Resource Browser Page
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| January 11, 2011 |
Deacons in LeadershipRoles Have you ever heard someone say that elders are to rule, and deacons are to serve? What in the world do you make of this odd separation of functions in the body of Christ? You may be asking, “What does leadership have to do with my ministry as a deacon? Isn't it the elders and the pastors who lead by ruling?” The more common portrayal of deacons is... |
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| September 14, 2010 |
Money and Ministries of MercyDeacons In the past two years’ flurry of news headlines about the world’s financial meltdown, little attention was given to the work of deacons in the church. But their work is exactly what our world needs. In many ways the meltdown was caused by a lack of biblical imagination about what money is, and how it should be used (and not used). In their intervention and prevention work, deacons offer exactly the ministry and message our world needs... |
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| August 17, 2010 |
Overture 16 Task Force on Office of DeaconDeacons ... encourage revitalization of the diaconate and its role in the community. ...to encourage, empower, and educate churches and broader assemblies to structure their diaconal ministry in ways that.... |
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| April 6, 2010 |
The Deacon in Today's ChurchGetting Started The office of deacon is a unique and divine calling within the church. Although you were chosen by members of your church, you have been called and appointed by God himself to this role. The Christian Reformed Church regards the office of deacon as being of equal standing with the offices of elder and pastor. Although serving... |
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| January 26, 2010 |
The Power of a Mission-Focused ChurchCommunity, Congregation A mission-focused church is always looking for ways to reach beyond its own needs and spread the Good News wherever God gives the opportunity. Mission-focused ministry flourishes in a church culture that says, “We are here to serve.” That sounds simple, but it becomes more complex in situations where the needs of the church conflict with the needs of those outside your church. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
You Have Gifts!Congregation, Roles Understanding your particular giftedness will allow you to focus your primary energy on using the gifts you have in effective ministry while permitting yourself—without guilt!—to say no to other opportunities that may take you away from deploying your gifts. The key to determining whether you are using your spiritual gifts effectively is to assess if you are being fruitful and feeling fulfilled in your ministry. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
Stewardship 101Stewardship The question you want people in your congregation to be asking themselves is “How can my whole life show that Jesus is my Lord?” That’s different than asking, “How much money do I have to give to the church?” Learning to be a good steward of all God has entrusted to us is part of our sanctification and reflects our spiritual walk with God. Your goal is to... |
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| January 26, 2010 |
How's Your Spiritual Health?Spiritual Health Prayer and Bible study – of course! But time management? Setting boundaries? Staying healthy spiritually and emotionally is vital for those who serve. Here’s brief but golden advice to help you with this top priority in your diaconal life. |
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| January 22, 2010 |
So Now You're a DeaconGetting Started You got roped in. Or maybe you are now a deacon as a result of a prayer you’ve been praying for years. Are you feeling just a bit uncertain? Doubtful? Skeptical? Are you wondering if missing three dozen evenings with your family over the next three years will be worth it? |
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| January 22, 2010 |
Working with VolunteersCongregation, Getting Started Volunteers to help you! Yes, you need to think about how to identify and harness the gifts of the congregation to help the deacons do their work. This is very important both for the deacons (who will need help!), AND for the members of the congregation who need to use their gifts in ministry as we’ll discover in this excerpt from the Deacon’s Handbook. |
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| January 22, 2010 |
Handling the MoneyRoles Of course there’s the job of handling the money. How to do that, not just efficiently, but also responsibly? What to record? How to ensure accuracy? How to ensure accountability? You’ll find clear and simple procedures in this excerpt from the Deacon’s Handbook. |
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| January 22, 2010 |
Deacons' MeetingsRoles So, what do I do first? Go to meetings; make a plan; schedule offerings. The Deacon’s Handbook gives you enough in these two-and-a-half pages to get you started. It’ll show you the big picture in clear and practical steps. |
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| January 22, 2010 |
The Diaconate StructureRoles Advice for Experienced Deacons: provide a good orientation to new deacons. You’ll reduce stress and increase job satisfaction if you provide new deacons with clarity about structure, roles, and responsibilities. Be sure to look for gifts of service AND administration as the following excerpt from the Deacon’s Handbook explains. |
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| January 20, 2010 |
Kill the Deacons First!Roles It’s said that during the persecution of the church by the Roman empire, the soldiers often would kill the deacons of the church first. They did this because the deacons were so powerful in bringing new members into the church through their compassionate witness. |
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| January 18, 2010 |
8 Responses Deacons Use in Weak EconomyCommunity It’s a harsh fact of life that when the economy tanks, many people get pitched out of work through no fault of their own. The consequences for them and their families can be devastating: economic hardship, loss of self-respect, emotional upheaval, overstressed and overstretched relationships, hopelessness, and despair. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
In Tough Times, Ministry Remains FocusCommunity Like many churches, Imlay City Christian Reformed Church, about 25 miles (40 kilometres) northeast of Detroit, Mich., is not exempt from these difficult financial times. Come the New Year, things may get even tougher, since several of its members are connected to the auto manufacturing industry, which is struggling. Layoffs are looming.
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| January 12, 2010 |
Stephen Ministers Expand Pastoral CareCongregation A group settles into a meeting room at Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church on a Tuesday evening. They greet each other warmly. They are the Stephen Ministers of Fleetwood CRC in Surrey, British Columbia. |
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| February 21, 2012 |
Live The Good Old Days NowSpiritual Health As children our lives are full of opportunities - and we seem to create endlessly in all sorts of ways. As we get older our lives change, our priorities and responsibilities look different and we may find ourselves idealizing those good old days, rather than living fully now. As deacons we can encourage hope and inspire joy simply by living truly. |
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| February 7, 2012 |
When the Servants are GovernorsRoles Getting the roles of governance and ministry mixed up is the crippling confusion in many councils. For deacons, the role confusion can be even more painful and debilitating. Are deacons primarily decision makers? Or are they ministers of benevolence and mercy? Are they sometimes both? |
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| January 26, 2012 |
Deacon PeopleCommunity The church is made up of people. Deacon teams are too. I'm thankful for the people who serve our congregations, and today we hear a brief reflection from an everyday deacon - someone like you! |
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| January 17, 2012 |
Deacon Resources on The NetworkGetting Started A gold mine of information exists in the realms of the Deacon network! When was the last time you checked out the "All Resources" section? If you've browsed it, you've noticed tabs for articles, blogs, resources and websites. The wealth of information you can access is phenomenal! |
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| January 10, 2012 |
Devotions For DeaconsGetting Started, Spiritual Health How do you start your deacon meetings? Would you be interested in devotions that explore your calling to this role, while helping you understand the charge to deacons? Diaconal Ministries of Canada has provided deacons with another great resource - Devotions for Deacons! |
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| January 1, 2012 |
The Sad Cherry TreeRoles There sits in the centre of our backyard a beautiful young healthy cherry tree, yet its story is a sad one of limited potential. As we begin a new year will your story be like the cherry tree's? Or will you embrace the opportunities and dreams God has given you? |
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| December 19, 2011 |
How We EnterSpiritual Health It's been said that 90% of life is just showing up. I realized this week that HOW we show up is important. I think many of us (myself included) need to take a good hard look at the attitudes we are bringing to the table when we enter a particular situation, because it affects waaaaaay more than just ourselves. |
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| December 12, 2011 |
Diakonia Remixed: Terms for DeaconsSynod, Roles Melissa Van Dyk mentioned the results of the Diakonia Remixed survey in her blog post and raised some questions concerning terms for deacons. The task force would like to take the opportunity, in this blog post, to preview some of our work and hear your feedback regarding terms for deacons. |
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| December 6, 2011 |
The Results Are In!The Diakonia Remixed Deacon Task Force has shared the responses from the survey taken earlier this year. With over 333 responses, it helps paint the landscape of diaconal ministry in the CRCNA. Reviewing the survey I had two responses... |
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| November 29, 2011 |
Giving Space For God's VoiceRoles, Spiritual Health If God is present in each conversation we are having, can we allow his voice to be heard? Or are we too busy inputting our own opinions and advice to actually allow the Spirit to speak. What might happen if we became people who actually let God say what needs to be said...? |
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| November 22, 2011 |
Christmas Initiatives - What Does Your Church Do?Community, Congregation
We are entering the Christmas season and, as deacons, there are a lot of different initatives that we can undertake to help spread the hope and joy of this time. As we engage in these converations among our teams it can be helpful to brainstorm and share best practices from other congregations, so, let's do just that! |
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| November 15, 2011 |
You Add, God MultipliesCongregation, Denomination, Stewardship "You Add, God Multiplies" is more than a catchy phrase, it's the reality of what happens when, as churches, we pool our resources to accomplish more ministry than we could do each on our own. Unfortunately there is a lot of confusion about what Ministry Shares are and what they do... |
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| November 8, 2011 |
Companioning Case-Managers, Not The ExpertsCommunity, Roles When we offer help to someone we can have the crazy notion that we need to fix the whole issue ourselves. We would do more for those we offer assistance if we understood our role as referring folks to the resources of our broader community, without abandoning them. |
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| November 1, 2011 |
Over-Committed Seeks SabbathSpiritual Health When we're running on empty, in overdrive, going from commitment to commitment, we barely seem to have time to sleep, let alone rest or take Sabbath time... but that's exactly what we need to do. We have to stop, and take a moment to ponder "is what I'm thinking, saying and doing WORTH thinking saying and doing?" |
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| October 25, 2011 |
Listening in on a ConversationCommunity What should the church be doing, then, if government effort seems to have little effect, except maybe for providing ongoing relief? How should the church shape its own response? Can the church actually REDUCE poverty and dependence on programs that help? Even just in our neighborhood? Seems like that’s the ideal... |
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| October 18, 2011 |
As Easy As A.B.C.D.Community, Roles We want to help people. We want to do the right thing, the good thing, the Godly thing. Often we discover that we need to learn how to help well. ABCD is a method of offering assistance which empowers those we are serving and, as it continues to grow in popularity, it's worth paying attention to. |
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| October 11, 2011 |
What's Needed?Community, Congregation As we head into the holiday season, we need to be aware that need doesn't stop. It also doesn't increase exponentially. How can we inspire our congregations to engage with those in need in a meaningful way? And why has Stephen Colbert called Christians out on this? |
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| October 4, 2011 |
Deacon VisionRoles With the advent of another ministry year, it's a good time to take some time and think about what God may want to do through your team this year. In light of our call to this diaconal office, what's your vision? Oh, come on, dream bigger! |
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| September 27, 2011 |
People, Not ProjectsCommunity, Roles We love to do good. Sometimes though, our desire to do something good leads us to turn people into projects. In the latest issue of Partners, a diaconal newsletter, Linda Weening shares a story of assistance which may make you think about how you speak with those you serve. |
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| September 20, 2011 |
Nurturing The NurturerRoles, Spiritual Health You're a nurturer, but are you being nurtured? Our culture tells us we need to be productive and efficient. Usually that means every minute of our day has to be filled with some commitment. The reality is that's not healthy, truthful, or the gospel. |
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Average Rating | |
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| February 1, 2011 |
The Church As Community AssetDeacons It is the Church's task to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom and to witness to it. We participate in it, we point to it, and we witness to it. It's not just people who are transformed, but communities too. |
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| January 24, 2011 |
Signs of Community TransformationDeacons We often tease ourselves with the thought that our church can have a genuine affect on the neighborhood - for the better! in lasting ways! But what would it take? How would we go about it? I'm amazed at how much is packed into this two-page resource! |
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| June 8, 2010 |
Operation Manna and Muffin MorningsCommunity Learn how a CRC diaconal resource in Canada works with local congregations, resulting in delightful community involvement. |
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| May 24, 2010 |
The Church As Community AssetCommunity Dr. Amy Sherman unpacks the concept of the church in its community as a preview of the coming Kingdom attractions. |
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| February 4, 2010 |
The Community Opportunity ScanCommunity Does your church know its neighbors? This resource from Diaconal Ministries Canada will help you to see where God is already at work in your community, to help you understand your community, and to reveal ministry opportunities within it. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
Biblical Reflections on the Essentials of Being a DeaconRoles This is a reflective, richly biblical, and very challenging set of reflections on the dimensions of the role of the deacon from the Holland Deacons Conference. It could be the basis for a set of devotions at deacons' meetings; it could serve as a discussion guide... |
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| January 21, 2010 |
Deacons' MandateGetting Started One congregation's mandate for Deacons. |
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| January 21, 2010 |
Deacon RolesGetting Started, Roles A one-page example of one congregation's role descriptions for elders and deacons. |
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| January 21, 2010 |
Offerings - How to Handle the MoneyGetting Started One congregation's procedure for ensuring integrity in handling offerings. |
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| January 21, 2010 |
The Deacon's HandbookGetting Started Everything you need to know about being a deacon, all in one little book from Faith Alive. |
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| January 21, 2010 |
Ministry Shares - Overview and FormsDenomination Need to explain ministry shares to someone? Here's a resource. |
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| January 21, 2010 |
Offering CalendarDenomination Use this online calendar, printable calendar, worksheets, and guidelines to help you plan the offering schedule for your church. |
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| January 18, 2010 |
Denominational IntroductionA general introduction to the Christian Reformed Church in North America. |
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| January 18, 2010 |
How is Your Church Engaging the Community?Community A helpful checklist and discussion questions designed to assist you in checking your church's relationship to the community. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
Books for Church LeadershipGetting Started Want to go deeper? Resources for office bearers from Faith Alive. |
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| January 12, 2010 |
What's A Deacon to Do?Getting Started A video from the Reformed Church in America about the six dimensions of being a deacon. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Nomination Process SampleGetting Started From start to finish, one congregation's deacon nominating process complete with tasks and timeline. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
CTS Forum on MoneyStewardship Need devotional thoughts? Here's some! Thoughts on stewardship, generosity, and contentment. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Workshops by Diaconal Ministries CanadaGetting Started Training resources for key components of diaconal ministry, designed to provide understanding and growth for participants in diaconal ministry. The workshops are the result of much research and discussion. They are interactive and require time and effort to complete. Clarity and focus in diaconal ministry is the outcome. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
The Compassionate CongregationGetting Started This book from Faith Alive includes first-hand stories, practical advice, and resources to help churches care for people in a wide range of difficult situations. Includes sections on AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, depression, troubled relationships, single parenting, substance abuse, and more. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| July 26, 2010 |
Resources for CRCNA DeaconsA treasure trove of CRCNA resources for office bearers, including many tools for use by deacons. |
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| May 24, 2010 |
All Nations CRC Diaconal Work in WorshipCongregation How a small congregation in Nova Scotia incorporates diaconal work into worship. |
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| January 20, 2010 |
Kalamazoo Deacons ConferenceCommunity CRC regional deacons' resources, programs, events and opportunities to serve community needs. |
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| January 18, 2010 |
Charity NavigatorStewardship How to find a charity you can trust using a big scale rating of a broad range of charities. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Barnabas FoundationStewardship A non-profit organization building a network of partners committed to reaching and helping the less fortunate all over the world. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Kid's Hope USACommunity 74 CRC congregations are partnering to give hope to at-risk elementary school children through caring relationships. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Volunteers in ServiceCommunity Created by local Deacons of the Christian Reformed Church, Volunteers In Service enables churches to be Christ's servants in their communities in West Michigan. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Faith Alive Christian ResourcesGetting Started The publishing ministry of the Christian Reformed Church and Reformed Church in America. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
CRWRC ChampionsCommunity Most CRWRC Champions are members of a Christian Reformed Church. Their primary responsibility is to promote CRWRC within that church and to encourage involvement. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Communities First AssociationCommunity A CRWRC partner organization that helps deacons, churches, and communities engage in wholistic, long-term, and structural responses to poverty. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Diaconal Ministries CanadaGetting Started A CRC ministry that inspires, equips and encourages deacons, churches and their partners in transforming communities with the love of Christ. |
