Deacons Ministry - Caring Skills

The Equipping Christian Ministry
First Baptist Church Bonny Island
Jerry Akinsola,
jerryakinsola@yahoo.com
+2348033804982

Caring Includes…
Identifying with a person or
group
Responding to needs of others
Providing what is necessary for
the wellbeing of someone or
some thing.

Why Care…?
Jesus Expects us to do so.
The Early Church cared.
People Need It
It Grows the Church
It develops caregivers

To serve effectively as a
Deacon
you need to regularly
exercise the following
basic caring skills...

Listen
Listening: The deacon must learn to
listen. In listening you should
expect revelations and shocking
personal disclosures. Learn to keep
calm.
Listening is essential for
discernment.

Build Trust:
Building Trust: The deacon should be
trustworthy. Betrayal of trust will
shatter the ministry of care. Keep
confidential issues secret. Seek consent
if you must make disclosures.

Ask Appropriate Question
 Asking Appropriate Question :
Ask feeling questions. Ask
clarifying questions. Let your
questions go beyond focusing
on facts.

Respond Appropriately:
 Respond appropriately to the
information you receive. Appropriate
caring response could either be
suggesting a course of action, explain
an issue, assuring the person, or seek
further information.

Share
Sharing is a basic expression of care.
You definitely need to share time and
space with the people you are
ministering to.
There are times you would need to
share your ideas, experiences and
resources.

Use Scripture and
Prayers:
Know the Word and apply it. The Word
of God is His solution to our problems.
Ensure that any portion of scripture
used is relevant. Be natural when
praying. Make your prayer meaningful.

Make Decisions:
Solving Problems usually demand
making decisions. We helping people
make sure you are not treating surface
problems. Encourage decisiveness.
Talks with no conclusions often become
recurrent talks.

Follow Ups:
Once you start helping a person in
problem solving, you need to follow
through with notes or visits.
You should make referral if time or
knowledge will not permit you to
continue.

Report
It is important to share your care
ministry outcomes with the
pastoral leadership. Let the
recipients of your ministry know
that you are operating under a
delegated ministry.

As a Deacon you need to Care for
your….
Spouse and
Household
Pastors
Members- Strangers

1 Tim 5:8, Psalm 78:3-4,7,

A Guide for caring for your home…
Love
Provide
Train
Protect

1 Tim 5:17 – 18, Galatians 6:6,
Heb.13:17

A Guide for caring for your
Pastor
Know Your Pastor
Accept your pastor and his or
her spouse
Provide Resources for
Ministry – Exposure and
Tools

A Guide for caring for your
Pastor
Meet for his or her financial
needs
Promote the ministry of your
Pastor
Provide Spiritual Backup –

‘Feed my Sheep’ – John 21:15-17

Four Vulnerable Classes of
Members…
Families Sick
Bereaved
- Failures
Church
Dropouts

Five Essentials for Caring for
Families and …
Contact Identify with them
Visit
Consider The Stage(development),
state (condition), needs
Connect
with…
Understand and Respect them
Instruct - teach, train, coach

Five Essentials for Caring for
Families
Demand
Commitment
Engage them –plan
together
make use of their gifts
Create
Support System
network (organise),
Intercessory prayers

HOSPITAL VISITATION MINISTRY
The sick provide the deacon a great
opportunity or ministering.
Four stages are involved in a hospital
visitation that bears enduring fruit.

Self-Preparation
Plan for spiritual ministry…Hospital
ministry is a time for serious, well-
planned visitation.
Gather all the information that you can
about the patient, and their family.
Prepare yourself with prayers

Self-Preparation
Go only while you are in good health
with no colds, e.t.c
Pack your kit bag (Bible, tracts, cards,
note pads, biro)
Don’t worry about what to say. Being
there is the important thing

Heed Hospital Signs
Visiting Hours…Observe the hours
set by the hospital.
Abide by hospital regulations…
Check at the nurse’s station.

Heed Hospital Signs
The Closed Door…Knock before
entering, you are entering
someone’s bedroom.
Let Medical Care Take
Priority…Doctor or Nurse.

Visiting the Patient
The physical condition of the patient
should determine the length of your
visit
Select and use religious resources
(prayer, scripture, and tracts) with the
specific needs of the person in mind.

Minister To The Patient
Be sensitive to the patient’s
comfort.
Don’t touch the patient unless
he or she offers to shake hands.
Don’t give medical advice, or
interpret medical equipment.

Minister to the Patient
Listen more than you talk.
Remember to pray for the
patient and others.

Minister to the Patient
Do follow-up after the patient
is at home.
Don’t make commitments
you cannot fulfill.
Do wash your hands after
each visit.

The Patient’s family
Stay with them as long as the stay
is meaningful.
Spend time with them listening
actively/attentively
Pray with them
Notify the pastor when you
discover family needs.

The Grief Cycle
Guilt
Depression
Distress
DETACHMENT
Apathy
Isolation
Resignation
Withdrawal
ReorganizationLoss
Pain
Anger
Confusion
Anxiety
Denial
Peace
Release
Renewal
Understanding

Caring for the Grieving
Presence: Use the power of
your presence. Visitation
matters.
Listen: Allow the person to
express his or her feelings. Let
them talk or cry.

Caring for the Grieving
Practical Service: Provide
practical support. Cook. Run
errands.
Follow-up: Provide spiritual
support. Pray for and with
them.

Ministry To The Grieving: Donts
• Don’t avoid the bereaved.
• Don’t say, “I understand.”
• Don’t tell irrelevant or long
stories.
• Don’t cry.

Why People Drop Out Church…
Doctrine – Disturbing or heretical
Divisions in the body
Discipline
Disappointments (Desires – Doubts)
Devil - Demons

THE DROP-OUT PROCESS
Complains
Detachment
From Task
Absence
Hostility

CARING FOR CHURCH DROPOUTS
 Don’t mention the church at
first. Let the ‘dropout’ talk
about himself, family, jobs and
problems.
Don’t argue or criticize as he or
she states his or her position.

Express your concern about his
relationship with God. Suggest
possibilities
Share avenue of dealing with spiritual
apathy that you or others have
experienced.

If the visited becomes impatient,
terminate the conversation, and set a
date for another visit.

Titus 1:8

A Guide for Ministering to
Strangers
Be Warm – Avoid grumbling.
Remember it is all His grace…
Engage them – Ask. Listen.

A Guide for Ministering to
Strangers
Discern. Pray. Observe.
Sensitive – to God (Clarify the
role He want you to play.)
Share your resources and
comfort. Be Generous.

Care Ministry Is Meeting Needs
Caring is a Verb….

In Conclusion
When Deacons serve as
effective care givers:
God is glorified
People are blessed

In Conclusion
The Church grows
They (the servants) are exalted
Caring is a Verb….
Go Do It!

Deacons Ministry - Caring Skills

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