DeaconI’ve had a couple people ask what we do for Deacon Development, so I thought I’d post it for anyone to use. First, we believe that the Deacon (or elder) process is just a confirmation of what God has already done. Meaning our Deacons are already active in serving and running ministries prior to our beginning the process. I meet with a group of these servant leaders on a monthly basis and try to meet with them one-on-one throughout the month. In addition to this time, here is what we do:

1. I meet with Deacon candidates and we go through The New Testament Deacon: The Church’s Minister of Mercy with the accompanying The New Testament Deacon (Study Guide).

Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road

2. All Deacon candidates read Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road by Tim Keller.

Next, depending on the person (whether their strengths/weaknesses are Prophet, Priest or King) I recommend or work with diff’t aspects of who they are.

The above books (Ministers of Mercy & The New Testament Deacon provide a theological framework for the role of the Deacon. This means they will grow in their ‘head knowledge’ (Prophet) of the why we are called to serve, bring mercy, care for the poor, social justice and other causes. If a person is a Priest/King these books should provide a framework to accompany their love for people and ability to get things done.

If they are a strong Prophet/King I recommend books like The Heart of a Servant Leader: Letters from Jack Miller or Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire : What Happens When God’s Spirit Invades the Hearts of His People. These books are primarily aimed at working on the persons heart.

If they are a strong Prophet/Priest I work with them on systems and how to exercise dominion, books like The E-Myth, Visioneering : God’s Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision and Cawley just recommended Getting Things Done which I’m about to read. These books are primarily trying to help the candidate plan their way out of a paper bag. This link will take you to resources I suggest if they need to grow in areas of becoming church leaders who can ‘take a hill’.