In describing the qualities of a church deacon, the Bible also emphasizes the traits of his companion: “Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything” (1 Timothy 3:11). Yet for all the traditional deacon handbooks, less prevalent are those for a deacon’s wife. This warmhearted, conversational new book from “Fresh Ideas” syndicated columnist Diana Davis shares stories and insights for deacon wives whether just inaugurated or long experienced. The reader will enjoy tips on how to best encourage her husband’s work, the ministry of the pastor and his wife, and other church staff and members. There are also helpful home and family suggestions, self-evaluation forms and checklists, and even a detailed teaching plan to share this wealth of material with other women in the church
Help! I'm a Deacon's Wife provides helpful insights concerning the role of a deacon's wife. Suggestions are offered on managing limited time, maintaining a healthy marriage, growing spiritually, and carrying out practical ministry with her husband.
In 1 Timothy 3.11, Paul shared wise words for women who want to glorify God in their marriages. The apostle outlined four simple steps to promote the welfare of your husband, your family, and your congregation at the same time. Each step is also a key to your own spiritual growth and happiness because it is a crucial component of a Christlike life. Your light will shine brighter as you embrace Paul's inspired model of Christian womanhood (Matthew 5.14-16).
While their husbands progressed through their own formation program, these women helped one another accept and live their newly acquired role in the Church as deacons' wives.
How Can Deacons Mobilize Service in the Church? Deacons are essential to a church's health—yet confusion abounds regarding their biblical job description. What's their God-given role in a local congregation and how do they relate to the church's overall mission? In this short book, Matt Smethurst makes the case that deacons are model servants called to meet tangible needs, organize and mobilize acts of service, preserve the unity of the flock, and support the ministry of the elders. Clearing away common misconceptions, Smethurst offers practical guidance for deploying deacons and helping churches to flourish.
The wife of the deacon will be able to give significant support only as she understands the role her husband assumes with ordination. If she is to be supportive in his "other vocation," she needs to think in terms of how she may enhance and encourage his service as a deacon. This is a vast area, yielding opportunities for every kind of woman, whatever her skills and interests. The deacon and his wife who know a unity in their dedication to God can become a team with a tremendous potential for influence and service. - Preface.
Three related essays by experts on the diaconate that examine the concept of women deacons in the Catholic Church from Thistorical, contemporary, and future perspectives.
Winner of a 2022 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Award: Resources for Ministry (Third Place). Whether you are seasoned from years of ministry or are just getting started living out the vows you made at ordination, this essential handbook will provide the spiritual and practical support you need as a Catholic deacon in the Church today. In Our Life of Service, international speaker and bestselling author Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers will inspire and uplift you as he and his brother deacons—including Greg Kandra, Larry Oney, Dominic Cerrato, and Thomas J. Fox—share their testimonies and insights about how to serve God with determination, faith, and vision. Burke-Sivers explains the gift of the diaconate as a living image of Christ the Servant in the world, a source of comfort and hope at a time when both are in short supply. Burke-Sivers explores the daily realities of life to answer important questions about the diaconate such as: What does the Church teach about the purpose of this ministry both within the parish and the world? How are the three key responsibilities of teaching, sanctifying, and leading entrusted to a deacon at ordination practiced in daily life? How does his commitment to his wife help a married deacon balance his duties to his family and ministry? What are practical strategies and solutions for the challenges deacons face, especially when conflicts arise within ministry? Burke-Sivers also calls for younger, more diverse groups of men who reflect on the face of the Church to become permanent deacons in order to bridge the gap between the Church and the world and to reach the unchurched. Each chapter contains questions for reflection, action steps, and prayers to help deacons strengthen their own commitment to their calling. Drawing from the writings of St. John Paul II and other ecclesial writings about the purpose and gift of the permanent diaconate, Burke-Sivers educates and inspires us to more fully appreciate this gift and enriches and encourages those who have themselves answered this call. Written for deacons in active ministry, Our Life of Service is also inspiring reading for Catholics in the pew who are considering a call or who simply want to understand the purpose and gift of the permanent diaconate.
