Vol. 10: No. 4
March 15, 2022

Mercy Ministry to Ukraine

War certainly isn't an everyday ministry of mercy for the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries, however, because of our missionaries in L'viv, the crisis in Ukraine was an instant priority. For the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, this sudden need falls under the category of OPC Disaster Response. But, unlike other disasters, and for obvious reasons, "boots on the ground" may not be possible in this situation, although opportunities may be opening up through Mission to the World, the Presbyterian Church in America's foreign missions' team in Ukraine, the team in which our missionaries are a part. Keep an eye on the OPC Disaster Response website for updates.

Our effort right now is focused on an OPC Disaster Response fund to support our missionaries and sister churches in and around Ukraine. With funding and prayers, we can support our missionaries and sister churches as they become the help Ukrainian people need desperately right now. We are in contact with our missionaries in L'viv as often as possible, but as you can imagine, they are busy aiding the many internally displaced in the country as they attempt to find a safe haven both within and outside of their home country.

Nation Diaconal Summit IV 2022

April 1st is a little more than two weeks away and is the deadline for free admission for the fourth OPC National Diaconal Summit, June 2-4, 2022.

Have you ever attended a conference and were so charged up by it that you felt like you could tackle almost anything? That's what participants of previous National Diaconal Summits tell us.

What do you get with free admission? You get four challenging plenary sessions, each led by seasoned pastors in the OPC: Rev. Ron Pearce, Rev. Al Tricarico, Rev. Bill Shishko and Rev. Craig Troxel. You also get to choose three workshops from nine different relevant topics. Meals, lodging, fellowship, worshipping with hundreds of fellow deacons, and some pretty cool merchandise from The Reformed Deacon podcast. That is all free...if you register before April 1. Please, if you haven't signed up, consider attending, and bring your fellow deacons. Register now.

Meet Bob Keys, Deacon, Grace OPC, Columbus Ohio
By Hannah White, Intern, OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries

With nearly 40 years of diaconal experience at one church, Bob Keys has many stories to tell and much wisdom to share. Bob has a passion for diaconal ministries as shown in his service to Grace OPC as a deacon since 1982, as a member of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries for over 6 years, as well as his current service at the Presbytery level for the Ohio Presbytery Diaconal Committee. He has been happily married to his wife, Kathy, for 42 years and together they have a son and a daughter and seven grandchildren. 

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.