When I sat down with Talaat McNeely, I knew the conversation was going to hit close to home for a lot of pastors. Talaat is the lead pastor of All Nations Aurora and the co-founder of His and Her Money alongside his wife Tai. Together, they have built a financial education platform with over 200,000 YouTube subscribers. He is living proof that pastors can build something meaningful outside the church without compromising their ministry.
Why Pastors Need to Talk About Money
Money is one of the most uncomfortable topics in church leadership. Many pastors feel guilty about wanting to earn more, and congregations sometimes expect their pastor to be content with whatever salary the church can afford. Talaat challenged that thinking directly.
“There is nothing spiritual about being broke,” Talaat told me. “If you are stressed about your finances, that stress is going to affect your preaching, your family, and your ability to lead your church well. Getting your financial house in order is a ministry issue.”
How His and Her Money Got Started
Talaat and Tai started His and Her Money out of their own journey to become debt-free. They documented their process of paying off tens of thousands of dollars in debt and began sharing what they learned with others. What started as a blog turned into a YouTube channel, which turned into a full financial education brand.
“We did not start it thinking it would become this big,” Talaat said. “We just started sharing our story, and people connected with it because they were going through the same thing.”
That organic growth mirrors what I see with churches using social media. When you share something authentic and helpful, people respond. Whether it is a content strategy for ministry or a financial education channel, the principle is the same: solve real problems for real people.
Balancing Ministry and a Side Hustle
I asked Talaat the question every bi-vocational pastor wants answered: how do you balance pastoring a church and running a business?
His answer was practical:
- Set clear boundaries. Ministry gets your best hours during ministry time, and the side hustle gets dedicated time outside of that. Do not let them bleed into each other.
- Build systems. Talaat automates everything he can in His and Her Money so it does not require his constant attention. Email sequences, scheduled content, and team members handle the day-to-day operations.
- Communicate with your church. Be transparent with your leadership about what you are doing outside the church. If they know about it and support it, there is no tension. Secrets create problems.
- Make sure your side hustle aligns with your values. Whatever you build outside the church should reflect who you are as a pastor. It does not have to be explicitly ministry-related, but it should not contradict your calling.
Side Hustle Ideas for Pastors
Talaat and I brainstormed some practical side hustle options that fit well with pastoral ministry:
- Writing and publishing. Pastors already create content every week through sermons. Turning that content into books, devotionals, or courses is a natural extension.
- Coaching and consulting. If you have built something, whether it is a growing church, a healthy marriage, or a strong team, other people will pay you to teach them how to do it too.
- Content creation. YouTube, podcasting, and blogging can all generate income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and digital products.
- Financial education. This is what Talaat does, and the need is massive. Churches are full of people who need help with budgeting, debt, and building wealth.
When a Side Hustle Becomes a Problem
Talaat was also honest about the risks. A side hustle becomes a problem when it starts to compete with your primary calling. If your church is suffering because you are spending all your creative energy on a YouTube channel, something needs to change.
“Your calling has to come first,” Talaat said. “The side hustle should support your ministry, not replace it. If it ever starts pulling you away from what God called you to do, it is time to reevaluate.”
Final Thought
Pastors deserve financial stability. If your church cannot fully provide that right now, there is no shame in building something on the side. The key is doing it with integrity, clear boundaries, and a commitment to your primary calling. Talaat McNeely is proof that it can be done well.
Follow His and Her Money on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. And if your church is looking for help growing through digital marketing, connect with us at Church Candy. We help pastors focus on ministry by handling the marketing side of church growth.
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