Phillippi Missionary Baptist Church

The mission of the Deaconess Ministry is to meet the needs of the Phillippi Missionary Baptist Church, under the spiritual guidance of its Pastor and the deacons by promoting the spiritual growth in the Church.

The purpose of the Deaconess Ministry is to care for and assist the needs of the overall congregation.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper of many and of myself as well” (Rom. 16:1, 2, RSV).

The duties of the Deaconess Ministry are:

1. Assist with Church Ordinances.  Take care of the communion cloths, clean, prepare, and restore the utensils used after each Communion Service.

2. Overseer the dressing of the Baptismal Candidates for baptism; Keep an account of the use and return of laundry of the Baptism attire.

3. Prepare and serve the Repast Dinner for our bereaved families.

4. Care for Women.  Give counsel and serve as role models for the young ladies of the church and the community. Deaconesses promote the general welfare of females in the church. They educate women in the faith and counsel them through issues. They do this through formal teaching and informal, personal discussions. Deaconesses may even organize wedding or baby showers for women associated with the church to show support and joy for life’s milestones.

5. Support Deacons and Clergy.  Support the Pastor and the vision of the ministry. Deaconesses will often accompany deacons or clergy members on visits to female church members to uphold standards of modesty and privacy. Deaconesses may also take an active role during meetings by ushering parishioners into the sanctuary and seeing that they are comfortable.

6. Help the Needy.  Deaconesses help families in times of crisis, such as death or illness. They will comfort families by providing moral support and relieve a family’s stress by preparing hot meals and coordinating childcare. They will often send flowers on behalf of the church. Deaconesses regularly visit the sick and shut-in who can't attend weekly meetings. They spearhead charitable efforts to help the poor in the community.