Pastor Geoff Hilton, who shares that he is an introvert, sees his role as a bi-vocational pastor as a blessing from God. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas UMC.

"There are a lot of people that care and a lot of energy that keeps things going. It would not happen without them," says Pastor Geoff Hilton, who serves the congregation of the United Methodist Church in Velva, North Dakota, and he also is the controller for Dakota Midland Grain, a grain company serving farmers in the region.

For many pastors, being a pastor is their only job. The demands of church ministry—sermon preparation, teaching, outreach, hospital visitation, counseling, administration, etc.—fill up their days and leave scarce room for anything else. Other pastors, however, find that they must take an outside job to supplement their livelihood and make ends meet. These are the bi-vocational pastors.

Hilton grew up in Bowman, North Dakota, attending a Lutheran church. His mother made sure he attended church and Sunday School. When Hilton went off to college, he stopped going to church. Attending college in Minot, he was invited by a girl to attend Vincent United Methodist Church.

He found himself getting involved at Vincent UMC as a Sunday School teacher, lay leader, and a lot of service projects. "Rev. Michelle Brennen and Rev. Kathy Hammond were two people that encouraged me and got me involved in lay leadership at Vincent," says Hilton. "I became a certified lay leader and filled in for Pastor Kathy once in a while."

The district superintendent invited Hilton to become the pastor at Bantry UMC. He said yes and has not looked back. After less than one year, a new district superintendent asked if he would take on preaching at the United Methodist Church in Velva, North Dakota, in addition to Bantry.

"My wife Jennifer said, 'You can try it for a year. But, if it gets to be too much, you will have to quit.' Well, I am in my fourteenth year," says Hilton. "I have added a few things, subtracted a few things, and I am still here."

Pastor Geoff Hilton is a licensed local pastor who serves the United Methodist Church in Velva, North Dakota. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas UMC.

Pastor Hilton is a self-described opposite of the disciple Matthew.  He, unlike Matthew, first preached and then got the education needed to fulfill his multiple roles "I was preaching here, went back to school to get my accounting degree. One of the church members was also on the board of directors for Dakota Midland Grain. They put a good word in for me, and I got a job as a controller at Dakota Midland Company," he says. "I have been very blessed with both jobs. If something is going on with the elevator, the church is very willing to work with me. If something is happening at the church, the elevator is willing to work with me. It works well."

He has found that he can be there for members of the congregation in times of need. He handles funerals or care visits as they come up. Hilton reaches out to his supervisor at Dakota Midland to adjust the schedule when it is needed.

One challenge is trying to do home visits. "One of my regrets is that I am not able to keep up with home visits like I would want to," says Hilton. "The home visits are really important. It is a ministry that we need to get started at Velva UMC."

What do the people in the community and that he works with think about the dual role?

Hilton says, "I hear that people at work are more careful about what they say around me. Having the dual role has let me get to know a lot of people in the community."

He describes his bi-vocational role as a gift from God. "I just want to reach others to help them to get to know Christ. I am thankful that God has given me the blessings to be able to do what I can do. I consider myself blessed with the energy and ability to do what I can do. I am very introverted. I would much rather sit in the pews. How I can get up in front and preach baffles even me."

Pastor Geoff Hilton leads worship at Velva UMC. Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas UMC.

They are several members of the congregation who are also customers at the elevator. "It is an awesome experience to be able to see them outside of the church and be able to have those kinds of connections with them," Hilton says. "A lot of fulltime pastors just would not have that opportunity. I am thankful for that."

Lay servant ministry is the path that led Hilton to the pulpit. He took classes, offered by the Dakotas Conference, like "Sharing the Story," and "Sermon Preparation."

"The classes were helpful. But there is nothing like on the job, speaking behind the pulpit. A class cannot prepare you like on the job training can. You have to jump in with both feet," he says. "I have been blessed by this congregation. They are so willing to help. They are so willing to forgive the times I mess up."

The congregation has a leadership structure that supports Hilton's bi-vocational role. They set up one committee or leadership team, Ministries in Action, forgoing multiple committees and governance structures. The name, Ministry in Action, is intentional, to invite people to be part of leading ministry in the community.

"We changed the name to Ministries in Action because it sounds more like what we do," says Hilton. "We are the ones who make decisions and help with getting things organized. It is about reaching others and getting others involved."

The opportunity to be in the bi-vocational role has strengthened Hilton's faith. "I have been strengthened by the faith in this congregation and the people I have met," he says. "I have learned so much about the Bible and God in the fourteen years that I have been here. I learned much more than I have been able to teach. I thank God for the opportunity to learn, to learn about his love, to learn about Jesus, and encourage others."