Deacons at New Hope

· The New Testament Greek word for deacon (diakonos) means “servant.”

· Deacons at New Hope are assigned a group of church members to care for in a way that is very much like being an associate pastor. Pastor is a Latin word meaning “shepherd.” It helps if a deacon has the spiritual gift of shepherding. (This gift causes a person to care about individuals and be concerned to prevent them from wandering away from the whole flock of the church). The spiritual gift of mercy is also a good one for a deacon to have, since he or she is going to be called on to visit people when they are ill and when their bereaved.

· We need deacons who are willing to serve for three years, meeting monthly to pray together and train for pastoral ministry.

· On the whole, past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

· Here is what 1Timothy 3: 8-13 (Message) says about deacons. “… serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.”