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 “It
is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of
overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do…Deacons likewise
must be…” -
1 Timothy 3:1, 8 ff.
The deacons at EBC take seriously our
calling to be both ministerial servants and spiritual stewards
of the congregation. We
also recognize the significance of the qualifications Paul sets
forth in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, and seek to fulfill the biblical
mandate given to our position.
The spiritual gifts of our deacons are as diverse as the
men who serve on the team.
We each uniquely serve the body in an effort to promote
the ministry of the church.
We participate in a deacon family ministry
plan whereby each family of the church is assigned to an active
deacon. Families should feel at ease in contacting their deacon at
any time there is a need. We
desire to minister in any and every situation we can in order
that the body of Christ might be edified.
The deacon ministry also seeks to foster
fellowship within the congregation in order to promote the unity
of the body of Christ here at EBC.
We believe that the name of the Lord is magnified when
the individual members of the local church are in unison seeking
His will for the ministry He has entrusted to us.
Finally, we as the deacons of EBC commit to
seek new ways in which to minister in order to equip,
encourage, and empower every person to know Christ and make Him known.
Enon's
Deacons are discovering that God has called them to
ministry, and that calling is lived out through the spiritual
gifts that God provides (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4). God never
calls someone to do something that He does not first equip and
empower him or her to perform.
How are the various spiritual gifts applied to different
aspects of deacon ministry?
 | The gift of encouragement is best seen in Barnabas,
the "son of encouragement." Without his presence
and encouraging words, Paul's ministry might never have
bloomed. Encouragement is the heart cry of many. A deacon
can write a note, give a genuine word of affirmation or
encouragement, plan a time of fellowship or recognition.
| The gift of teaching is seen in the lives of
Christ, Paul, Peter and the other disciples (Rom. 12; 1 Cor.
12; Eph. 4). Communicating the truth of the good news is
highly challenging these days and can be manifested in many
forms. The gift can be employed in classroom teaching,
counseling, mentoring relationships in the workplace,
marriage and community leadership roles. |
| The gift of helps is seen in so many places in the
life of Christ and the Scriptures. Lydia (who helped Paul),
Ananias and John the Baptist are helpers. They provide
assistance to make others' journey easier. A person with the
gift of helps does what needs to be done and finds
fulfillment in the opportunity to serve. |
| The gift of administration and visionary leadership
is not just administrating a budget, staff or building,
although those are necessary. This gift is critical in
today's rapidly changing world when many churches are
experiencing a leadership void. Not that leaders aren't
present, but they're often afraid to lead for fear of making
others mad or jeopardizing harmony. They need deacons who
are not afraid to dream a new dream and verbalize it, who
can rally the troops so that Christians and churches might
begin to penetrate the world with the good news. We need
administrators and visionary leaders with the focus to move
the church toward fulfilling the Great Commission.
| The gift of evangelism is sharing the gospel with
those who need Jesus. The mission of an evangelist manifests
itself through witnessing, one-on-one counseling, writing,
speaking, singing, drama or even communicating through the
Internet. A deacon may plan a block party to build
relationships with the unchurched or use the Internet to
create venues for assisting churches. |
| The gift of hospitality is seen in the ministry of
Lydia and Martha and Mary in the Scriptures. In today's
mobile society where people have trouble connecting and
making friends, this gift is much needed. It might be
manifested through a deacon who creates an opportunity for
newcomers to the community to gather at a Saturday morning
coffee or an evening barbecue to meet their neighbors. It
means offering a supportive, loving atmosphere where others
can heal and bloom.
| The gift of mercy is a prevalent and needed gift in
our world of hurting, grieving and angry people. The person
with this talent offers a safe place, a listening heart and
the gift of presence to those in emotional, physical or
spiritual pain and suffering. It may be the deacon who
regularly visits those who are grieving, hospitalized or
infirm. The need for this ministry might also exist among
the homeless, the abused, and those in distress due to
financial or physical tragedy. |
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