Deacons Ministry
The Deacons Ministry are servant leaders selected from the church membership to assist the pastor by caring for the physical and spiritual needs of the congregation, promoting church unity, and supporting the ministry of the word. They are not governing officers but servants of the congregation, appointed for service rather than ordained for ordination into a higher spiritual office. Their role is based on biblical qualifications in passages like 1 Timothy 3:8-13, with functions that include visiting the sick, helping families in distress, and providing administrative support so the pastor can focus on spiritual guidance. In essence, Deacons are there to do the following:
- Meeting Needs: Deacons actively care for the physical needs of the members, such as visiting the sick and helping families in need.
- Supporting the Pastor: They work to support the pastor so he can concentrate on spiritual matters, prayer, and the ministry of the word.
- Promoting Unity: Deacons are also tasked with promoting peace, harmony, and a spirit of cooperation among church members.
- Not a Governing Body: Deacons are not to be viewed as a governing body or committee that controls the church, but as servant leaders who give counsel to the pastor and the congregation.
The Origin and Purpose of Deacons
- Acts 6: The role of deacons is believed to have originated in the early church as recorded in Acts 6:1-6, when the church appointed men to handle the distribution of food to widows, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and preaching.
- Servant Leadership: Deacons are primarily servants, focused on meeting tangible needs within the church and acting as "shock absorbers" to preserve unity and prevent problems from distracting the church's spiritual leaders.
Qualifications and Selection
- Biblical Standards: Deacons must meet high character standards, being of good repute, full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit, and faithful to their families and God.
- Church Selection: Deacons are selected from within the membership, not from outside the congregation. The selection process usually involves nominations, interviews, and a church vote, as deacons are chosen by the entire congregation.
Current Deacons include, Dea. Nathanial Billups, Dea. Woodrow Billups, Jr., Dea. Cecil Strong, Jr., and Dea. Lavern Bynes.