Mercy Minute: Finding Joy in Sacrificial Love--Corrected Link
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No, you're not seeing double!
We're re-sending this issue with a corrected link in our article, "Meet Your Fellow Deacons". We were so excited to start this recurring column and bummed the link wasn't working properly! You should now be able to link to the full column!
Sorry for the confusion and for stuffing your inbox, but we think you'll really enjoy the issue. Thanks for your understanding.
Vol. 8: No. 6
December 12, 2020
Finding Joy in Sacrificial Love
by Chris Cashen,
Refugee Evangelist in Clarkston, GA
...As my wife and I conclude our time in Clarkston, GA we consider that this was a unique, and thus a privileged, time of serving Jesus Christ. He clearly gave us all that we needed and sustained us during each and every aspect of our work. The Lord equipped us for this privilege and provided the open doors. At times, we are tempted to reflect on serving or giving as a burden. In actuality, the privilege of serving others in general, and refugees in particular, is the great privilege of serving our risen Lord Jesus. Not all are given this opportunity of serving the King. As those saved by the shed blood of Christ, we should relish the opportunity and privilege of serving. Read the full article...
Check Your Email
The CDM will be sending a very brief survey to church officers in the next few months asking about your church's experience with refugee ministry. Please look for it, and be sure to fill it out as soon as you can!
Have You Heard?
Due to ongoing restrictions and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee on Diaconal Ministries has regretfully decided to postpone the National Diaconal Summit IV, scheduled to take place June 10-12, 2021 in Wheaton, Illinois. Plans are already underway to reschedule to June 9-11, 2022--with many of the same speakers, praise the Lord!
2022? Yes, we know that's a long time. Don't worry, though, we'll be sending out some ideas on how you can check out some of the highlights of past summits for encouragement and edification.
In the meantime, as an additional way to get to know your fellow deacons, we've created a new recurring column in the Mercy Minute. Introducing, "Meet Your Fellow Deacons."
Redeemer OPC, Charlotte, NC
Matt Browning, Matt Posvar, David Vogel
Deacon Matt Browning says, "I love getting to serve our church families in simple things like moving house or helping with home repairs. Building a Christian community and culture is so important, and getting down to some physical work together is a great way to build community, especially for dudes who need something to do. The quality time of physical service is its own reward! I also really love teaching kids' Sunday school and generally organizing our Sunday school program. It has given many adults a chance to get involved where otherwise they’d be somewhat on the sidelines."
Deacon Matt Posvar was drawn to the local diaconate because he desired to serve the body in any way he could. This started out at first with a more physically-oriented service that was easily visible as sure and obvious needs. He tells us, “It has been a joy to continue to do those things and to ‘wait tables’ so that the session can do their work, but I do greatly enjoy the more spiritual side of it, too." Matt looks forward to broadening the focus to those outside of the church as the deacons grow in their outreach to those in need in their community.
Deacon David Vogel speaks warmly of his fellow deacons, "They are godly and humble. They truly exhibit the requirements of 1 Tim. 3 in their lives." He shares that when they come to a difficult matter he has full confidence in these brothers to handle these things with prayer, patience, and diligence.
Help us with this new column! We'd like to include you and
your fellow deacons in an issue of the Mercy Minute.
Please contact Sarah Klazinga (sarah.klazinga@opc.org)
to be featured in a future publication.
Gifts of Love at Christmas Time
What special gifts does your church give at Christmas time?
"Our deacons identify families in need and reach out to get their Christmas lists. We then put these items on tags on our tree. Members can then pick items to purchase and return. Once we hit the deadline, we collect all gifts and then distribute them to the families." —Deacon Mark Jurries (Redeemer OPC, Ada, MI)
"At Cornerstone, the organization and promotion of 'Operation Christmas Child' have always been the purview of a volunteer individual or individuals in the congregation. Announcements are made in the Sunday bulletins and the congregation responds accordingly." —Deacon Tim Roof, (Cornerstone OPC, Ambler, PA)
The CDM established a new subcommittee, the Refugee Ministry Subcommittee, to aid in growing in our understanding and ability to minister to those who find themselves estranged from their homeland due to circumstances outside their control. Be ready for this committee to reach out to the church for insight from those in the OPC already actively involved in the ministry to refugees.
The CDM received reports on the two active Disaster Response efforts that began since its previous meeting in March. Those efforts are the Midland Flood Response, ministering to the families from Christ Covenant OPC in Midland, MI, and the Isaias Storm Response, ministering to a family from Grace & Peace OPC in California, MD. To date, over $67,000 has been received designated toward the Midland Flood fund and $13,000 designated toward the Isaias Storm fund.
If you are a deacon who is receiving our quarterly update, the Mercy Minute, for the first time:
Welcome! We are actively updating our database of deacons and we're glad we've reached you! If you know of another deacon who is not receiving these important updates, please let us know at DiaconalMinistries@opc.org. We also have a private OPC Deacon's Facebook page.
Stay up-to-date with what's going on in
OPC Short Term Missions and Disaster Response:
Editor: David P. Nakhla
Administrator, CDM
david.nakhla@opc.org
(215) 935-1007
Trish Duggan, Communications Coordinator, CDM
trish.duggan@opc.org
The Mercy Minute, a quarterly newsletter of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, is intended to keep OPC deacons informed and encouraged in their labors. It may include opportunities for networking or training, describe the work that a local diaconate or presbytery diaconal committee is engaged in, or bring attention to a need in the OPC.
