Church calls out men for service as deacon-pastors

FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Rick Padgett sings and plays with toddlers during Sunday School at Celebration Baptist Church in Jacksonville where he serves as deacon-pastor over the preschool department.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Behind closed doors, a counseling session concludes as two men bow their heads—one of them prays to receive Christ.

In another room, a man sits singing to toddlers, while elsewhere a doctor "roasts" paper fish with a group of first and second graders.

In the youth building, a man battles for the ever-wandering attention of teenagers who seem passionate about everything except following Christ.

These diverse roles assumed by elected and ordained deacon-pastors of Celebration Baptist Church in Jacksonville are only a few of the tasks performed by the 26-member deacon body.

The deacon-pastors are the backbone of the church. They collaborate, not to make decisions, but to lead and serve the church members, ministering to their needs. Their tasks include baptizing new converts and performing weddings and funerals.

"It’s not a power thing, it’s about being servants. It’s not to govern or board, but to shepherd the people," described deacon-pastor and financial real estate investor Rick Lucas, of his role in the church.

"We are spiritual warriors who report to the general. There is a ministerial chain of command," said Lucas. "We are being shepherded by the shepherd. At deacons meetings, the pastor feeds us what we feed the people."

The men serving as deacon-pastors are identified and chosen by members of the church’s several Sunday school and small groups. The selected men are considered to be willing to go the extra mile for anyone they see with need.

"We go into a Sunday School class and ask them who has ministered to them in the past year. Those who tithe regularly, attend Bible study and support the church’s vision attend a weekend retreat to consider serving in the different facets of the church," said pastor Lee Sheppard.

Once the men and their wives understand the role of a deacon-pastor and agree to commit to the ministry, a 12-month training begins.

Over the course of a year, the men learn to speak at funerals and weddings, perform baptisms, make hospital visits and provide grief counseling. Monthly deacon meetings are intended for accountability, discipleship training and personal growth in prayer life and evangelism skills.

Evaluated on a yearly basis, the men remain active until they can no longer fulfill their commitment.

"It’s definitely a team effort," said Debbie Lucas, wife of deacon-pastor, Rick Lucas. "We have to support them in their ministry and be committed to it as much as they are."

The couple shares deacon responsibilities over the tenth grade boys with Fred Kyle, a city engineer and deacon pastor chairman.

When 17-year-old Blake Dewitt was baptized in late April, Lucas watched as Kyle counseled Dewitt before performing the baptism. Dewitt said he accepted Christ as Savior three years earlier, but had delayed baptism until he could "get over the intellectual thing" and have a heart experience with God.

Moved by the teen’s testimony, Lucas explained that his new role in the church has impacted his own life. "Before, I didn’t learn about or experience the heartache and trials of the people. Now I get to see people’s lives change and am there to cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh. Being intimately involved with the church family is such joy."

His hand on Dewitt’s shoulder, Kyle remarked on the opportunity small groups provide members and deacon pastors. "You get to know the people’s ministry needs and prayer requests," he observed. "To pray for them is very important. I can’t say enough how much."