Discovering and Developing Your Deacons: Identifying, Enlisting, and Engaging Servant-Leaders for the Local Church

By Russell R. Cook

Whether you are in a new church or a more established one, if you have a congregation, you have a growing need for more servants. You need others to help you. Yet you may not know where to start or how to proceed with identifying, enlisting, equipping, and engaging servant-leaders for your church. In Discovering and Developing Your Deacons, you will find the help you need.

If you are wondering whether or not you even need the ministry of Deacons, or if youd like to know more about the process of discovering the right way to find them, this book is for you. You may have questions about the characteristics of men who can serve and how you can identify those qualities. This book answers clearly and concisely ten of the most often asked questions related to starting or restarting an effective Deacon ministry.

It is not Gods intention that a Pastor and one or two other leaders perform all needed ministry. This is akin to what God intended for the Apostles in Acts 6, when they had become overwhelmed with the ministry needs of a multiplying church. This book details how to find the kind of men described in Acts 6not only find them but identify them by their reputation, character qualities, and servant hearts. This is a process that can be undertaken by any church that sees the need and has a desire to follow clear, scripturally-based guidelines.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512707595

Russell R. Cook

Russell R. Cook and his wife, Marsha, have devoted many of their ministry years to training Pastors, staff members, Deacons, and their wives for service to the local church. This is his second book about Deacon ministry. He has been the Pastor of four churches and is currently a Director of Missions in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

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Copyright © 2015 Russell R. Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the

Holman Christan Standard Bible, © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

Used by permission.

Other versions used are:

KJV—King James Version, Authorized King James Version.

NASB—New American Standard Version, © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Used by permission.

Williams Translation, © 1950 by Moody Publishers.

Used by permission.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9238-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9239-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0759-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015913773

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/04/2015

CONTENTS

Dedication

Endorsements

Preface

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 How Do You Know When a Church Needs Deacons?

Chapter 2 How Is the Process of Discovering Deacons Initiated?

Chapter 3 What Characterizes a Deacon Candidate?

Chapter 4 What Qualifies a Man to Become a Deacon?

Chapter 5 How Are Deacons Selected, Elected, and Ordained?

Chapter 6 How Many Deacons Should a Church Have?

Chapter 7 What Are the Vital Signs of a Godly Deacon?

Chapter 8 What Are the Spiritual Disciplines of the Deacon?

Chapter 9 How Should Deacons Serve With the Pastor?

Chapter 10 What Is the Biblical Charge to Deacons?

Conclusion

Additional Resources

About The Author

DEDICATION

TO MY SAVIOR:

The Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest Servant of all

TO MY FAMILY:

My wife, Marsha, who assisted me with much of the editing, formatting, and typing of this work and who has helped me for more than four decades to identify, enlist, and equip servant-leaders and their wives for local church ministry.

Our children,

Bryan & Lisa Cook, Phillip & Angela Cook, Aaron & Joy Swensen

and

our precious grandchildren.

TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER-IN-LAW:

Bryan Ragsdell, Jr.

Deacon and exemplary servant-leader

University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas

TO THE LIVES & MEMORIES OF INNUMERABLE DEACONS WHOSE FAITHFUL SERVICE HAS BLESSED THE BODY OF CHRIST THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

ENDORSEMENTS

Discovering and Developing Your Deacons by Russell Cook is a helpful and practical guide. I am happy to commend its use for all Pastors and churches wanting to develop a group of faithful servants for a local body of believers.

Daniel L. Akin, President

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Churches blessed with faithful, tireless, committed deacons enjoy remarkable growth and health. So why are there not more churches like this? My friend, Russell Cook, does more than answer that question in this succinct, Scripture-based book. He provides sound advice to any Pastor and church eager to follow the New Testament model for the selection, ordination and utilization of Deacons. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons, will help every Pastor and church that will take seriously the counsel in its pages.

For the vision!

Tom Elliff, President

International Mission Board, SBC

Richmond, Virginia

Since the diaconate ministry is biblical, and therefore essential to the ministry of the local church, I am pleased to recommend this fine treatise, Discovering and Developing Your Deacons, by Russell Cook, to you with excitement and appreciation. Having known the author for over 37 years, I know you will find in these pages the heart and passion of a man who loves the church, Pastors and Deacons. He has written for the glory of the Lord and the edification of the church."

Ed Ethridge, Director of Missions

North Texas Baptist Area

Lewisville, Texas

A healthy Deacon body made up of men with hearts for service can be a wonderful presence in your church. This is a great book for any Pastor who has a Deacons’ ministry or is thinking of adding one. Russell Cook provides biblical references spelling out the qualifications of a Deacon, their role in the church, how many a church needs and how they should be chosen. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons will be a practical and helpful addition to any Pastor’s library.

Kevin Ezell, President

North American Mission Board, SBC

Alpharetta, Georgia

I highly recommend Discovering and Developing Your Deacons to Pastors and church leaders seeking to help the Deacon body in the local church understand its biblical identity and function. The skepticism and waning Christian influence of our day makes exemplifying the gospel through acts of service and selflessness especially crucial. The Deacon ministry is an excellent way for a church to carry out such service. This book is an essential tool to help a church get the most out of its Deacon ministry and impact the world for the kingdom of Christ.

Todd Fisher, Senior Pastor

Immanuel Baptist Church

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Many a problem in the church could have been avoided if we had only heard and heeded Paul’s admonition to Timothy to "lay hands on no man quickly (1 Timothy 5:22). There are many fine resources available related to the ministry of the Deacon. This work by Russell Cook is one of the few that begins at the beginning with keen insight into the who of Deacon ministry and not simply the what or how."

The ministry of the pulpit and pew, the prophet and the people, the Pastor and the Deacon are biblically designed to complement each other. They are like a pair of scissors. Neither blade is that effective without the other. But when they are together, they can cut through most any situation or circumstance. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons is in the middle of the bull’s-eye in identifying and applying this biblical truth. Read it and reap.

O.S. Hawkins, President and CEO

Guidestone Financial Resources of the SBC

Dallas, Texas

Author: The Pastor’s Guide to Leading & Living

"What is a Deacon?" That is a good question with a multitude of answers. For some, he is the man who prays before the offering and serves communion. For others, he represents the center of gravity for the political power base of the church. At times, he is seen as the Pastor’s advocate and sometimes as his adversary. He can be chairman of the board or the humble servant. Some Pastors don’t see the necessity of Deacons or a bad experience has made them extremely cautious about trusting them.

Having worked with Deacons for fifty years, in rural churches with four deacons to an urban church with a hundred, I found Deacons to be my greatest allies and cheerleaders in leading and serving the Lord’s church. The Deacon role, properly understood biblically and actively practiced, usually guarantees a healthy church. Pastors and Deacons make a powerful team and the church will thrive as they follow their lifestyle and leadership.

Dr. Cook, in Discovering and Developing Your Deacons, has written one of the best resources to build sound Deacon ministry that I have ever read. It is practical and, above all…it will work! A transformed Deacon can mean a transformed church (and the church can experience revival instead of a riot). This work will help accomplish that end.

Jim Henry, Pastor Emeritus

First Baptist Church

Orlando, Florida

Author: Deacons, Partners in Ministry and Growth

Deacons, Growing in Character and Commitment

What an incredible service to the church of our Lord! It has been far too long since we have had clear, thorough, biblical and practical instruction on the office of Deacon in the church. Russell Cook has sounded a clarion call for the office of Deacon in this new work. He has shown us every step to take in qualifying, choosing, and electing these essential leaders for the church in Discovering and Developing Your Deacons. But he does not stop there. He gives the Pastor and Deacon clear insight into cooperative ministry that will bless and serve the church. Pastors and Deacons who study this book will be well prepared to serve the body of Christ with humility and distinction.

Anthony L. Jordan, Executive Director

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Discovering and Developing Your Deacons, by Dr. Russell Cook, is a ready resource for any Pastor or church planter. For too long, Deacons have had a bad reputation primarily because of poor enlistment and training. Deacon ministry can be the best ministry in a church if you have the right people and an effective strategy. This book provides a strategy and implementation process that will assist any minister in any church or church plant to enable the men called as Deacons/co-laborers to care for the families in your church. The concept of doing Deacon ministry as a team is a great observation.

Bill Lighty

Director of Missions, Pikes Peak Baptist Association

Church Planting Catalyst, North American Mission Board, SBC

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Russell Cook exemplifies the term servant-leader. He shows the way and pours out his life for others. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons is biblical, practical, and forged in years of experience leading congregations to gospel fidelity.

Russell Moore, President

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, SBC

Nashville, Tennessee

Russell R. Cook knows, through sometimes painful and at other times joyful experiences, that the making of Deacons is not so simple as mere election. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons implies from the very title that there is a discovery phase and a developmental phase. For those who wish to have godly deacons based on biblical criteria, this monograph explains to the Pastor and to the lay people of the church exactly how to go about this task. Not only will this bless the church but will also help provide tremendous encouragement for churches that need a New Testament diaconate. May God bless this book in its task to help provide the local New Testament church with one of its two divinely appointed officers.

Paige Patterson, President

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Fort Worth, Texas

I have known and worked with Dr. Russell Cook for the past twelve years. He has a heart for Church Planters, Pastors, and the churches they lead. He and his wife, Marsha, have invested years of ministry into equipping and training Deacons and their wives to be effective servants in the Lord’s house! Russell brings a lifetime of experience in pastoral and associational ministry to this book. Prepare to hear the words and ideas of a seasoned follower of the Head of the Church.

Discovering and Developing Your Deacons provides church leaders with a solid biblical framework for this task. If you follow the counsel of this work, you will walk a clear biblical path and find simple and practical steps to discovering real helpers for the ministry to which you have been called. Russell clearly states tradition and common practices but also analyzes the related biblical texts with no skirting of significant issues. Drawing directly from the Word of God, he unpacks basic requirements for men in terms of qualifications, character, and wisdom. Read this one carefully, review it often, and let it rekindle your heart for mobilizing an army of men for His glory!

Tim Pruit

Pastor, Pinal County Cowboy Church

Associational Missionary—Gila Valley Baptist Association

Church Planting Catalyst, West Region—North American Mission Board

Casa Grande, Arizona

Throughout the history of the church, Deacons have played an extremely important role—from those first seven chosen in Acts to the countless number in churches today. Discovering and Developing Your Deacons thoroughly explains the biblical understanding of who Deacons are, what Deacons do, and how Deacons best serve the church. This is