Deacon Ministry Newsletter

February Edition, 2005

By Eddie Hammet= t, Deacon and Church

Consultant and = Coach, Author

Deacon Ministry in a Missional Church

Building a missional church is tough work when maintenance is much more comforta= ble for the majority of church members. Deacons have a unique and significant r= ole in leading a church from maintenance to mission through their focus, modeli= ng, leadership, and intentionality.

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FOCUS: What is a missional church? Unless the deacons understand and embrac= e the nature of a missional church you want get far. A quick summary might include: foc= using on disciplemaking, developing persons in their faithwalk as followers of Christ, taking the message of Christ beyond the walls of the church into the workplace, family, community and world.&nb= sp; (See resource list for helpful resources)

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MODELING: We learn as much from what is ‘caught than taught’ in life. Therefore modeling these concepts, priorities and missions is critical for church leaders. If church lea= ders give more attention to maintenance issues (i.e. care-giving, building maintenance, programming for churched) than mission issues (i.e. disciplesh= ip, outreach, evangelism, ministry to the needy, transforming communities etc.)= the congregation is very likely to= become a maintenance minded congregation. If deacons model missions the congregati= on is very likely to become missional. How can the deacons model this?

Give priority to missional issues= :

q = by giving a high percentage of time on the de= acon meeting agenda.

q = when it comes to accountability of the deacon= s and other leaders

q = when giving deacon ministry reports to the congregation

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LEADERSHIP: It is clear as we review New Testament̵= 7;s role of deacons that they are leaders in the congregation -leaders in missi= on, servanthood, ministry, care and discipleship. I often say to deacons, “your congregation will never move beyond its spiritual leadership and as deacons= you are part of that leadership team.” If deacons don’t go, give, g= row it is highly likely that the congregation will not go, give and grow.<= /o:p>

Raise the bar high on leadership:

q = Call them to go on mission trips and report t= o the Body.

q = Expect them to be involved in church and comm= unity activities

q = Expect them to be faithful in their daily dev= otions and walk with Christ and to share their growth with others

q = Expect them to be faithful stewards of their = time, talents and resources as role models for the congregation=

INTENTIONALITY: In these fast-paced days of = family life not much happens without intentionality. Church people are notorious f= or thinking that if they have talked about it they have done it. That cannot be the case with a mis= sional church. Deacons have to not o= nly talk but move to action. The coach approach to deacon ministry moves deacons from talk to action. Many of my newsletters will be designed around this co= ach approach. I hope you take them seriously and use them as training tools in = your deacon meetings.

Resources for a Missional Church ̵= 1; Use these to keep FOCUS, Develop LEADERS who are INTENTIONAL. Can be ordered at www.amazon.com

It’s Time: An Urgent Call to Christian Mission – Daniel Vestal, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship= , 2003.

The Externally Focused Church &#= 8211; Eric Swanson & Rick Rusaw, Group, 2004

Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World – Stuart Murray, Authentic Media, 2004

The Church Beyond the Congregati= on – James Thwaites. Patemoster Publishing, 2002. =

Reframing Spiritual Formation: Discipleship for an Unchurched Culture – Edward Hammett, Smyth & Helwys, 2003.

Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age: Building Bridges Instead of Barriers – Edward Hammett, Lake Hickory Resourc= es, 2005.

Visit my personal = website to subscribe to FREE monthly online Transforming Solutions Newsletter and register for Teleclasses for Deacons to be held in early spring. www.transformingsolutions.or= g

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