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Vol. 10: No. 9
July 1, 2022
A Summit Not to Be Missed
by Trish Duggan, Communications Coordinator,
OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries
“Please don’t use the expression, ‘I'm only or just a deacon,’” Rev. Bill Shishko strongly and lovingly cautioned the men at the 4th OPC National Diaconal Summit. “Hopefully that will be knocked out of you if you've used it in the past.” Shishko went on to share his experience at his former church, the OPC of Franklin Square, and how he worked to build the diaconate there. Diaconal work is hard work, he admitted, but, “I just came to revel in the work, the variety of the work, the excitement of the work that deacons do. I love and esteem the work of the diaconate, and I'm hoping that I can bring some of that love and excitement to you this evening.”
That type of wind of blew throughout the three-day event. Plenary sessions as well as workshops gave practical and spiritual encouragement to lift each deacon brother. Just like Aaron and Hur lifting the arms of Moses, one man lifted another in training and in fellowship. The Bible teaches that “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” There was no lack of that this year.
The Summit in Review
"The mutual encouragement alone is worth the trip [to the Summit]. Add the amazing value of the teaching and instruction and attending becomes almost imperative for your encouragement and ministry." —Brian Ganzevoort
"The summit conveyed to me the high, biblical view of the Lord's gift of the diaconate. The theological and practical were infused with joyous fellowship." —Dan Bausch
"Every deacon should attend the summit to improve his diaconal ministry by learning from other deacons, getting to know them and their challenges, and fellowshipping with such a committed group of saints. This has been my experience this last three days." —Jose Vazquez
NDS IV by the Numbers: Summit Statistics
- 193 Total Participants (234 registered)
- 94 Different Churches Represented
- Who came the furthest? Jose Vazquez traveled over 2,000 miles from Caguas, Puerto Rico!
Top 3 Best Represented Churches
NDS IV Recordings:
Plenary Sessions Now Available
We are excited to announce that all NDS IV plenary session recordings are now available to watch! These recordings include:
- Rev. Bill Shishko: "Diaconal Leadership Today"
- Rev. Craig Troxel: "The Deacon and His Congregation"
- Rev. Al Tricarico: "The Deacon and His Community"
- Rev. Ron Pearce: "The Ministry that Deacons Need"
- Rev. Nathan Trice's Summit Devotional
Please watch, rewatch, enjoy and share with your fellow deacons! Recordings of the workshop sessions will be available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
NDS IV Photo Album
For those who were at the Summit, you likely saw Mrs. Katie Plas catching more than a few photos during meals, sessions, and times of fellowship! Take a look at some of the photos she captured on the NDS IV Photo Album page.
If you attended the Summit and snapped any great shots, we would love for you to share them with us! You can upload them here and we'll add them to the page!
Latest Episode: Checking in at the National Diaconal Summit IV 2022
In this episode, we check in at the fourth OPC National Diaconal Summit held June 2-4, 2022 in Wheaton, IL. The OPC National Diaconal Summit is only held every four to five years, and is as unique as it is rare. You’ll hear some as-it-happened highlights of the sessions and listen in as Shiloh OPC, Raleigh, NC deacon and CDM member Tim Hopper interviews deacons and deacons-in-training from around the world. You can find the full recordings of the sessions on OPCCDM.org. Look for The Reformed Deacon on your favorite podcast player. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Reformed Deacon, and leave us a comment or rating!
Meet Pete Hybert, Deacon, Bethel OPC, Wheaton Illinois
By Allison Hill, Administrative Assistant for the
OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries
Pete Hybert has been a deacon at Bethel OPC, Wheaton, IL since 1993, and has been privileged to have a front-row seat to watch the Lord work in many people’s lives. His take-away from it all? Amazement. He says, “You get to see the Lord work. Sometimes it’s not what you expected, but it’s still amazing.”
Pete’s stint as a deacon includes a period when he was the sole deacon. He’s helped walk-ins with various short-term needs, church members with long-term needs and those seeking assistance with a tragedy or disaster. Each situation poses a unique opportunity to see the Lord’s hand of mercy work through the local church. For Pete, this is even true in situations in which it seems there is little headway and temporary discouragement.
“It’s always great to see results: growth or even change,” Pete says. As deacons, there is great joy in observing the hand of the Lord in the lives of those you serve.
Deacon Check-In: Round Three!
"I was very encouraged to know that he has been a deacon for 30 years and we serve under the same Presbytery, so we have some things in common. I can learn a lot from him and all his years of diaconal service." —Victor Nivar, Deacon at Franklin Square OPC (NY), about his conversation with a fellow deacon during a "Deacon Check-In."
We hope you will join your fellow deacons in round three of the CDM's Deacon Check-In! The goal is for two deacons to have the opportunity to check in with one another for an occasional short time of conversation and prayer. It is easy and quick to sign up.
If you know of any deacons who are not receiving the Mercy Minute, send them this link
and invite them to sign up!
Editor: David P. Nakhla
Administrator, CDM
david.nakhla@opc.org 562-760-7606
Trish Duggan, Communications Coordinator, CDM
trish.duggan@opc.org
Allison Hill, Administrative Assistant, CDM
allison.hill@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.
