My Hustle Era: I'm Going Paid On Substack

Here's Why, What, and When

As most of you know, I lost my job in March. I’ve been sad (and a little butt-hurt) about the whole thing, but now I’m looking to the future—and I’m actually excited about it.

As I’ve reckoned with my contract non-renewal at Evangel, I’ve been doing my best to open my ears to hear and my eyes to see what the Spirit of God is doing.

One thing is very clear: I’m staying in Iowa City for the foreseeable future, and I feel at peace about that.

My wife has a dream job at the University of Iowa teaching the next gen of nurses, and I’m still zealous for the ministry of Resurrection Assembly of God where I’ve been pastoring for the last decade. I’ll continue preaching and ministering there part time as long as we’re in Iowa City.

Staying local means my options are limited in terms of finding full-time employment.

It’s time for me to enter my hustle era 😎.

Beyond part-time ministry at Resurrection, I have some exciting, targeted gigs coming down the pipeline. Nothing is set in stone yet, so I still have to wait to announce anything. But stay tuned.

I’m Going Paid on Substack

With all of this in view, I've decided begin paid subscriptions on this Substack platform that I’ve come to enjoy so, so much.

I’ve had more success with subscribers and interest in what I’m doing, researching, and thinking about than I ever anticipated.

I feel the love 🥰, and moving to paid subscriptions will allow me to take the relationship deeper.

Slow Burn Christianity will remain a free publication, and there will continue to be regular, public posts on Pastoral Theology. The relational, visionary pieces will be for my supporters.

Here’s what you’ll get with a paid subscription to Pastoral Theology with Joseph Lear

• All Paid Posts:

  • Pastor Privileged Monthly

  • Book writing updates and insights into the process of writing and publishing

  • Conference and speaking content from events you can’t be at (I’ll be speaking at the Center for Pastor Theologians conference this fall!).

  • All things Pastoral Theology with my unique Pentecostal, PhD, Third Culture Kid, Justice-worker perspective.

• Monthly “Office Hours” Thread where subscribers can ask me anything:

  • Theological, Biblical, and Pastoral curiosities

  • Resourcing for your own research, educational journey, and ministry/non-profit leadership.

  • Life advice for career moves, ordination, and educational paths.

  • Pentecostalism, global Christianity, political theology or literally anything that comes to mind.

  • Think of it like the opportunity to have a brief conversation after church after you’ve already heard me preach 😁

• Be Part of the Pastoral Theology Team

  • More books are coming, including Tongue On Fire: Recovering the Spirit and Power of Pentecostal Proclamation, and you’ll get first dibs on being part of the launch team.

  • Opportunities to write guest posts

  • Priority for one-on-one zoom chats.

  • Paid subscription tokens to share with friends and family.

Paid tiers are available now, but paid posts are launching June 1st

• Monthly: $7

• Annual: $70

• Founding Member: $207.77

  • The first 25 founding members get a free copy of my new book!

(I’m keeping the numbers biblical 😉).