The Ministry of the Deacon is a 10-lesson online course developed and taught by Dr. David Ireland, the lead pastor of Christ Church in northern New Jersey, a multi-site, non-denominational congregation of evangelical believers guided by the mission of Uniting People to God and People to People. This course is aimed at guiding candidates through an intentional training process culminating in ordination to the sacred office of deacon in the church. In addition to successful completion of this course, the prospective candidate will be carefully evaluated by the presbytery—the body of elders at your local church—on a host of other criteria such as character, family life, ministry, and the quality of their relationship with Christ.
The local church needs qualified servant-leaders to serve in a myriad of areas of ministry in order to meet the numerous needs of the church and the communities it serves with the fullness of the gospel of Christ. This thorough scrutiny based on clear scriptural requirements is vital in vetting and selecting the right candidates who will serve the mission and vision of the church faithfully without bringing any reproach to their family, church, or the gospel.
Dr. Ireland’s passionate commitment to church growth and leadership development has afforded him a global platform in inspiring, equipping, and empowering pastors and church leaders in over 75 nations around the world.
The role that a deacon provides in the church is an invaluable one that advances the church’s vision and mission to the world through the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A deacon brings spiritual competence, effective leadership, faithful service, organizational excellence and emotional strength to the governance and mission of the local church. The contents of this online course will guide the candidate through each of these critical areas of diaconate preparation and equip them with knowledge that is instrumental in developing quality leaders who will serve the needs of the local church.
Prospective candidates can be individuals who simply desire to go through each lesson in order to learn ways of better serving their congregation. Or a pastor or minister can also use this course as a curriculum tool to select, train, and prepare a group for ordination as a deacon/deaconess in their congregation.
Dr. David Ireland is founder and lead pastor of Christ Church, a 9,000-member multisite congregation in New Jersey representing over 70 nationalities. In his 30-plus years of ministry, in addition to shepherding this multiracial megachurch, Dr. Ireland has ministered throughout the world—addressing national and international audiences in over 75 nations. He has embraced this global platform and built a reputation for teaching culturally relevant messages that inspire and empower. He is the author of over 20 books covering a wide variety of topics such as spiritual disciplines, diversity, leadership and practical everyday living. As a dynamic Bible teacher, author, leadership consultant and coach, Rev. Ireland is passionate about helping other church leaders and Christ followers from around the world maximize their potential for the kingdom of God.
Read MoreThis 10-lesson course covers four critical areas in a candidate’s spiritual life: 1) Bible Knowledge; 2) Local Church Commitment; 3) Relational Connection; and 4) Spiritual Leadership Development. These areas contain knowledge pertinent to the qualifications of a deacon, church government, church discipline, commitment to the church’s vision, congregation and presbytery, relational connection to congregation and leadership, and personal spiritual strength and vitality.Photo Capture.
The Ministry of the Deacon online course uses hour long recorded lectures, audio resources and a written lesson plan to communicate the majority of material. In addition there are exploratory ordination specific questions that will help each candidate assess their readiness to embark on formal diaconate training.
The following topics will be covered in a thorough systematic way throughout the ten (10) lessons.
| COURSE SCHEDULE | |
| A 10-Lesson Course For Developing Effective Deacons To Serve The Local Church | |
| LESSON FOCUS | |
| 1 | The Ministry of the Deacon |
|---|---|
| 2 | An Overview of Church Government |
| 3 | The Qualifications of a Deacon |
| 4 | Deacons and the Church’s Philosophy of Ministry |
| 5 | Vision and the Place of Strategy |
| 6 | How to Know and Serve Leaders |
| 7 | How Well Do You Know Me |
| 8 | How Can We Build Lasting Relationships? |
| 9 | How Deacons Exercise Effective |
| 10 | Becoming Pillars of the Church |
Dr. Ireland holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, a graduate degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree in theology, an earned Ph.D. in organizational leadership, completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a candidate for a graduate degree in social innovation from the University of Cambridge in England. He and his wife, Dr. Marlinda Ireland, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.
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