During the Cold War, I was a security policeman in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Germany. One of my jobs was to work in a tower where I monitored an alarm system on the perimeter of a nuclear munitions storage facility. To prepare for an attack, we had regular training exercises. During a training exercise, my job in the tower was to coordinate response teams. Some response teams were already inside the perimeter of the storage facility. Some were outside. In addition to these teams, I could also call for additional security forces who were housed at the barracks. From high atop my tower, I would direct these response teams. Fortunately we were never attacked, but the training exercises were very exciting.
Other agencies also have ways to respond to crises. Doctors and nurses are trained to handle medical emergencies. They send paramedics to respond, and then when the injured are brought to the hospital, they call specialists to deal with the emergency. Police and fireman are dispatched to fight fires and respond to other dangerous situations.
What about the Church of Jesus Christ? How does the Church respond to crisis situations?
Fortunately, God has given his Church men and women who are responsible for the well-being of the people in the Church. The crisis-management team is your deacons and deaconesses. Deacons and deaconesses are the rapid-response team of the local church. The Bible tells us that when a crisis arose in the early church the apostles told the church to appoint deacons to deal with the problem. The event is found in the book of Acts chapter six:
A complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them (Acts 6:1-6).
In addition to the deacons, the church also chose women to serve as deaconesses to help meet the needs of people in the church. The Apostle Paul mentions one of these deaconess who played an important part in his life and ministry. Paul says:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant [deaconess] of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well (Romans 16:1-2).
These godly men and women are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to respond to the needs of people in the Church. They have answered the high calling of God, and their spiritual maturity and giftedness has been recognized by the congregation. They can’t necessarily work miracles, but they are able, ready, and willing to respond when a need arises. We should pray for them and give them our respect. They are servants who act as God’s hands and feet. Through them, God reaches out to a world in crisis to bring his healing love and compassion to those in need.
Thanking God for our deacons and deaconesses,
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