In Acts 6, the apostles were worried because their duties of preaching and evangelizing left them with less time to distribute assistance to the widows in the church. However, they realized that their primary task was to preach the Gospel. Because of this, they appointed several men to serve as deacons. These men would provide assistance to the poor and do other acts of mercy. Still today, this is the primary role of the deacon. Indeed, the term “deacon” comes from the Greek for “servant.”

Paul described to Timothy what a deacon ought to be like:

“Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”

Deacons at Faith Presbyterian play a wide variety of roles, depending on each man’s particular gifts. As a team, they help the church to function by executing a number of behind-the-scenes responsibilities. In addition to preparing the sacraments for the Lord’s Supper, they are responsible for the use and upkeep of the church building, finances, and visitation.

The deacons are also in charge of the church’s mercy ministries. Each year, they distribute aid to families both within the church and outside of it. Taking direction from Scripture, their first priority is assisting those within the church, particularly the widows and orphans the Lord has placed among us. Even beyond our immediate church community, they seek to be generous with the funds entrusted to them to help those needing assistance. In helping others, it is their desire to follow in Jesus Christ’s example of caring for others. It is also a privilege to share with those in the midst of hardships what following Jesus has meant to us. If you wish to meet with the deacons regarding financial aid, please contact us using the form below.

One particular way in which the deacons seek to help is in providing assistance to pay for Christian education. Our commitment to Christian education is revealed in Covenant High School, a ministry of the church. You can find out more about the high school under the “Ministries” tab on the website. However, we wish to help those who attend any Christian school in the area. The officers at Faith Presbyterian do not want the necessary tuition for Christian schooling to be an insurmountable obstacle for a member to enroll their child. The deacons invite families in this position to sit down with them and discuss their situation.

Our deacons meet with those in our congregation and in our community who are seeking assistance by appointment on Sundays.

You can preschedule an appointment with our deacons using the contact form below, or you can contact the church office directly.

Report of the Diaconate for 2022