DEACONS

Learn more about our Deacon Qualifications and Responsibilities.

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Deacon Qualifications

Those men set aside and ordained as Deacons in the First Baptist Church of Rockwall shall be spiritually, morally, and practically qualified. They will have been members of our church for at least one year and will have shown themselves during that time to be...

  1. Men who are controlled by, sensitive to, and submissive to the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3-5);
  2. Men with spiritual wisdom, or sanctified common sense, men who know how to apply what God says to everyday life (Acts 6:3);
  3. Men of stability who live by faith, not simply by sight. They must be men who believe unquestionably in God’s Word and live by it (Acts 6:5);
  4. Men of high principles and good character, men whose integrity is above reproach and whose character is certified by public testimony (Acts 6:3; 1 Tim. 3:8);
  5. Men who always speak the truth, guarding their tongues from abusive or unbecoming language, and who are not gossipers (1 Tim. 3:8);
  6. Men who do not drink alcoholic beverages, realizing the importance of their Christian influence, and do not, by word or action, give sanction to the liquor industry (1 Tim. 3:8);
  7. Men who have material things in the right perspective and are financially responsible (1 Tim. 3:8);
  8. Men who are wholehearted followers of Jesus Christ, not hypocritical (1 Tim. 3:9);
  9. Men who have the support and cooperation of their wives who must also be women of high principle, who do not gossip, and are dependable (1 Tim. 3:11);
  10. Men who are the husbands of one wife, in other words, men who have not ben divorced (1 Tim. 3:12);
  11. Men who have created a happy home life by setting the example of Christian devotion before their wives and children, and men who rule their children and house well (1 Tim. 3:12);
  12. Men who are involved in the total church program including Sunday School, and its various worship services;
  13. Men who have taken on some of the leadership responsibilities of the church such as teaching and/or serving on committees etc.;
  14. Men who support our church by giving at least a tithe (10%) of their income to the Lords' work, through the local church;
  15. Men who can and will be regular attendees of Deacons' Meetings;
  16. Men who do all they can to create and preserve the harmony of the church;
  17. Men who are able to keep, and have the reputation for keeping, in confidence those things that should not be discussed with others;
  18. Men who recognize the God-given spiritual leadership that is incumbent upon the office of a pastor and seek to support that leadership.

The Practical Role of the Deacon at First Baptist Rockwall

  1. The deacons serve as spiritual encouragers and a sounding board for our pastor in matters dealing with the general direction of our church and the specific plans for our church. They provide him with wisdom, prayers, and support.
  2. The deacons serve as "co-sponsors" with the pastor and committees on various maters that go before the church…
      •  …realizing that any committee can go to the church with or without deacon approval, but usually doesn't; and
      •  …recognizing that with the diversity of the deacon body, when they "co-sponsor" a matter with a committee, that matter will be more widely received and trusted by the church as a whole.
3.  The deacons serve in the following ministries - all on a volunteer basis:
      1. Hospital Visitation -A different deacon is assigned each week to visit those in the hospitals - usually this is done with another deacon partner.
      2. Helping Hands Ministry - When we hear of a need from those in our church or community, a deacon is assigned to help meet that need. These are usually small, physical projects.
      3. Widows Ministry - Each deacon is given a list of about 5 widows in our church, and they call or visit to check on them on a monthly basis.*
      4. Lord's Supper - The deacons both prepare (by committee) and help in serving the Lord's Supper for the congregation.
*In each of the above ministries, the deacons are asked to report back any information that might be helpful to the pastor. 
4.  It is our desire to see the deacons serving in every area of our church, not because it is required, but because they are involved.
5.  Our deacons meet on the second Thursday night of each month at 7:00 PM. Active deacons are expected to attend the meetings.
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