The office of deacon was created by the Apostles in the first century church (Acts 6:1-6) for the purpose of assisting in properly serving the body of Christ. This enabled the Apostles to devote a greater amount of time to the study of the Word and prayer. At PPBC we endeavor to keep the spirit of this original intent alive in the conduct of our deacon body. We are not a governing body, but a group of men dedicated to serving the congregation and staff of the church in such a manner that enables the staff to be more effective in fulfilling their calling from God. As the deacons interact throughout the body of Christ it is essential that they provide a model of Christian service to the body of Christ. Paul states in I Timothy 3:10, “These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.” For this reason we strive to build men into deacons that have made discipleship, godliness, and a servant attitude a way of life.
Discipleship is the process of transforming a believer into a fully function follower of Jesus Christ. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;” (Matthew 28:19,20a). The discipleship process ensures that a future generation of believers is being prepared for service. “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (II Tim 2:2)
Godliness is the evidence or proof of true Christ-likeness within the believer. (See
I Tim 3:16; 4:8; 6:3-8). The character of a deacon should be demonstrated in his daily life.
A servant attitude is that same attitude demonstrated by Jesus Christ when He emptied Himself of the fullness of God and became a ransom for mankind that man might through Him become the righteousness of God. It enables an individual to consider others more highly than himself and look out for the interests of others. (See Phil 2:3-8; Mark 10:45; Luke 22:26-27)
The deacon selection process begins when men are periodically nominated by the congregation based on the requirements of I Timothy 3:1-10, and Titus 1:7-9. A selection committee comprised of deacons and members of the congregation then review the nominated candidates to ensure that the biblical requirements are met and that the candidate understands the responsibilities of being a deacon. If selected by the committee, the man is then brought before the whole deacon body for review and confirmation.
