Pastor Javier Rodriguez D. was called to Spring Valley Community Church in early 2006 to establish much needed ministries to Spanish speaking families in Spring Valley and the immediate vicinity of SVCC. Javier rose the meet the challenege, and has worked steadily, building a congregation from the ground up. He has gone to great lengths to get to know the people of Spring Valley and to serve them with all his heart. 2008 was an exciting year of obedience and growth for the ministries Javier oversees, and the future holds new, exciting challenges for this burgeoning group.

When he finished seminary in 2003, he and his wife, Tammie, affirmed by the leadership of Faith Chapel (where he had been serving in student ministries), established Spring Valley Community Church in south Spring Valley. They did so with the intention of establishing a community church -- one that is dedicated solely to bringing people from Spring Valley to a personal experience with Jesus Christ. Steve and Tammie have three children and find great joy serving among their friends and family at SVCC.

 

Pastor Steve is actively involved in a number of community groups, including the Spring Valley Citizen's Association (past President), the Spring Valley Youth and Family Coalition (Core Committee), the Spring Valley Revitalization Committee (Public Safety Chair), the Spring Valley Sheriff's Citizen Advisory Council, The La-Mesa Spring Valley School District Program Improvement Committee, the Spring Valley Responsible Property Management Board, and is also spearheading a project to improve Lamar Park (  Union-Tribune story from December 2008 171.22 Kb ).

 

Busy? Yes. Meaningful? Absolutely. "There is no question about it," says Babbitt. "This is what I am called to do; this is where I am called to make a difference. I'm not going anywhere." 

Both of our Pastors are bi-vocational -- that is, they work outside jobs to support their families, freeing up church resources for ministry.

• Pastor Javier is the Dean of the Seminario Theologico de Baja California in Tecate, México.
  
• Pastor Steve is a freelance web developer and public relations consultant for companies throughout San Diego.

 

While bi-vocational ministry has been common from the earliest days of the Christian church (even Paul the Apostle did a stint as a tent maker -- see Acts chapter 18), most people wonder how it works. How do the pastors balance work and ministry?

 

While there are no easy answers, we interviewed Pastor Steve Babbitt for some insight.

 

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