Deacons’ Newsletter | Q1-2026

Sharing with the Saints (Rom. 12:13)
Author: Midway Diaconate

Welcome to the first edition of Sharing with the Saints in 2026. As we reflect on the first quarter of last year, we are grateful for the many ways the Lord has cared for His people through this congregation’s faithful service. May these updates encourage your hearts and remind you of God’s steady provision and grace among us.

Devotional

Author: Charles Hagan
Text: Philippians 1:12-14

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Inevitably, in your lifetime, you or someone close to you has undergone a severe, intense trial of some kind; perhaps a sickness or injury, job loss, wrongful accusation, or worse. The way you have handled this trial, or the way you have seen someone persevere through this trial, was and is a testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength that only He supplies.

It is folly to those outside the Church to see the suffering of an innocent person without an attitude and mindset of retaliation, revenge, or retribution. Regardless of the struggles, our lives are marked by internal and external storms and our response to them. The typical response is to fight back, to retaliate, to take matters into your own hands, or to escalate somehow. And certainly, in certain scenarios, these actions may make sense and can be wise. But the untimely Apostle displays a different kind of response in regard to his imprisonment: what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel (vs1a). It’s not so much the course of direction that is being applied here in this verse, but the purpose of said course.

Are we giving glory to God in the depths of our valleys? Are our most extreme trials too extreme for God? Are we using our trials as a way to be a witness for Jesus Christ? It is very common to see a professional athlete give glory to the Savior after a thrilling championship win, but how often do we see the losing team’s captain stand up there to witness following a defeat? Are we using our defeats and setbacks to advance the Kingdom?

The reminder and application here is that when we are in our valleys, we are serving as a witness to someone. We are either showing what solid faith in the face of trials looks like, or we are not. And if it is not us, let us look to those who have gone before you who were wise in the Lord and with what faith they lived out despite worldly trials.

In this, you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 1:6-8.

Mercy Ministry (Sammy Mitchell)

The Lord continues to bring opportunities before us to show mercy in tangible ways, and we remain grateful for His wisdom and provision as we seek to serve faithfully.

• In January, Mercy Ministries received 6 requests, all of which were ultimately declined.
• February brought no mercy cases.
• In March, we received 8 requests. Of those, 4 were assisted, and 4 were declined.

Though the number of cases this quarter was not large, each one called for prayer, discernment, and compassion. We are thankful for the opportunities the Lord gave us to extend practical care, and we continue to ask for wisdom as we steward the resources entrusted to us.

How Can You Help?
If the Lord leads you, we invite you to prayerfully consider supporting the Deacon Mercy Fund. Your giving directly enables us to respond when needs arise, especially in months when requests come quickly or before funds are fully available. Donations can be made via the Onrealm Giving app or by specifying "Deacon Mercy Fund" on your giving envelope. Your generosity directly impacts the lives of those in need within our church and community. Thank you for your continued support!

Service Projects Update – (Diaconate & Congregant Partnership)

The first quarter gave us several meaningful opportunities to serve both our church family and the broader body of Christ. Once again, we were encouraged by the willingness, flexibility, and joyful spirit of those who stepped in to help.

Church Work Day: Mulching — February 28

Volunteers gathered on a recent Saturday to help beautify our church grounds by spreading mulch across the various flower beds. What started as a large pile in front of the church was quickly transformed into a fresh, clean landscape thanks to the hard work of our team. It was especially wonderful to see several young helpers join in serving the body of Christ. Many hands indeed made for a productive and joyful morning!

Volunteers: Justin Giannace & family, Evanda Remington & family, Wiley Pritchet & family, Charles Hagan & family, Bradley Fish & family, Bob & Angel Tango, Kyle Lipstreu,   and  Jonathan Johnson & son.

We are grateful for those who sacrificed their morning to care for our campus. If you are interested in joining future efforts to serve our congregation through practical projects, please reach out to the Service Projects team at serviceprojects@midwaypca.org.

? See images below for highlights from these projects.

Building and Grounds Committee Update (Joe Hash)

The Lord has continued to provide for the care of our church campus through the faithful labors of those who serve in Buildings & Grounds. We give thanks for the quiet diligence, practical wisdom, and steady hands that help maintain the spaces where our congregation gathers for worship, fellowship, and instruction. These acts of stewardship, though often unseen, are part of the Lord’s kind provision for His people.

February - January

• Repair of the Playground bridge on the ’87 side
• Completion of the replacement of the ’87-side Big Green Air Condition
• Boiler room valve updates
• Middle school urinal shut-off valve rebuild
• Sanctuary pew cleaning scheduled
• Window caulking, restroom repairs, and lighting replacements
• AED box installed in nursery (pads pending)
• Classroom wall repair after exterior water intrusion
• General cleaning and minor equipment repairs
• Baseboards adjusted and secured
• Algae removed from fencing
• Sprinkler head replaced after burst
• Grease trap piping replaced and system repumped
• Sanctuary tile regrouted (’09 building)
• Lighting was replaced across multiple areas
• Cafeteria TV mounted
• Continued restroom and door repairs
• Fire extinguisher replacements.

We are grateful for the many ways the Lord enables this work to be done, and for those who give their time and skill to serve the church in these practical ways.

Risk Management Committee Update (Charles Hagan)

Our Safety Team works every Sunday to oversee entrances and nursery areas. Help us keep our church secure by alerting an usher or deacon to any concerns. We are seeking new volunteers to help with the rotation.

Contact Charles Hagan at achagan88@outlook.com to get involved. For door-access support, reach out to access@midwaypca.org. Please refer to the Instant Church Directory for all member contact information.

Facility Use Committee (Sammy Mitchell)

Our church facilities are available for member use! To reserve a space, please email sammy.mitchell@gmail.com to request a Facility Use Request Form or to make inquiries.

We recommend checking the church calendar at midwaypca.org/events for availability before reaching out. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance. We look forward to sharing our space with you for fellowship and special milestones!

Worship Service Committee (Brady Pritchett)

Men of the congregation, are you interested in serving as an usher? We would love to have you join the team! Please get in touch with Brady Pritchett at bpchett@gmail.com or look him up in the Instant Church Directory to express your interest and learn more about the role's expectations.

Thank you for your willingness to help our worship services run smoothly and welcome all who enter our doors!

Conclusion
Serving as your deacons is a profound joy. We are deeply grateful for your prayers, generosity, and the way you support one another. As we reflect on God’s faithfulness this past year, we look forward with confidence to His continued provision.

If you need assistance or feel called to serve, please reach out to any deacon or committee chair. May the Lord bless you as we walk into this new season together!

In Christ,
Deacons Charles Hagan & Dami Adeoye, Editors