The genesis of the ministry of deacons starts with a storm (complaint) ((distraction)) in the church that was beginning to cause the pastoral leadership to “give up or stop preaching the Word and deal with a secondary issue in the church.” The actual complaint in Acts 6:1 was because of a specific group of women were being overlooked or ignored, so they needed someone to pay closer attention to them and to be ministered to.

 

This complaint in the early church had the potential and the power to bring division and to do harm but ultimately, it’s greatest threat was to paralyze or to limit the leaders and the effectiveness of the Jerusalem church.

 

So, through the guiding of the Holy Spirit seven men of a certain quality were chosen and assigned to this storm. These seven men had the responsibility in the early church of being servants. Which communicates more about the ministry of the church and not the position in the church. It communicates more about the service and not the title. More about the character and not the class.

 

You may not be facing the exact neglect of one particular group of people in your church today, but I promise you may have some form of a storm and therefore someone needs to be ministering in that crisis. These dedicated men in the book of Acts were called to do service/ministry in their church.

On Saturday, March 22 the Pastoral Ministry Department will be holding another New Testament Deacon training. This training will be for any current deacon or for a man who is interested in finding out more about being a deacon. Men are encouraged to bring their pastor as well.

 

The New Testament Deacon training will be led by Ray Swift, Director of the Pastoral Ministry Department and is absolutely free.