Vol. 6: No. 2
May 31, 2018

CDM photo taken in 2016: Chris Sudlow, Ron Pearce, Seth Long, Nathan Trice, Lendall Smith, Bob Wright, Ron de Ru, John Voss, Administrator David Nakhla (missing: Al Zarek)

CDM Administrator's Report:
Spring 2018

by David Nakhla

The spring meeting of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries took place March 22-23, 2018, at Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL.  Here's a quick overview of what took place:

• The CDM reviewed and approved the written report to the General Assembly, prepared by the CDM Administrator.
• The CDM committed funds towards the operation and construction of the OP Uganda Mission’s (OPUM) medical clinic; the support of the new medical doctor who recently began serving there; the new OPUM facilities engineer/missionary deacon; and, the drilling of wells in Mbale.
• The CDM committed funds towards the support of the OPC Evangelist who works with refugees in the vicinity of Clarkston, GA.
• The CDM is considering sending additional funds to the Greek Evangelical Church in Volos, Greece, where the refugee ministry continues to expand.
• The CDM received in-depth reports on on-going hurricane relief efforts. Hundreds of volunteers have served; hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations have been received; dozens of homes have been restored through the work of volunteers and the leadership of oversight committees and coordinators. 
• The CDM moved to un-designate funds in the Haiti Earthquake Fund and move them to the General Disaster Response Fund.
• The CDM committed funds from the General Disaster Response Fund towards bringing a minister to Houston to serve as a Harvey Outreach Evangelist.
• The CDM received reports on plans for the next Presbytery Diaconal Summit (October 2019) and the next National Diaconal Summit (hopefully in 2021).
• The CDM voted once again this year to send a general disbursement gift from the Obadiah Fund to eligible retired ministers and their widows.
• The CDM presented a Resolution of Thanks to each of its two members who are stepping down after long years of service (SEE BELOW).

The fall meeting of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries is scheduled for November 1-2, 2018, in Willow Grove, PA. Please pray for your committee in its many labors!

A Resolution of Thanks to Deacon Bob Wright, Jr.

The Committee on Diaconal Ministries of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church hereby resolves to thank Deacon Bob Wright, Jr., upon his retirement from service, as follows:

Dear Bob,

Your unparalleled tenure of service on the CDM is testimony to your love for the Church of Jesus Christ, particularly the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and her ministry on behalf of Christ;

Your model of diaconal ministry in a missionary setting has been defining for our committee in its pursuit of a “missionary deacon” component of our ministry;

Your diverse gifts and amazing resourcefulness have provided support for the ministry of Word and prayer on the mission field in utterly indispensable ways;

Your personal sacrifice over many years of ministry under very demanding circumstances has been an inspiring example to us of radically self-denying service;

Your extensive experience in third world ministry, and your wide reading and reflection on the subject, have consistently provided an invaluable perspective to our committee;

And your personal warmth and wit have time and again refreshed the hearts of your brothers during many a long hour of deliberation.

Bob, we are deeply grateful for your twenty-one years of service on the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, and your nearly twenty years of service as a Missionary Deacon.  We are thankful that by such service you have gained “a good standing for yourself, and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:13).  And we look forward with you to hearing the commendation of our master one day: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25: 21, 23).

Signed: Ron de Ru, Seth Long, David Nakhla, Ron Pearce, Chris Sudlow, Lendall Smith, Nathan Trice, John Voss, and Al Zarek

A Resolution of Thanks to Rev. Lendall Smith

The Committee on Diaconal Ministries of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church hereby resolves to thank our president, Rev. Lendall Smith, upon his retirement from service, as follows:

Dear Lendall,

Your heart of compassion for the needy within reach of our committee’s ministry has been an inspiring example to all of us of the heart of our Lord Jesus for the poor;

Your steadfast devotion to the diverse and demanding responsibilities of our committee has been energizing - and occasionally convicting (!) - to us all;

Your eye for good order and attention to detail has facilitated a long succession of accomplishments, and preserved us from many a misstep in fulfillment of our duties;

Your vision of an enlarged field of service to our denomination has contributed to an unprecedented season of growth for our committee;

Your godly character and reputation within the OPC have lent credibility and winsomeness to our committee’s relationship to the larger Church;

Your humility toward those you have led as president has been a compelling example of the servant leadership of our Savior in his earthly ministry;

Your personal warmth and wit have time and again refreshed the hearts of your brothers during many a long hour of deliberation;

In short, your “fullness of wisdom and of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3) have exemplified for all of us the true qualifications for diaconal service in the church of Jesus Christ.

Lendall, we are deeply grateful for your twelve years of continuous service on the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, and your nine years of service as our president. We view your retirement with a deep sense of loss, yet with the happy awareness that by your diaconal service with us you have gained “a good standing for yourself, and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:13). And we look forward with you to the commendation of our master one day: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Signed: Ron de Ru, Seth Long, David Nakhla, Ron Pearce, Chris Sudlow, Nathan Trice, John Voss, Bob Wright, Jr., and Al Zarek

Presbytery of the Southeast held its
Second Diaconal Conference

April 6-7, 2018, nearly 40 deacons, ministers, elders, and officers in training gathered at Shiloh OPC in Raleigh, NC, for the second Diaconal Conference of the Presbytery of the Southeast (PSE).

• Dr. N.C. ("Nick") Wellborn, Pastor of Covenant PCA, Oak Ridge, TN, was the keynote speaker and taught on how deacons can stir up the body of Christ in love and good works, and how officers can identify, train, and equip the next generation of deacons.
• Shiloh OPC's Pastor Matt Holst preached on the importance of a Christ-centered diaconate.
• Members of the Presbytery Diaconal Committee (PDC) spoke on using resources from the PDC, the Committee on Diaconal Ministries (CDM), and the community, and shared a recommend reading list for diaconal training and growing as deacons.

Much food and fellowship was shared by all!

PSE Diaconal Conference Videos

Do you want to hold a Diaconal Conference in your presbytery?

The CDM is available to provide guidance and funding to presbyteries that wish to hold a diaconal conference.

Contact David Nakhla for further information.

Diaconal Training Videos:
Local and Regional Disaster Response

The two  videos below feature Mike Cloy, elder at Reformation OPC in Gastonia, NC, and member of the PSE Presbytery Diaconal Committee, who discusses the planning, preparation, and execution of appropriate measures for disaster response in your local church and the regional church.

Hurricane Relief Updates

3 ways for deacons to participate in hurricane relief work:

1. If your church has diaconal funds that could be used to sponsor the travel and meals for those in your congregation who wish to volunteer, make this known.
2. Organize a team of those within your church whom you know to have the time or talents to serve as volunteers. 
3. Serve as a volunteer yourself!

Houston Hurricane Relief Report:
"A Sustained Work of Mercy" by Steve Larson

"When we offer to serve a family's physical and material need for disaster relief and recovery, we do it with the deliberate intention of showing them the love of Christ..." 

Houston Hurricane Relief Report:
"Our Love in Action" by Fred de Ru

"The work here is unquestionably important and an incredible opportunity for us to reach people spiritually. I am confident that our love in action has touched many, many people and has borne witness to Christ's love..."

Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Team In Puerto Rico

 "This was an altogether moving and worthwhile time among some delightful people who sincerely appreciated our efforts..."

Resources for Deacons