Deacons are godly individuals called to minister alongside a pastor in the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13). While those who serve well are a blessing to the pastor and congregation, a pastor can also be a blessing to his deacons. Here are six ways pastors can bless deacons in the church:
- Never joke about them. This should go without saying, but I’ve been shocked to hear what some pastors have said in jest about their deacons. I recall a pastor sharing with me a joke he had told about his deacons that morning in worship. While the pastor thought his joke was humorous and harmless, I couldn’t help but feel it undermined his ministry. Months later, I wasn’t surprised to learn the pastor was beginning to suffer hardships related to his leadership. While I believe there is a place for humor in the pulpit, it must never be at the expense of those God has called to serve alongside us.
- Always speak positively about them. Building on the previous point, always talk about deacons in uplifting ways, especially when speaking from the platform. Remind the congregation how blessed they are to have such godly servants, and occasionally share a recent story illustrating how a deacon’s ministry served to edify the church.
- Provide good training for them. Pastors cannot expect deacons to serve well if they are not trained well. There are many books, guides, and videos available that teach deacons how to serve the church body. A weekend “pastor and deacon retreat” would be a great way to provide both training and fellowship.
- Serve alongside them. Deacons are servants, but so are pastors, and both are drawn closer to each other when they serve together. Whether making hospital visits or ministering to families, pastors can bless deacons when they serve alongside them.
- Seek counsel from them. While no two deacons are equally gifted, many are especially blessed with wisdom and life experience. Leaning upon them for advice and counsel honors them and strengthens one’s ministry. In the churches I have pastored, God blessed me with a few special deacons who greatly encouraged me. Some were like a friendly Barnabas to me and others like a fatherly Paul. I knew I could trust these men with private concerns and receive good counsel from them.
- Pray for them. Pray regularly for and with individual deacons. Here’s one way I’ve done that during the Lord’s Supper. After our deacons finished serving the church by distributing the bread and cup, I served the bread and the cup to each of them individually. As I did, I paused momentarily before each deacon, placed my hand upon his shoulder, told him I loved him, and then prayed specifically for him. It was always an uplifting moment together that strengthened our bond as co-servants of the church.
Pastors: What are some other ways you can bless your deacons?
Thank you! As a Deacon for many years beginning in the early 80’s and having served alongside four pastors while I was a member,( we left here for 9 yrs.) I am grateful for the relationships we had. We are moving toward plurality with elders. We’ve always had one senior pastor for the years the church has been in existence more than (180 years). We, the leadership, believe elder rule (plurality) is biblical. Please pray as we move forward in this and teach our members. As a new believer back in the 70’s, I never understood why my church didn’t have more then one elder. The pastors all eventually “burned out!” Except for one who retired from NJ and moved back to Vermont. He recently “went home” at the age of 95. He was still preaching and teaching Sun. school at his oldest son’s church. What a servant of God. I loved that man!
Kevin
Thank you, Kevin, for your reply! And thank you for your faithful service as a deacon. It sounds like your church is on the right path. Folks like you make that happen. Many blessings!