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In this episode, David Nakhla welcomes Pastor Mark Winder of Wolf River OPC in Collierville, TN, for a compelling conversation about the vital role of deacons in the life of the church.

It's not uncommon for church plants to go several years without deacons, often due to the challenges of identifying, training, and overseeing qualified men during the early stages of organization. Pastor Mark shares how installing deacons brought transformative change to his congregation—and why this often-overlooked office is essential to a healthy church.

Reflecting on the biblical call to service, Pastor Mark reminds us: “The church is not a theology club. We are a church that serves.”

We hope you find this to be an encouraging and insightful discussion on the ministry of mercy, and discover why the work of deacons is central to the mission and fellowship of the church.

Referenced in this episode:

OPC Book of Church Order

OPCCDM.org

Training Videos (from the NDS IV 2022 National Diaconal Summit)

"Diaconal Leadership Today" Bill Shishko

“The Deacon and his Congregation” Craig Troxel 

"Mercy Ministry in a Social Justice World" Eric Watkins

"Ministry to the Spiritually Immature" Seth Long

"Doing Business as Deacons” by Chris Sudlow

Sample Deacon Meeting Agenda (Wolf River OPC)

Diaconal Training Syllabus (Wolf River OPC)

Scripture

·      Ephesians 4:7, 11-13, 16

·      Hebrews 6:10

·      Acts 2:42

·      Acts 6:1-6

·      Acts 8:5-8

·      I Peter 4:10

·      Hebrews 10:24

You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.