The twelve apostles called all the disciples together and told them, “It’s not right for us to give up God’s word in order to distribute food. So, brothers and sisters, choose seven men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. [Acts 6:2-3 (GW)]
The office of deacon was established early in the New Testament church to make sure food was distributed to widows and others in need. A good friend is a Presbyterian deacon and, according to The Presbyterian Deacon: An Essential Guide, he is to “exhibit within the church and before the world the exemplary moral authority of sympathy, witness and service after the example of Jesus Christ.” At a recent deacon’s meeting, while offering the evening’s devotion, he spoke of their calling to be the caring arm of the church and of the various ways they fulfill their mission. They typically drive people to worship or Bible study, bring food when someone is ill, visit shut-ins, and welcome visitors. My deacon friend pointed out that many of the struggles faced by their congregation are quite different from the ones faced in the past. He questioned whether their old ways of serving were still effective. Challenging his fellow deacons to think “outside of the box” and to try new ideas, he said, “We are only limited by our own imaginations.”
Another friend recently shared how she helped an elderly woman in Hospice care. Her story illustrates the new problems faced by our church family and the new methods that can be used to meet them. Using her business and Internet savvy, she arranged for automatic bill payments for the woman’s expenses and cancelled services no longer needed. She set up online accounts, established passwords, and answered security questions. She now has online access to her friend’s medical records and bills and can finally make sense of the stacks of paper that have accumulated during this long illness. I’m sure her sick friend would have appreciated a visit from a church member but getting her personal business in order was far more important. It had become overwhelming, especially since Internet knowledge has become essential to doing it.
Until hearing this story, I hadn’t considered how daunting the Internet can be for others, especially the elderly. Many people still don’t use smart phones or computers. Moreover, many of those who do are hopelessly lost beyond email, FaceTime or Facebook. Increased dependence on computerization for important communication is just one of the new challenges faced by many in our church family.
We don’t need to be deacons to be the caring arms of our churches. We all have been given the task of ministering to the ill, those in want, those without family or friends, and those enduring hardships. Jesus called on all of us to serve, not just a select few. Let’s never allow the limit of our imaginations limit the ways we minister to those in need. Is there something you can do for someone? Is there some unique way you can serve?
Devotions of the Heart 