The Rev. Tom Meling works as a part-time coach more to serve than for the monetary benefits.

Coaching seems to have always been a component for this pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Slippery Rock.

Besides coaching his four children who were all involved in athletics, his first position as a senior pastor included his coaching a basketball team. He worked at Slippery Rock Middle School as a basketball coach for about 12 years and now coaches track for the Slippery Rock School District and assists his daughter, a cross country coach in the Mercer School District.

He said similarities between the two jobs are evident.

“Coaching people is helping people, playing the role of teacher and exhorter,” he said.

Coaching has also added a dimension to his ministry.

“It’s a little different avenue. It’s opened up different friendships,” he noted.

“God makes everyone different. Coaching is sort of a natural extension of my ministry. I want to help kids be the best they can. I want to be a good witness, a person of integrity,” he said.

Though his fourth and last child recently graduated from high school, Meling said he’ll continue coaching “as long as the work is there. ... I just want to serve the community and this is one of the ways I do that.”

<i>Some area pastors work at a second job because smaller or independent church congregations, while being vital, are unable to support a full-time spiritual leader. Other ministers choose to work, and their congregations — and employers — are accepting of that. Area pastors and their second or even third jobs are explored in this story for Labor Day.</i>