one point back in 2017, a few months after we first started, we almost couldn’t survive to the next month financially. Hence we understood the importance of profitability and we wanted to be the most profitable. We will leave the subsequent expansion of Stellar to some other time. I’ve never had experience with early childhood prior to this. As I first established Stellar Preschool I felt such strong need to return the pride back to early childhood educators. I fought alongside the educators day in day out, I see their challenges, their passion, their fear, their talent. Early childhood educators face with quite a number of challenges. Long working hours, no work-life balance, low self-esteem due to how the public perceive them, but most fundamental of all is that they are generally having very low pay as compared to their output. If ever there is one thing we need to change, this is the one. Have we succeeded? Unfortunately, not yet.
I’m a father of 3. This is a very powerful statement. It means, every single decision I make: Should I raise my voice, or I talk to them nicely? How should I react to the mess they made, especially when guests are around at home, we were having serious discussion, and they were crying, yelling? What’s my attitude towards them when they were talking to me? Do I brush them off, or do i give them full attention? What about own behaviour? Do I own up my mistake, or I’m trying to find excuses most of the time = training them to be expert to find excuses? I love my career because not just it gave me an opportunity to impact the next generation, but also a chance for me to be a better dad; better dad better leader at work; better leader at work better dad.
When I received my salvation at age 29, I started to minister to a few young adults who were lost at the season of their lives — broke up with girlfriend, conflict with family, lost with career and life, etc. I mean who am I to guide them? I’m not even a counsellor. So we started reading the bible together. Since I have never read bible throughout my life, we started with the 4 books of gospel: matthew, mark, Luke and John. Honestly I was so amazed by the wisdom of Jesus. As a big critics about Christianity, I was humbled by the teachings and principles. I thought I was doing a favour to God and the youngsters, but later I realised I received so much more from them through serving faithfully and wholeheartedly.
”In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35 NIV
Now this is the situation: the more I’m blessed, the more I serve. Both people and the church. The more I serve the more people came asked me,
“Why not a pastor?”
I told them no. I’m clearly called to serve in the marketplace: the first cell group I’m in, the guidance of my first cell group leader, the mentor that god sent me, the community I’m in, are all surrounded by marketplace leader. I’m the only odd edupreneur among them. So, a pastor is never my calling. Later I told them, I don’t need the title to do pastoral work.
(Smile with a peace) 😊✌️
Is that really true?
Yes, of course. It’s true that we could always do pastoral work despite not being a pastor. You don’t need to be an official teacher to teach. You don’t need to be a waiter to serve. You don’t need that. It’s true. But is that the real reason?
A large part of being a teacher is a calling, a heart to serve. I’ve seen so many good teachers left this industry not because they don’t have the heart to serve anymore but for the matter of survival. They are battling with the lowest part of Maslow hierarchy of need. Who cares about vision and mission? Who cares about changing the world? Who then is there to change their world?
When I made a decision to be a teacher, that really made my dad upset. Being a businessman, why is he not proud of me being a teacher? My aunt was a teacher why can’t my dad sees the value? Later as I grew up I found out that she married a rich husband. She’s fortunate enough to chase after the dream. She can do whatever she wants. Volunteer herself at NGO, Be a housewife, anything.
But how many of us have such luxury?
What about being a pastor? The funny thing is I get to know a few pastors who advised their own children not to be one. What an irony! Don’t you see the value that you’ve brought the community?
(Ok Daniel, relax. Breathe in, breathe out)
We need to start reimagining pastor and churches. We used to be in the era where pastor has the final say at church. I’m a church goer because of my parents not because of conviction. I don’t have the right to comment much about church and pastor. But I do have my perception which might not be true, just true to me.
So, why not a pastor?
Here in Johor Bahru, at least, the common reasons revolve around financial limitations. Pastors often struggle to make ends meet, and the conservative social climate restricts their behavior. They’re constantly under scrutiny, unable to live freely for fear of gossip and judgment.
Life for a pastor in JB seems incredibly tough. On top of that, respect for pastors, particularly among young people, seems to be dwindling.
Let’s be honest. When we think of pastors from our youth, what image comes to mind? Maybe a stern figure our parents held in reverence, or someone even a little scary. The kind of person who could use the pulpit to guilt you into righteous living.
Mobile phones have changed the game. Now, information is at our fingertips. Young people fact-check everything, including sermons. I remember a full-time church staff member once expressing relief that the church’s internet reception was weak. Apparently, it discouraged people from getting bored and looking elsewhere during service.
Over the years, I’ve attended churches in different cities and witnessed various preaching styles. Despite this exposure, and after 30+ years of attending church, a growing disconnect formed between me and the pastors. Their messages often felt irrelevant, too theoretical. They weren’t helping me grow spiritually or equipping me to serve in the areas I felt called to.
The pandemic only amplified these issues. Church services moved online, transforming sermons into a kind of spiritual TV show. People started “channel surfing,” flitting between different services offered online. I even found myself drawn to sermons from churches in other countries.
Post-pandemic, the disconnect with the pastors remained, but I felt a stronger connection to some of the church elders. This experience solidified my belief that the pandemic didn’t create new problems for churches; it merely revealed existing cracks in the foundation.
The Best of Both Worlds: The Bivocational Pastor
Remember that question I used to ask my wife on dates? “If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?” The answer might change over time, but a significant life event can trigger a paradigm shift. For me, that core responsibility remains supporting my family – financially, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Right now, we’re comfortable, not extravagant, but able to provide for our needs. Beyond that, what truly fulfills me?
Loving God and serving people.
I know this might be controversial. Criticism is inevitable. Recently, I was critiqued for something I said about “honoring God.” That’s okay. We’re all works in progress, and nobody fully understands everyone else.
Here’s my guiding verse:
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Traditionally, pastors shouldered a multitude of responsibilities: leading the church, preaching, discipling members, managing operations, and more. But in today’s fast-paced world, with Bible apps and information readily available, is delivering knowledge or powerful sermons still a pastor’s primary value?
Enter the Bivocational Pastor
Here’s the thing: a pastor who also works in the secular world, a “tentmaker” as the Bible calls them, possesses distinct advantages. They gain a firsthand understanding of current events and the challenges people face. Plus, they solve a key financial concern – they don’t need to rely solely on church funds, or can even contribute financially to the church.
Of course, this approach is controversial too. People will have opinions. But as someone called to serve in the marketplace with a heart to bring people closer to God, I believe the bivocational pastor model is the way forward.
Moving Forward
The church landscape is evolving. The bivocational pastor model offers a compelling approach to address some of the challenges faced by churches today. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it has the potential to breathe new life into congregations, foster stronger connections, and make the message of faith more relevant to a contemporary audience.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to ensure that the church fulfills its core mission: to spread the gospel, nurture a community of believers, and inspire positive change in the world. Whether led by a full-time pastor or a bivocational one, a thriving church is one that is guided by faith, fueled by purpose, and actively engaged in serving its community.
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