These two Sundays are always special at Southview. Last Sunday, January 3, we set apart Jeff Boothe as a new deacon at Southview. Southview recognizes as deacons men and women who possess gifts of leadership, who are giving of themselves in service to the church, and who are called to further service. In accordance with the meaning of the word and practice of the New Testament, deacons are to be the servants of the church.
The main focus of our deacon ministry is ministry to families - this is their “main thing,” and they do it well. Deacons make hospital visits; they pray with members and families; they face crisis situations right alongside the members they serve. They help with needs through administering the deacon’s benevolence fund that our church collects for our members and regular attenders who are in financial need. Deacons serve our members and our church by assisting with the Lord’s Supper, assisting with baptisms, and helping in any and every way they can.
Deacons also focus on helping to maintain the unity of the church. Two of the most important aspects of the early church were love and unity among the community of faith. Protecting the unity of the church is what we see the first deacons doing in Acts 6, and the result was that the Word of God spread, and the number of disciples increased rapidly. That is our desire - that the word of God would spread and that the number of people who are Christ followers would increase rapidly because of the unity of our church and the ministry of our deacons.
Elders have four major responsibilities at Southview: teaching Biblical truth, modeling Christ-like character, caring for the body of Christ, and leading the Church under the authority of Christ. Elders are men and women who possess gifts of leadership, who are giving of themselves in service to the church, and who are called to serve in this capacity. The Biblical qualifications for this position are listed in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9: above reproach, devoted spouse, self-controlled, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, not quick tempered, uncontentious. free from the love of money, manage own household well, not a new convert, good reputation with outsiders, not self-willed / not stubborn or abusing of authority, loving what is good, just, devout, and holding fast to the faithful Word of God.
This Sunday, January 10, we're going to set apart Judy Hall as a new Elder at Southview. Be praying for her as she accepts this new leadership role, and keep all the Elders covered in prayer as we seek to lead under the leadership of Jesus, always being mindful of the responsibility we have accepted. It is truly a joy for me to serve alongside the deacon team and with the Elder team. I pray that God would use these men and women as they seek to serve Him and His Church with all their hearts.
