|  FAQ: The Deacon and Diaconal Visits

Who may deacons be required to visit?

Deacons have many different kinds of encounters during their time of service.  It may be with

• a shut-in who has crippling arthritis.
• someone without adequate housing.
• a church member who is not able to live within their income.
• an unemployed person in the neighbourhood.
• a family struggling to pay the Christian school tuition.
• a person who feels lonely in the church.
• an elderly person in the community whose children never visit.
• a widow grieving the loss of her husband.
• a senior on his eightieth birthday.
• a person who has been abused.
• a single parent facing a crisis pregnancy.
• a couple who overspends and needs to learn to budget.
• others in varying painful circumstances.

What is the nature of a meaningful diaconal encounter?

A deacon will be the presence of God's comfort and love by

• wrapping a conversation in prayer.  Deacons ought to pray prior to a conversation/visit, asking God to guide them.  They can pray while they converse, and share their uncertainties with God.
• listening!  It is critical to listen to the person who you are with.    Listening is a gift that deacons can offer.  It creates an atmosphere of trust and acceptance.  This gift of listening helps people put their thoughts and feelings into words, which is their first step towards helping themselves. Listening also helps people build relationships with each other and God. If we listen carefully, we can explore a variety of needs. And we will know what to pray when the time comes.
• knowing what he/she is good at and focusing on that.  Deacons should not be afraid to say "I don't know."
• ensuring confidentiality. Deacons should assure the individual that it is safe to share with them.
• pointing to God.  Deacons can do this by offering words of encouragement, a brief word from Scripture, and prayer. They should be sensitive to the nudging of the Spirit!
• offer options in response to a current difficulty only when this is requested.  The chosen response to a difficult situation has to be determined and owned by the person in it.

How may prayer be an important part of a visit?

Visits need to be wrapped in prayer.

• Prayer should be an integral part of a visit. This does happen when there is focus on listening and understanding needs. Then specific needs may be brought before the Lord. These needs can be clarified so it is understood which will be included in prayer.
• Since it is a common practice to close a visit with prayer, a deacon may consider occasionally praying with people at other times during the visit.  Prayer is not a technique to close the visit.  If prayer always closes a visit, the people being visited might come to look on the prayer as a way to say goodbye rather than a way to communicate with God.  They may even feel disappointment when prayer is mentioned, because it signals the end of the visit.  Prayer can happen at any time during a visit.
• The appropriate moment to pray during each visit depends on the person's needs and when s/he is ready.  This moment will be determined by careful listening.  Prayer can be a natural part of the conversation.  The entire visit is an opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love and concern.
• Prayer may be initiated by any one of the following:
  • “Would you appreciate a prayer right now?”
  • “We have talked about this problem and you have expressed a lot of feelings. Would you like to share these with God in prayer?”
  • “I am so thankful with you how things have turned out for you this week. Shall we share our thanks with God in prayer?”

What are some Scripture Passages that may be helpful during a visit?

The more deacons immerse themselves in God’s Word, the more they will be able to share appropriate words of hope and encouragement in the varying circumstances of diaconal ministry. A deacon’s meeting is a great time to share helpful passages with each other.  Some suggestions are:

• Psalm 23 & Hebrews 13: 5-6
  God will not forsake us in our time of pain
• Psalm 61
  Asking God to lift us out of our difficulty
• Psalm 62
  Finding peace in the midst of turmoil
• Psalm 63
  The need for prayer
• Psalm 90
  Our hope is in God
• Psalm 103
  God's great love for us
• Philippians 4:6-7 & I Peter 5:7
  Bring your anxieties to God, He cares for you
• Romans 5:10-11 & I John 1:9
  Forgiveness is a gift and a promise
• Galatians 4:5 & Romans 8:15
  God is our Father (Abba)
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 & 9:6-7
  The joy of giving generously to God
• Galatians 6:9 & Isaiah 41:10
  Don’t give up. God will strengthen you.
• Romans 8:1 & Isaiah 1:18
  There is no guilt too great for God
• Romans 4:20-21 & I John 5:14-15
  Trust in God. Claim God’s promises.