Posts Tagged ‘equipping’
“Oh When the …DEACONS(?!)… Come Marching In!”
I love marching bands!!! Don’t you?! It’s one of the biggest reasons I attend parades, much to the chagrin of my lovely husband. Sometime I wonder if he had some horrible childhood experience or something because c’mon; who hates parades?! Am I right? It’s like hating fireworks. How is that even possible?! But back to…
Read MoreReverse Mentoring: A New Learning Curve
“The church needs young blood in its veins. Our strength for holding the faith may lie in experienced saints but our zeal for propagating it must be found in the young.” Charles Spurgeon These words by British preacher Charles Spurgeon were written over 150 years ago but communicate a clear vision for young and old…
Read MoreSynod 2015 and diaconal ministry
Dear Deacons: This is a significant year for deacons in the Christian Reformed Church. The 2015 Task Force report approved some important principles for diaconal ministry in the 21st century. The report addressed the role of deacons in congregations and communities as well as the role of elders. And, Synod approved deacon delegation at Classis…
Read MoreNEW! Devotions for Deacons #5
Here is the fifth devotion for deacons in the latest set of devotionals from Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). In our conversations with deacons across the country, DMC often summarizes the ministry of the deacon into 4 areas: community ministry, compassion, justice, and stewardship. This devotion is the second of 3 to focus on deacons and compassion. Each devotion…
Read MoreBeyond a Bed: tools for deacons who want to walk alongside
A deacon is in the waiting room of a community walk-in clinic. There is a woman beside her, slumped in her seat. She is dozing lightly; she looks exhausted. After a number of minutes, the woman seems to abandon hope of a nap. She stretches, sighs and sits up. The deacon beside her begins a…
Read MoreNEW! Devotion for Deacons #4
Here is the fourth devotion for deacons in the latest set of devotionals from Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). In our conversations with deacons across the country, DMC often summarizes the ministry of the deacon into 4 areas: community ministry, compassion, justice, and stewardship. This devotion is the first of 3 to focus on deacons and compassion. Each…
Read MoreNEW: Third Devotion for Deacons
Here is the third devotion for deacons in the latest set of devotionals from Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). In our conversations with deacons across the country, DMC often summarizes the ministry of the deacon into 4 areas: community ministry, compassion, justice, and stewardship. The first 3 devotions focus on deacons and community ministry. Each devotion is…
Read MoreDeacons and Transitions
It’s that time of the year again. And it may feel like your diaconate is starting all over. Here are some suggestions to ease the transition for your new deacons and for your diaconate as you move forward together. 10 Important Transitional Issues to Consider: (follow the links for resources connected to each transitional issue)…
Read MoreDoing it Differently: Empowering Deacons to Serve
Has your church found it difficult to get people to serve as Deacons and Elders? Our church definitely has experienced this phenomenon in the past few years. I think our record was more than 8 “no’s” before we got 1 “yes.” Now that’s pretty sad. One of the things we were discovering was that people…
Read MoreNEW! Devotions for Deacons
Since the last release of a set of devotions specific to deacons and written specifically for use in deacons meetings, there have been requests for another set. Today Diaconal Ministries Canada is publishing the first devotion in a new set. In our conversations with deacons across the country, we often summarize the ministry of the…
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