What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode CDM administrator David Nakhla and producer Trish Duggan sit down with OPC missionary Heero Hacquebord,  MTW Ukraine country director, Doug Shepherd and L'viv Crates for Ukraine warehouse manager Ruslan.

This devastating war continues and the need is greater than it's ever been. Heero summarizes the Crates for Ukraine program's essentialness: "Crates is one way for us to show people we are not here to take advantage of them. Our church is not here to get people's money, you know, to brainwash their kids or, you know, whatever the stereotypes may be. But we are really here to serve. People see the Protestant church, or our church, in this particular case and in many ways, much more so than the Orthodox Church.  Some of the more traditional churches in Ukraine stepping up in the face of this horrible war in Ukraine and saying, hey, you know what the church is about, loving people, showing Christ's love and helping to meet people's needs. And so people begin to see us in a different light."

Find more detailed information about Crates for Ukraine
Items for prayer: https://www.cratesforukraine.com/ Scroll down to the green box 

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

Have you wondered if it's loving to employ a care facility for your loved one? Or how to know when and how to help manage an elderly loved one's finances? In this episode hosts David Nakhla and Chris Cashen find out more about what our responsibilities are as deacons—and Christians—in caring for the elderly.  Rev. Brian De Jong, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin along with his brother, elder at Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL, Greg De Jong, share insights from Brian's book, Honoring the Elderly: A Christian's Duty to Aging Parents. Greg worked with Brian on the book to share their practical, spiritual and financial experience in order to help those who are caring for the elderly or supporting someone who cares for an elderly loved one.  There's some great discussion you won't want to miss.

Referenced in this episode: Honoring the Elderly: A Christian's Duty to Aging Parents

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, host David Nakhla talks with John Shaw, OPC Home Missions and Church Extension General Secretary; Tyler Detrick, pastor of Light of the Nations OPC in Dayton, OH and former church planter; and Kurt Oliver, elder at Westminster OPC in Westminster, CA, about the need for deacons when starting a new church in the OPC. 

Why when we church plant in the OPC are we sure to provide a provisional session, but not a provisional diaconate? John, Tyler and Kurt talk about this and the inherent need for deacons to  aid the session and pastor as they face mercy ministry needs both inside and outside of a new church plant. 

Should the process of starting churches in the OPC change to include provisional deacons? Listen to the variety of perspectives from this panel of guests.

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, four seasoned deacons look at four different cases; three having to do with saints within the congregation and one really unique one regarding a visitor to  Vacation Bible School. 

Deacon and CDM member, Tim Hopper facilitates this discussion with Bob Keys, a deacon from Grace OPC in Columbus, Ohio, Lynne Hunter, a deacon at Harvest OPC in Wyoming, Michigan and Daniel Lascaze, a deacon from Amoskeag OPC in Manchester, New Hampshire.  

The consensus? Know your congregation, be proactive, and let the Gospel of Jesus Christ show in all you do.

Share this episode with your fellow deacons or present these scenarios at your next deacon's meeting for discussion!

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, Shiloh OPC deacon and OPC CDM member, Tim Hopper and Rev. C. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, talk books—books specifically helpful for deacons to have in their personal libraries. From Bible reading plans to reader's guides to books on prayer to counseling, Nick and Tim cover a wide range of their recommended favorites in their discussion.  There are even a few websites and videos they suggest checking out. Nick's wide range of  insight and Tim's thirst for reading and knowledge on the subject of deacons makes this episode invaluable!

Referenced in this episode:

• Resources on the office of deacon Rev. John L Girardeau
• Notes on Ecclesiology by Thomas Peck
• The Deaconship: A Treatise on the Biblical Office by John G.  Lorimer
• The Deacon by Cornelis Van Dam 
• Presbytery of the Southeast Diaconal Summit 2018 Videos
• Chronological Bible reading plan—Greenville Seminary by Ben Shaw
• The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms
• Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith by Chad Van Dixhoorn
• The Presbyterian Standards by Francis R. Beattie
• Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards organized by Dr. Joseph Pipa, Jr.
• ReformedConfessions.com
• The Orthodox Presbyterian Church Book of Church Order
• Gospel Worship by Jeremiah Burroughs 
• With Reverance and Awe by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether
• A Method for Prayer by Matthew Henry (updated)

Full list found here:

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, host David Nakhla talks with Trinity OPC, Hatboro, Pa. deacon Dave Askey about his church's involvement in the recent denomination-wide ministry project, Crates for Ukraine. Dave shares details about how his church worked together in creative ways to bring the CFU project to completion and how the Lord blessed their ministry in very large ways.  

We hope this episode will encourage you as you look toward future possibilities to invite your congregation to participation in church-wide ministry projects.

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, Rev. Chris Cashen, pastor of Trinity Reformed OPC in Lanham, Maryland and member of the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries is joined by Rev. Charles R. Biggs, Regional Home Missionary for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic (PMA) and former pastor of Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church in Purcellville, Virginia.

Chris and Charles unpack a unique passage of Scripture, one that deacons are especially familiar with: Act 6 verses 1 to 8. We pray that in taking the time to look more in depth at passages like this is deacons would be strengthened in their understanding of and purpose for his office.

Referenced in this episode:
Presbytery Diaconal Summit V

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode, David Nakhla visits Chris Verdick, the administrator of the OPC Uganda Mission's Akisyon A Yesu Presbyterian Clinic in Karamoja, Uganda. Chris and his family have been serving in rural Uganda for over a decade. Listen as Chris describes how the mission serves this impoverished region by attending to their health needs  while pursuing the ultimate goal of leading lost souls to Christ. The OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries in conjunction with OPC Foreign Missions provides significant funding to aid with the operational costs of the Clinic as well as to missionary deacons who help with maintaining the Clinic building as part of the OPC Uganda Mission.

Referenced in this episode:
OPUM (OPC Uganda Mission) Website

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

You may remember our January 1 episode, where three deacons discuss practical methods for dealing with walk-in situations. This episode is a continuation of that conversation; same three deacons sit down with host David Nakhla: John Voss, Chris Sudlow and Doug Vos. David presents two new walk-in scenarios to the panel to tap into their years of diaconal experience on how to help.

The panel grapples with one scenario of a woman who is homeless, but needs a specific amount of money and another of a young couple who show up to the church asking for help with their pregnancy situation. The panel is not of the same mind, and the discussion is interesting. Do you know what you would say or do when put on the spot like that?

Participants: CDM Administrator, David Nakhla; and deacons John Voss from Covenant OPC in Orland Park, IL; Chris Sudlow from Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL and Doug Vos from Oakland Hills OPC in Farmington Hills, MI.

Referenced in this episode:
AA Pregnancy Center in Michigan

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.

What did you think? Text us by clicking here! We are unable to reply on this app, so include phone # or email address.

In this episode OPC CDM Administrator David Nakhla is joined by OPC Communications Coordinator Jamie Dean to look back on a recent trip to Ukraine, where they, as two members of a four-person team, were able to follow the Crates for Ukraine as they arrived in L'viv for distribution.

David and Jamie quickly take you chronologically through the trip, highlighting the beauty of the country, even at war, and the forward-thinkingness of those who minister in Christ's name as they use the Crates program to leave a trail of breadcrumbs back to the church and ultimately to Christ.

Referenced in this episode: 

• Ukraine Awareness Month Video
• Mission to the World (PCA)
• Crates for Ukraine 

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.