Equipping Deacons
Reconnecting Churches in Central Alberta with “Night of Encouragement”
Marg Hoogland, Diaconal Coach for Alberta North (Central Alberta) saw an incredible opportunity to get the churches in her area reacquainted – to her as their coach and with each other! She reached out to the churches in the Parkland area and discovered a strong thread among most of the churches: refugee engagement. And so began her plans for a “Night of Encouragement” on a cold winter’s night in February!
Read MoreOnline Course Redefines Stewardship
A brand new, self-guided, online stewardship course is now available to deacons and churches. We often say that everything we have is a ‘gift’ from God, but sometimes that thinking can lead us a little astray. When someone gives a gift, it’s not theirs anymore – it becomes ours, to use as we please. But stewardship isn’t like that…
Read MoreSharing Me-mentos on Valentine’s
A little kindness can go a long way. The Deacons at Bethel CRC in Listowel got creative and shared a small gift to their church in order to show them what being a deacon is all about!
Read MoreOnline Stewardship Course Going Live January 2023
Deacons are to encourage their congregations to live stewardly. More practically, to ask the question: “How can my whole life show that Jesus is my Lord?” It’s no secret that deacons often struggle with carrying out this part of their mandate. Help is now here!
Read MoreRetiring Diaconal Coach Shares her Top 10 Moments
Lucinda Klapwyk served the Edmonton area churches of Classis AB North as a Diaconal Coach for twelve (12) years. Lucinda “retired” from her position as a Coach this June 2022. At a recent farewell dinner for Lucinda, she shared with us her many memories and reflections. Here are her Top 10 moments as a Diaconal Coach…
Read MoreSurvey Says…!
This past January, Diaconal Ministries Canada, along with World Renew Canada, launched our own National Survey that was sent to all Canadian deacons. By sharing their experiences and feedback through this survey, Diaconal Ministries would be able to measure its effectiveness and better support the work of Deacons. Here are some of the preliminary results!
Read MoreNew Year… New Approaches(?), Part II
A food bank that doesn’t give out any cans??
What if food banks are making people dependent on short-term solutions, focusing only on symptoms while dismissing long-term answers and/or underlying problems?
Watch this interview with John Klein Geltink about a different way to help!
Read MoreReflections from a Diaconal Coach
JoLyn Bolderheij worked as a Diaconal Coach in Classis Alberta South/Saskatchewan in the greater Calgary area. Last year she ‘retired’ from this position. Here is what she shared about her time as a Diaconal Coach with Diaconal Ministries Canada.
Read MoreNew Year… New Approaches(?) -Part I
What if food banks and community fridges and a lot of our well-meaning efforts are actually making people dependent on short-term solutions, focusing only on symptoms while dismissing long-term answers and/or underlying problems? What is a church to do?
Read MoreOvercoming Spiritual Roadblocks; Devotion #11 – Eyes On Jesus
We fix our eyes upon Jesus because he is the author and the finisher of our faith. Jesus is our Redeemer, Saviour and Lord. As our attention is focused upon him, he will give us the guidance and direction we need to run the race well, and he sends the Holy Spirit to empower us to do what he calls us to do.
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