This episode is an exciting one! Our first "Real World Cases" episode will kick off 2023 for The Reformed Deacon. This one focuses on walk-ins and provides numerous practical methods for stewarding unexpected encounters. Three seasoned deacons: John Voss from Covenant OPC in Orland Park, IL; Chris Sudlow from Bethel OPC in Wheaton, IL and Doug Vos from Oakland Hills Community OPC in Farmington Hills, MI serve as our first panel and CDM administrator David Nakhla facilitates. This is an episode you won't want to miss! And you'll be sure to share it with the deacons at your church, won't you?

In this episode, we continue with the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV 2022 recordings as Rev. Al Tricarico brings us “The Deacon and His Community”. This one is chock full of insights and practical takeaways for deacons, as well as all Christians. Rather than summarize, here are a few quotes from Rev. Tricarico in the episode that will leave you wanting more:“See the encounter [with a stranger] as an opportunity to serve, not a nuisance to avoid.” “[A stranger] is made in God’s image, has a value and therefore is worth knowing.”“Let generosity prevail.”“Diaconal work can be reactive, but it doesn't only have to be reactive.”“When you welcome a person in need you honor Jesus.”“Hospitality is in a sense a living parable of the gospel”“What do we want to be as a church, a fortress or haven?”You can find the video versions of all of the OPC National Diaconal Summit recordings on OPCCDM.org, along with many other diaconal resources.Email David Nakhla or producer Trish Duggan with your questions or comments: [email protected], share and comment to let us know what you liked and what you’d like to see more of.

This month we return to the Summit recordings, where you'll hear Rev. Ron Pearce as he leads the Summit’s Friday worship service. He asks the question, who was right in Luke 10: Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet or Martha, who was busy with preparations for her guests? Was one focus better than the other? What does it have to do with the parable of the Good Samaritan and your service to the church? You can find The Reformed Deacon on your favorite podcast player. Like, share and comment. We like comments.You can find all the National Diaconal Summit IV video recordings, along with lots more on OPCCDM.org.

In this episode of The Reformed Deacon, you’ll listen in on an information session held for OPC Disaster Response registrants held on Monday, September 19, 2022 regarding the disaster response effort in Neon, Kentucky. As many of you know, catastrophic flooding at the end of July destroyed most of the town of Neon, including Neon Reformed OPC’s building. The local church, presbytery of the Southeast and OPC Disaster Response have been serving there for about eight weeks now and have made a lot of progress in the church building to restore worship in Neon. If the Lord wills, disaster response efforts will extend into the community of Neon. Referenced in this episode:Neon Reformed OPCNeon Progressive Slide ShowVideo Version of Information SessionOPCDisasterResponse.orgReformed Mission ServicesMission to North America Disaster Response

In this special series, we are releasing the audio versions of the plenaries and workshops from the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV, held June 2-4, in Wheaton, Illinois. There is so much good content in here, we decided to go ahead and release them in groups, so you can listen at your own pace. This is the second grouping of releases. This session from the second group is Mr. David Nakhla's workshop, "Your Diaconate and Your Denomination."  His bio can be found here.  Much of what Mr. Nakhla references in his session can be found on OPCCDM.org.The video version of these topics are on OPCCDM.org. You may want to watch the video versions with your fellow deacons, maybe even as a part of your regular meeting, and then discuss. However you decide to use them, you won't be sorry you took the time. As always, like and share, and comment, if you can. We like feedback.

In this special series, we are releasing the audio versions of the plenaries and workshops from the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV, held June 2-4, in Wheaton, Illinois. There is so much good content in here, we decided to go ahead and release them in groups, so you can listen at your own pace. This is the second grouping of releases. This session from the second group is Rev. Deryck Barson's  workshop, "Ministry to the Stranger."  His bio and notes from this session can be found here.  The video version of these topics are on OPCCDM.org. You may want to watch the video versions with your fellow deacons, maybe even as a part of your regular meeting, and then discuss. However you decide to use them, you won't be sorry you took the time. As always, like and share, and comment, if you can. We like feedback.

In this special series, we are releasing the audio versions of the plenaries and workshops from the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV, held June 2-4, in Wheaton, Illinois. There is so much good content in here, we decided to go ahead and release them in groups, so you can listen at your own pace. This is the second grouping of releases. This session from the second group is Mr. Mike Cloy's workshop, "Disaster Response for the Local Church."  His bio and notes from this session can be found here.  Referenced in this episode:"The Spiritual Nature of the Office of Deacon" by Carl Carlson printed in the Ordained Servant"The Deacon: Biblical Foundations for Today's Ministry of Mercy" by Cornilus Van DamFollow along with Mr. Cloy's presentation slide deck.OPC Disaster Response WebsiteThe video version of these topics are on OPCCDM.org. You may want to watch the video versions with your fellow deacons, maybe even as a part of your regular meeting, and then discuss. However you decide to use them, you won't be sorry you took the time. As always, like and share, and comment, if you can. We like feedback.

In this special series, we are releasing the audio versions of the plenaries and workshops from the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV, held June 2-4, in Wheaton, Illinois. There is so much good content in here, we decided to go ahead and release them in groups, so you can listen at your own pace. This session from the second group is Mr. Luke Fawcett's workshop, "Strategy and Guidelines for Diaconal Ministry."  His bio and notes from this session can be found here. Referenced in this episode:Resurrection OPC,  Matthews, NC Guidelines for Mercy Ministry The video version of these topics are on OPCCDM.org. You may want to watch the video versions with your fellow deacons, maybe even as a part of your regular meeting, and then discuss. However you decide to use them, you won't be sorry you took the time. As always, like and share, and comment, if you can. We like feedback.

In this episode of The Reformed Deacon, CDM Administrator, David Nakhla, sits down with Jon Eide, MTW's Ukraine Country Director, to discuss what the reformed church in Ukraine now looks like, what's been done, and plans for the future. In addition to the interview with Jon, we've added a poignant conversation  with a Ukrainian refugee family, now living in Lithuania, that David Nakhla was privileged to meet during his May trip to Eastern Europe. Listen carefully as the family describes the dangerous situations while they made an escape from their home in Ukraine after Russia's attack.This makes for a long episode, but well-worth the time. Referenced in this Episode:Crates for UkraineMTW.orgMTW Ukraine TeamDonate to the OPC Ukraine Crisis FundMore about Ukraine Crisis FundOPC Disaster Response

In this special series, we are releasing the audio versions of the plenaries and workshops from the OPC National Diaconal Summit IV, held June 2-4, in Wheaton, Illinois. There is so much good content in here, we decided to go ahead and release them in groups, so you can listen at your own pace. We've included the "gold nuggets", in this first grouping; the topics that were most popular at the Summit. This session from the first group is entitled, "Diaconal Leadership Today", a plenary session by Rev. Bill Shishko. Notes from this session can be found here.The video version of these topics are on OPCCDM.org. You may want to watch the video versions with your fellow deacons, maybe even as a part of your regular meeting, and then discuss. However you decide to use them, you won't be sorry you took the time. As always, like and share, and comment, if you can. We like feedback.