Deacons and deaconesses play a very important role in the church. They are not meant to be mini-pastors or super-laypeople, but the church, as we know it, wouldn’t be the same without them. Although they have a ministry of service, the fact that they have been chosen demonstrates that they are respected spiritual leaders among the church members. Without their ministry, the church would not operate properly.
As we know, some of the biblical duties of the deacons
are to relieve pastors of responsibilities that would
keep them from doing their best in studying the Word,
spending time alone with God in prayer, and teaching the
Word effectively. These are some of the reasons the first
deacons were chosen (Acts 6). Deacons still need to
work closely with pastors and elders to make sure they
have enough time for the priorities in their ministry. Many
churches are hampered in their growth and
spiritual development because the pastor
or elders have “laid down” the Word of
God to do other things. Churches with
spiritual servants like deacons and
deaconesses will be blessed indeed.
Pastors and elders who have such a
deaconate to help them will be better
church leaders because of them. The
Bible states that deacons who serve
well “obtain for themselves a good
standing and great boldness in
the faith” (1 Tim. 3:13).
As a church, we are indebted
to our deacons and
deaconesses. For many
years, they were forsaken
and forgotten by the church and did not receive proper recognition and appropriate
training. We should express more words of appreciation
to them, give them visible support, and provide them
with the right resources—including the new Deacon’s
and Deaconess’s Handbook—to be more effective in
their ministry.
Thank God for this army of servant leaders! What an
incredible spirit of service they possess! They are providing
a great ministry to our church. We are blessed by
their commitment and loving ministry.
In this issue, emphasis is given to the ministry of
deacons and deaconesses. Enjoy the reading!
DID YOU KNOW?
The General Conference, during Annual Council on October 16, 2013, voted that “the Ministerial Association is responsible to empower, train, and equip the deacons and deaconesses in the Seventh-day Adventist Church globally.”
During the 2015 General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, USA, it was voted to include in the Church Manual this statement: “The Ministerial Association, in connection with the departments, promotes the training and equipping of deacons. However, the pastor, in conjunction with the elder(s), has the primary responsibility for training the deacons.”
We have a website with many resources and guidelines
to train and equip deacons and deaconesses.
Please visit www.eldersdigest.org.
