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June 29, 2023
Deacons Wait Tables at
Their New Church Home
Stephen Mouring
and family
Jared Grigg and family
by Trish Duggan, OPC CDM Communications Coordinator
Deacon Stephen Mouring readily admits that his initial motivation to begin attending Sterling OPC’s daughter church, Acacia OPC in Manassas, VA, wasn’t diaconal. “Initially, there was a little bit of, yeah, this church is closer [to my home], but pretty quickly there was a gentle rebuke of that mindset and I realized we're not here in this church plant to be comfortable. We're here to advance God's Kingdom—to reach the lost. That was a good refocusing.”
Sterling’s leadership had a plan to plant a daughter church for about ten years prior to Acacia OPC’s establishment. They created a fund and made baby steps toward hiring a pastor to lead the new congregation. The result was Acacia Reformed OPC, planted in northeastern Virginia, just outside of DC, in 2021. Stephen and fellow deacon Jared Grigg have attended this new daughter church from its inception.
With the hiring of a new pastor, these two deacons and their families jumped in with both feet—deeply committed to helping in whatever way they could. But Stephen admits it’s not been without difficulty.
Meet Your Fellow Deacon: Shabehram Irani
by Allison Groot, OPC CDM Administrative Assistant
Shabehram "Billy" Irani grew up in a Zoroastrian home. Steeped in beliefs inundated with works-based righteousness, it was not until he was invited to Franklin Square OPC that Billy heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1995 his now-wife, Gaitry, invited Billy to her church, not only introducing him to the OPC but more foundationally to the Christian faith. There, he says, “I was born again.” Billy was welcomed by the church and found a home among the believers there. When he and his family moved to Ronkonkoma, NY in 2005, the Irani’s began attending Bohemia OPC in Bohemia, NY. They were welcomed just as they had been in Franklin Square.
Over the years, the church has become family to the Irani’s. It didn’t take long for Billy to desire to serve that family. As an accountant and banker, it made sense for him to take up the work of church treasurer. As a man with a servant’s heart, it made sense also for him to take up the work of deacon.
New Episodes of The Reformed Deacon!
Encouragement for Church-Wide Ministry Projects
In this episode, host David Nakhla talks with Trinity OPC, Hatboro, Pa. deacon Dave Askey about his church's involvement in the recent denomination-wide ministry project, Crates for Ukraine. Dave shares details about how his church worked together in creative ways to bring the CFU project to completion and how the Lord blessed their ministry in very large ways. We hope this episode will encourage you as you look toward future possibilities to invite your congregation to participate in church-wide ministry projects.
Releasing July 1:
A Deacon's Personal Library
In this episode, Shiloh OPC deacon and OPC CDM member Tim Hopper and Rev. C. N. "Nick" Willborn, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, talk books—books specifically helpful for deacons to have in their personal libraries. From Bible reading plans to reader's guides to books on prayer and counseling, Nick and Tim cover a wide range of their recommended favorites in their discussion. There are even a few websites and videos they suggest checking out. Nick's extensive insight and Tim's thirst for reading and knowledge on the subject of deacons makes this episode invaluable!
Introducing our Newest CDM Members!
Joe Troutman
Adrian Crum
John Stahl
At this year's 89th OPC General Assembly, three men were elected to join the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries, replacing some beloved members, Nathan Trice, Rick Dickinson and Chris Sudlow, whose service will be greatly missed!
Joe Troutman comes to us from Bedford, TX, where he serves as pastor of Mid Cities OPC.
Adrian Crum from Wyoming, MI is an associate pastor at Harvest OPC.
John Stahl serves in Wilmington, DE as Immanuel OPC's sole deacon. He has also served on the Presbytery of Philadelphia's Presbytery Diaconal Committee.
We welcome these new brothers and look forward to their contributions to the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries.
PNYNE Diaconal Conference
On May 13, the Presbytery of New York and New England held its first deacon conference, organized by the presbytery's committee on diaconal ministries. David Nakhla spoke on the important role of that committee, and Rev. Rick Dickinson spoke on "the Privileges and Challenges of Being a Deacon." If your presbytery is interested in putting together a presbytery diaconal conference, please contact us; we'd be glad to help in any way!
Save the Date:
PDS V is November 2-4, 2023
Are you a Presbytery Diaconal Committee member? If you are, have you registered yet for this event? So far we have 25 men coming from 12 different presbyteries! Don't wait, you could be eligible for travel reimbursement if you are one of the first two to register from your presbytery. This event is sponsored by the CDM and the Committee on Ministerial Care. You don't want to miss it!
Looking Back at the National Diaconal Summit IV 2022
Where has the time gone? Just over a year ago deacons from all over the country met up in Chicago for three wonderful days of fellowship, food and training. The CDM was excited to be able to report on the Summit to the 89th OPC General Assembly a few weeks ago using clips from the event. Be sure to take a look!
OPC Disaster Response
Updates on the Neon Disaster Response effort, including a video presented to the 89th OPC General Assembly as well as updates on ministry opportunities using the Turkey Earthquake Funding and a video report from Administrator David Nakhla on his trip to Ukraine can be found at OPCDisasterResponse.org.
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 Groot, Administrative Assistant, CDM
allison.groot@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.
