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Vol. 7: No. 1
February 27, 2019
Deacons as Ministers of Mercy
"Through the deacons, the local church’s charitable activities are effectively organized and centralized. The deacons are collectors of funds, distributors of relief, and agents of mercy. They help the poor, the jobless, the sick, the widowed, the elderly, the homeless, the shut-in, the refugees, and the disabled. They counsel and guide people. They visit people in their homes. They relieve suffering. They comfort, protect, and encourage people, and help to meet their needs. In contemporary language, they are the congregation’s social workers."
This quote from "The New Testament Deacon: The Church's Minister of Mercy," by Alexander Strauch (Lewis & Roth, 1992), was recently posted for discussion at the OPC Deacons Facebook page.
Have you joined the OPC Deacons Facebook page?
The purpose of the page is to enhance information-sharing, collaboration, and encouragement between OPC deacons.
The OPC Deacons page at Facebook is open only to OPC officers. Visit Facebook and request to join the page!
Sample discussion topics posted at
OPC Deacons Facebook page
- What are your tried-and-true methods for substantiating the story of a walk-in?
- Does your church have a concealed-carry policy?
- What are your procedures for taking up offerings and counting the offerings at your church?
- How does your church determine whether to ask members to serve in certain roles without compensation or to pay them?
- What if a church member opposes the use of budgeted funds to pay for building repairs?
- Where can I find some case studies with which to train deacons? (One answer: OPC.org).
- Does anyone have experience (good or bad) using online banks for their church’s funds?
- Can anyone suggest a background-check provider for our children's ministry volunteers?
Deacon Tim Hopper posted Benefits of the Biblical Diaconate from the classic book, "The Deaconship," out of print since 1861:
OPC Pastor Interviews Author of "The Deacon"
Listen to OPC Pastor Camden Bucey's interview with Dr. Cornelis Van Dam on "The Deacon: Biblical Foundations for Today's Ministry of Mercy."
Thanks to Tim Hopper for linking this at the OPC Deacons Facebook page!
As seen in New Horizons
Hope you saw the February 2019 issue of New Horizons - The "CDM" issue!
Click on the page images for any article you may have missed!
DIACONAL WISDOM FROM DIACONAL VETERANS
"I reached out to several OPC deacons with 15 to 40 or more years of experience to get their perspective on their work and calling....My interaction with these men was a great encouragement to me; and the wisdom they shared, based on long years of service, was very instructive..."
LINK to a more detailed version of this article than space allowed in New Horizons:
What are OPC deacons doing locally?
Feeding Men Spiritually as Well as Physically
by Deacon Jim Stalman
Janesville, WI
Last year, our deacons at Christ OPC in Janesville, Wisconsin, got our congregation involved in local outreach at a men’s homeless shelter called GIFTS (God is Faithful Temporary Shelter).
For 3 or 4 nights in a row, every other month or so, a team led by a husband and wife would go to the shelter with a home-cooked meal for about 15-25 men.
Before dinner, one of our men would read a few verses from the Bible, make some brief comments, and then pray. We believe we needed to have a devotional and prayer before the meal because it is necessary to feed them spiritually as well as physically. Without this it would be nothing more than social work and not glorifying to God.
It was wonderful to see how our congregation jumped right in and joyfully took up this task. People who might not take part in a more bold outreach program felt they could do this. They sat right down next to these men and ate supper with them and tried to get to know them.
We always invited the men to come to our church on Sunday and offered to pick them up if they needed rides. We hope to continue this ministry, and our pastor has even been asked to come to GIFTS and lead several conflict resolution classes.
This also opened the door for our deacons to lead a 6 week Sunday school class on Mercy Ministry, based on Timothy Keller's book, “Mercy Ministry,” David Apple's book, “Not Just A Soup Kitchen,” and other resources.
by Deacon Scott Pearce
Hackettstown, NJ
And if anyone would...take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matt. 5:40-42)
Two Miles Without a Cloak or Tunic
"There is a difference between giving out of one's abundance and abundantly giving."
"What do you do in the situation when your agreement to help someone becomes more than you figured it would be?
"I had agreed to help my friend because I viewed it as a 'one mile' favor. When the task demanded a 'second mile' from me, I acted like I should have been rewarded when I was only fulfilling what was commanded of me in Matt 5:40-42..."
Read Scott Pearce's enjoyable article:
Mark your calendars
PDS IV
Oct. 2019
Presbytery Diaconal Summit IV
Thursday, Oct. 10 - Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019
Comfort Inn & Suites, Geneva, IL
This summit is designed for members of Presbytery Diaconal Committees (PDC). Each presbytery is encouraged to send four representatives from its PDC.
All expenses paid (including travel) by the Committee on Diaconal Ministries.
The summit takes place on Thursday and Friday, October 10-11, 2019, but attendees are encouraged to stay over Friday for continued opportunities for fellowship, and schedule their trip home for Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Resources for Deacons
DISASTER RESPONSE
Consider serving as a disaster response volunteer
"It's a process not only of developing our skills, but also our confidence...that the Lord is going to provide for us. You're going to go back home with this thrill, you're going to love what you did and you're going to want to do more." - Deacon Jeff Davis
The need for hurricane relief volunteers continues in Houston (Hurricane Harvey, 2017) and North Carolina (Hurricane Florence, 2018).
Do you want to hold a Diaconal Conference in your presbytery?
The CDM is available to provide guidance and funding to Presbytery Diaconal Committees that wish to hold a conference for the deacons in their presbytery.
Contact David Nakhla for further information.
Printable Overview:
MERCY MINUTE
Post at your church or share with your church officers. Thanks!
The OPC Deacons Facebook Page is open only to OPC Officers in order to ensure privacy and facilitate discussion among deacons. Visit the page and submit your request to join!
The Diaconal Ministries page at OPC.org provides diaconal contact info, principles of diaconal ministry, financial resources, training materials, suggested reading....
There are currently 20 videos available for use for diaconal training and encouragement at the OPC Diaconal Ministries page at Vimeo.com. Check it out!
Share with us what's going on with the deacons in your church or presbytery! Send to: David.Nakhla@opc.org
Forward this Mercy Minute to your fellow deacons in case they are not on our email list!
Archived issues of the Mercy Minute can be found at OPC.org. Click here and scroll down.
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.
The Mercy Minute is sent to all OPC officers with whom the CDM has had contact, in hopes that it will be forwarded on to more deacons.
Officers who would like to be added to the distribution list are encouraged to email their request to the Editor:
