When I was a deacon I was pretty lucky to be part of an all-star team of amazing people. It was incredible to see the gifts each individual had, and how they used them to serve our congregation. To me, it's a beautiful thing to have a cohesive team, all striving to glorify God, working to the best of their abilities. We can't really do more than that. We can only be who we are and bring who we are to the places we go.
One of these fine folks I'm referring to is named Phillip Le. I don't know many people who work as hard as Phil does while having a (seemingly) never ceasing smile on their faces. A humble servant, willing to do anything that needed to get done, he was always willing to learn. He is a man with a depth of wisdom only prayer teaches. As a deacon, he had to face a few fears - like doing an offering announcement from the pulpit - but when he reflected on his time as a deacon, he was just thankful he could serve.
I asked him to share a favourite memory from his time as a deacon, and this is what he wrote:
Hi. My name is Phillip Le and I'm from Vietnam. I came to Canada in 1980. I'm married with two children and I work as an independent truck driver. I have been attending the CRC church since coming here.2008 was my first year serving as a deacon. In our congregation we have an annual ritual of making Christmas visits to the seniors. I had the opportunity to visit one of the longtime members of our church, a woman who began to worship at First CRC at very young age, when our church was just built!We had a white Christmas in that year (2008), so I had to delay our planned visit a few days. Finally I was able to go. After a forty minute drive, I found myself surrounded by farmland, and arrived at her beautiful house. Her two dogs came to greet me. I visited with this wonderful woman and her two children. It was a great time. We got to know more about each other and we found out that her daughter-in-law was one of my friends from before. There is not a doubt in my mind that it was my best seniors visit.I'm very thankful and glad that I got to meet and talk to a lot of people during my three year term.
I'm thankful too.
Phil, you're a star!
Comments
Hello
We have a Deacon star at our church in Peterborough Ontario. Art Heimstra, our chair. He is an absolute gem. He facilitates all the work of our deaconate very well. He is approachable to all comers and has an uncanny ear to the ground to hear all kinds of needs out there in the church and community, no one is afraid or intimidated to tell him about a need.
He then brings them sensitively to our group, and helps deal with them effectively in a loving God-centered way! As VISA would say- PRICELESS!!
To have such a servant in our midst is truely inspiring! I am blessed to be mentored in this way as is everyone else!
Mary! Thanks for sharing. We rejoice for these visionary kingdom leaders! May your community continue to be blessed by Art, and others like him!
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