Ron Mulvaney was honored as the 2022 Bivocational Pastor of the Year at his church, Farina First Southern Baptist, Jan. 8. That was the second time he was recognized, because during the first announcement at the IBSA Pastors Conference in November, Mulvaney was at work—at his other job. He works full-time in facilities maintenance at a nursing home and assisted living center.
IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presented the honor to Mulvaney in person in the church’s Sunday morning service. Around 60 people stayed afterward for a luncheon fellowship, including many of the pastor’s family members. Mulvaney and his wife, Delaine, have two sons in ministry: Jeremy serves as Minister of Youth and Music at FBC Altamont, and Ryan serves as Children’s Pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church of Benton.
Mulvaney has served as pastor of Farina FSBC since August 2012. He is among 300 pastors in IBSA churches who hold secular jobs, either full-time or part-time, in order to serve their churches. That’s about 4-in-10 IBSA pastors.
The annual award recognizes the unique challenges of bivocational ministry and honors those who serve sacrificially. Candidates for the award are submitted by Associational Mission Strategists (AMS) from local Baptist Associations and the chosen pastor is announced each November at the IBSA Pastors Conference.
AMS Joe Lawson of Louisville Baptist Association nominated Mulvaney for the honor. “Ron is a faithful servant of the Lord as a Bible teacher, shepherd, and leader,” Lawson said. “He consistently challenges his church to share the gospel.”
After all, that’s what Mulvaney does on his job—his other job. During the pandemic, he began leading daily devotions over the intercom, and residents requested that he lead their chapel service once a month. “God has blessed the services with good attendance from staff and residents,” he said.
The 2023 Bivocational Pastor of the Year will be named at the IBSA Pastors Conference November 8 at Cornerstone Church in Marion.