Deacons

Emmanuel Baptist Church believes in the vitality and necessity of the office of a deacon. Although we recognize that all believers are priests before God and are, therefore, ministers of Jesus Christ, (minister being the root meaning of deacon) we do, nevertheless, acknowledge that the New Testament specifies a singular group of men equipped of God and handpicked by the church called deacons (Acts 6:1-7; Tim. 3:8-13).

A survey of the New Testament passages using the diakoneo (to serve, to deacon) word group shows that this concept of service embraces a number of ministry ideas. It includes: caring for those in prison (Mt. 25:44), serving tables (i.e., meeting physical needs) (Acts 6:2), teaching the Word of God (Acts 6:4), and giving money to meet others' needs (2Cor. 9:11), Eph. 12). Although this term is undoubtedly sweeping in its embrace, it can be for purposes of focus broken down into two categories of ministry, namely "word" and "deed" (Rom. 15:18, Col. 3:17).

This clarification and categorization help distinguish the role and specificity of the deacon as a servant in deed within the church. His calling, as seen in Acts chapter six, is a call to be a minister of mercy. In distinguishing broadly the two primary offices within the New Testament church, we discover that a pastor is to teach in word while the deacon is to serve in deed. We see that an elder is to oversee while the deacon is to look out for needy saints. In comparing passages such as Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:1-3, Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 1 Peter 5:1-5, we see that the functionality of a New Testament deacon centers upon releasing those in an oversight and teaching capacity to do their work without unnecessary distraction while they minister in mercy to the practical needs of the body of Christ. Theirs, indeed, is a vital and visible local church ministry.

In recognition of this important office, Emmanuel Baptist has a working deaconate of eleven men who have the confidence of the pastoral leadership and church.

Should you wish to benefit from our deacon's ministry here at Emmanuel Baptist, you may contact the church office and you will be connected to the appropriate source of help.