2024 DEACON NOMINATIONS
I love deacons! The men who serve as deacons at First Baptist encourage, support, pray, love, and inspire our church membership, our pastoral staff, and me. I’m a better pastor because of their ministry and leadership.
The deacon ministry is a New Testament office. The Bible describes who a deacon is to be (1 Timothy 3:8-13), and the early church modeled what a deacon should do (Acts 6:1-7). Therefore, selecting deacons is a weighty leadership decision. A man doesn’t become a deacon because he’s successful or popular. He accepts the ministry of a deacon because he’s qualified, called, prepared, trusted, and affirmed.
The deacon ministry is more than sitting on a church board. Instead, deacons at First Baptist serve. I often say, “The role of a biblical deacon is to carry a bucket of water, not a can of gas. A deacon’s ministry is to put out fires in the church fellowship, not spread them.” What should you look for in a deacon at First Baptist according to God’s Word?
Several Christian authors highlight these seven biblical qualifications from God’s Word:
A deacon must have a good reputation (1 Timothy 3:8)
A deacon must be a man of his word (1 Timothy 3:8)
A deacon must be a wise steward (1 Timothy 3:8)
A deacon must have a good grip on God’s Word (1 Timothy 3:9)
A deacon must be proven (1 Timothy 3:10)
A deacon must be a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:12)
A deacon must be a spiritual leader at home (1 Timothy 3:12)
Following your nominations, what are the next steps in the deacon selection process?
1. Qualified deacon candidates will be contacted. Each man will be asked to pray about being a deacon at First Baptist. A faithful deacon is a called deacon.
2. Deacon candidates will meet with our Deacon Nominating Committee and me. We’ll meet with each candidate and talk about duties and expectations of the deacon ministry at First Baptist.
3. You’ll be given an opportunity to affirm the selected deacons during the December 10th worship gathering. We’ll have deacon ballots available (in-person and online), and you’ll be asked to affirm the men on the ballots.
Our church is stronger and healthier because of our deacons. I thank God that these men are “partners in ministry!”
Leading by the Book,
Pastor Ronny
If you have any questions or would like to submit your vote by email, please email info@fbct.org.
ONLINE BALLOTS
Thank you for taking the time to submit names of men to be considered as deacons. The following men are currently serving as deacons and should not be nominated: Marshall Biter, Ted Brandon, Ernie Briggs, Mark Briggs, Kevin Brown, Kent Brown, Charlie Bumpus, Jason Daugherty, Mont Davie, Bob Fort, Ken Gilman, Steve Girsky, Michael Harris, Walter Haynes, Mark Holleman, Paul Jennings, Kyle Jones, Kevin Kennedy, Edward Larson, Rick Martin, Travis Massa, Brian Morgan, Bob Palmer, Bryce Powers, Bill Prine, Glen Rainey, Ted Reece, Rob Salome, Mike Schrecker, Bobby Smith, Bryan Smith, Philip Sumner, and Patrick Wilkinson.
These Deacon Nomination Ballots are available to you so that you may prayerfully consider who God would have you recommend to serve in this role for the next three years. You are asked to nominate up to sixteen (16) men to serve. Each one eligible, according to our Church Constitution, must be an “active resident member of the Church who is at least 25 years old.”
The paper ballot can be filled out and turned into the boxes located at the Connect Centers, or you can vote online by submitting your nominations by email to info@fbct.org. All resident Church members are eligible to nominate men. After nominations are given, the Deacon Nominating Committee will oversee the next steps in the process.
Thank you for your participation in this important process.