Deacon Ministries
Deacons are called to serve the church. They partner with the pastor and other ministers in "building up the body" of the church and setting examples of leadership and ministry. They are elected by the church because they have shown themselves to be people of spiritual maturity committed to the task of representing Christ to the church and in the world.
The service takes many forms, according to the spiritual gifts of each individual deacon, but always their service is for the “common good” of the body of Christ as expressed in I Corinthians 12. As a corporate body, deacons serve as a sounding board or advisory group to both ministers and church members. Individually, deacons serve in many ways. They affirm and support the ministers; they teach in Sunday School or other church organizations; they minister to the sick and bereaved; they encourage the church and support the harmony and unity of the fellowship; they pray for the church; they assist in worship services; they make it a point to be friendly and hospitable; and they give financially to the work of the church.
Recognizing that an effective church enjoys a strong sense of community, deacons assume responsibility for building a fellowship based upon close personal relationships. By demonstrating a “will-serve attitude," deacons lead in creating a friendly and accepting community environment. They seek opportunities to draw in individuals who have not become fully assimilated into the fellowship of the church. The model the warm and welcoming spirit of Christ. In short, deacons exist to be a positive influence within the church.
In the New Testament, deacons were elected to assist the pastoral leadership in ministry. At First Baptist Church the duties of our deacons include:
- ministering through the deacon ministry teams (listed below)
- administering the Lord’s Supper
- actively supporting the church through regular attendance
- building congregational morale
- being involved in the evangelistic outreach program of the church
- attending all deacons’ meetings, such administrative duties as directed by the church, and being supportive of the Pastor and church staff.
Deacon Ministry Teams
HOSPITAL VISITATION TEAM
This team assist the ministerial staff by visiting church members who are hospitalized or in short term rehabilitation. Team members are notified by the church office when a church member enters the hospital or other short term care facility. The team leader ensures sufficient visits are made according to the length of stay and seriousness of the condition. Any special needs are reported back to the church office for referral to the appropriate team and/or Sunday School class. Team members also make at least one follow up call after the patient goes home or completes treatment.
CRISIS AND BEREAVEMENT TEAM
This team works in concert with the ministerial staff to offer support, comfort, and fellowship to our members as they go through times of crisis, grief, or loss. A crisis might include the loss of a job, divorce, accident, robbery, fire, loss of home, etc. In each crisis a deacon contacts the family to seek out how he might assist them, pray with them, and determine how the church might help. In dealing with the death of a family member, the team maintains fellowship and support, especially at significant times such as anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays.
MEMBER RENEWAL TEAM
This team works toward renewing the enthusiasm and participation of our members who have become inactive or less active for whatever reason. Once these members and their reasons for becoming less active are identified, the team begins efforts to rebuild relationships with each such member with the purpose of leading him or her through any problem, to resume activity, and to use spiritual gifts to advance God’s work through First Baptist Church. Any special needs are reported to the pastor for referral to the appropriate team or ministerial staff member. Members of this team given specific training for the delicate tasks they are assigned. Members of this team have strong listening skills, maintain confidentiality, and have a passion for restoration and reconciliation.
HOMEBOUND AND WIDOWED TEAM
This team maintains contact with the homebound members of First Baptist Church, taking whatever actions that are necessary to insure ties to the church are not broken. This includes seeing that each such member receives appropriate and desired literature, church publications, and quarterly communion. This team also maintains contact with the widowed members of First Baptist Church in an effort to identify needs and keep the person engaged in church activities. Special needs are referred to the appropriate team, ministry, or Sunday School Class. Examples are:
Prayer Concerns.............................Deacons
Thursday Meals..............................Thursday Ministry
Wheel Chair Ramps........................Men’s Ministry or Mission: McDuffie (summer)
Changing Light Bulbs......................Men’s Ministry or Deacons
Minor Electrical and Plumbing.........Men’s Ministry
Painting.........................................Mission: McDuffie (summer)
Yard Clean Up................................Men's Ministry or Mission: McDuffie (summer)
OUTREACH AND NEW MEMBER TEAM
While recognizing outreach as the responsibility of every church member, this deacon team is at the forefront of this effort. Every week, a team member receives the names of prospects in the services the Sunday before. Each prospect is visited or contacted by the team before the next Sunday. This team is charged with developing and implementing programs with the purpose of reaching the lost of our county. Additionally, this team makes contact with each new member, sees to the delivery of any new member gift from the church, and insures appropriate Sunday School classes, mission organizations, and ministries are aware of the new member and family.
Deacon Ministries
Deacons are called to serve the church. They partner with the pastor and other ministers in "building up the body" of the church and setting examples of leadership and ministry. They are elected by the church because they have shown themselves to be people of spiritual maturity committed to the task of representing Christ to the church and in the world.
The service takes many forms, according to the spiritual gifts of each individual deacon, but always their service is for the “common good” of the body of Christ as expressed in I Corinthians 12. As a corporate body, deacons serve as a sounding board or advisory group to both ministers and church members. Individually, deacons serve in many ways. They affirm and support the ministers; they teach in Sunday School or other church organizations; they minister to the sick and bereaved; they encourage the church and support the harmony and unity of the fellowship; they pray for the church; they assist in worship services; they make it a point to be friendly and hospitable; and they give financially to the work of the church.
Recognizing that an effective church enjoys a strong sense of community, deacons assume responsibility for building a fellowship based upon close personal relationships. By demonstrating a “will-serve attitude," deacons lead in creating a friendly and accepting community environment. They seek opportunities to draw in individuals who have not become fully assimilated into the fellowship of the church. The model the warm and welcoming spirit of Christ. In short, deacons exist to be a positive influence within the church.
In the New Testament, deacons were elected to assist the pastoral leadership in ministry. At First Baptist Church the duties of our deacons include:
- ministering through the deacon ministry teams (listed below)
- administering the Lord’s Supper
- actively supporting the church through regular attendance
- building congregational morale
- being involved in the evangelistic outreach program of the church
- attending all deacons’ meetings, such administrative duties as directed by the church, and being supportive of the Pastor and church staff.
Deacon Ministry Teams
HOSPITAL VISITATION TEAM
This team assist the ministerial staff by visiting church members who are hospitalized or in short term rehabilitation. Team members are notified by the church office when a church member enters the hospital or other short term care facility. The team leader ensures sufficient visits are made according to the length of stay and seriousness of the condition. Any special needs are reported back to the church office for referral to the appropriate team and/or Sunday School class. Team members also make at least one follow up call after the patient goes home or completes treatment.
CRISIS AND BEREAVEMENT TEAM
This team works in concert with the ministerial staff to offer support, comfort, and fellowship to our members as they go through times of crisis, grief, or loss. A crisis might include the loss of a job, divorce, accident, robbery, fire, loss of home, etc. In each crisis a deacon contacts the family to seek out how he might assist them, pray with them, and determine how the church might help. In dealing with the death of a family member, the team maintains fellowship and support, especially at significant times such as anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays.
MEMBER RENEWAL TEAM
This team works toward renewing the enthusiasm and participation of our members who have become inactive or less active for whatever reason. Once these members and their reasons for becoming less active are identified, the team begins efforts to rebuild relationships with each such member with the purpose of leading him or her through any problem, to resume activity, and to use spiritual gifts to advance God’s work through First Baptist Church. Any special needs are reported to the pastor for referral to the appropriate team or ministerial staff member. Members of this team given specific training for the delicate tasks they are assigned. Members of this team have strong listening skills, maintain confidentiality, and have a passion for restoration and reconciliation.
HOMEBOUND AND WIDOWED TEAM
This team maintains contact with the homebound members of First Baptist Church, taking whatever actions that are necessary to insure ties to the church are not broken. This includes seeing that each such member receives appropriate and desired literature, church publications, and quarterly communion. This team also maintains contact with the widowed members of First Baptist Church in an effort to identify needs and keep the person engaged in church activities. Special needs are referred to the appropriate team, ministry, or Sunday School Class. Examples are:
Prayer Concerns.............................Deacons
Thursday Meals..............................Thursday Ministry
Wheel Chair Ramps........................Men’s Ministry or Mission: McDuffie (summer)
Changing Light Bulbs......................Men’s Ministry or Deacons
Minor Electrical and Plumbing.........Men’s Ministry
Painting.........................................Mission: McDuffie (summer)
Yard Clean Up................................Men's Ministry or Mission: McDuffie (summer)
OUTREACH AND NEW MEMBER TEAM
While recognizing outreach as the responsibility of every church member, this deacon team is at the forefront of this effort. Every week, a team member receives the names of prospects in the services the Sunday before. Each prospect is visited or contacted by the team before the next Sunday. This team is charged with developing and implementing programs with the purpose of reaching the lost of our county. Additionally, this team makes contact with each new member, sees to the delivery of any new member gift from the church, and insures appropriate Sunday School classes, mission organizations, and ministries are aware of the new member and family.