Deacons’ Newsletter | Q3-2023

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

We are excited to bring back the diaconate newsletter after almost a year since its last publication. In this issue, we will start with a devotional from one of our Co-Editors, Charles Hagan, and will provide service reports from several of our diaconal ministries.

Devotional
Text: Mark 4:1-20
Earlier in the year, Dr. Hall preached on the Parable of the Sower, which many might refer to as the parable of the soils. One thing to love about this parable is that our Saviour breaks this down into a Parable for Dummies in verses 13-20 since many indeed will "see but not perceive, and may hear but not understand."  In this first parable presented to us in Mark's Gospel, we read of a sower spreading seed (God's word, v.14) that falls onto four different types of soil. We learned of four different types of soils, or hearts/minds as taught in the April sermon: A Hard Heart, Shallow Heart, Divided Heart, and ready Heart. Or in the sense of a mind, Dr. Hall relates to a Closed Mind, Confused Mind, Cluttered Mind, and cultivated Mind. "But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." The Apostle Paul writes in 1st Corinthians "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (3:7), so we should find great comfort that the growth is not of our own work and design but God's. As we hear the Word of God each week as planted and watered by our elders in sermons, by heads of households in our family worship, and in our private devotions, let us pray and rely on the Lord for Ready Hearts and cultivated Minds. Let us pray for God to soften our hearts and to give growth to us, our homes, our church, and throughout the world.

Mercy Ministry Update (Sammy Mitchell)
The Mercy Committee continues to help meet the urgent material needs of our community as we have been able to serve about 15 cases this year. This year we were also able to assist in an international case where a child in India needed funding for surgery, and we were able to help with the funds. The surgery has been performed and the child is now recovering to the glory of God, please see her images below.

We are always on the lookout for folks to help with special projects. Many of our cases are single mothers, so it would be very helpful if we could get experienced women that can follow up with them to assist them. To sign up, reach out to sammymitchell@gmail.com. In addition to volunteering with us, please pray:

1. For wisdom for the committee, as we are not always sure of the right way to handle some circumstances because of the complexity of some situations.
2. For an increase in contributions from the congregation toward our ministry.

MCCS School Committee Update (David Jackson)
The MCCS school committee has been working since the last quarter to address the school’s budget, technology, the development of a new school website, and security. In response to the fatal incident that occurred at the Christian School in Nashville on March 27, 2023, a joint sub-committee comprised of individuals from the school committee, and the Diaconate Risk Management & Security committee was created to review the status of our current security procedures and protocols to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Some of the recommendations from them have been implemented such as training our church admin on emergency lockdown procedures as well as obtaining the help of an off-duty police officer to perform a security audit on the property. Policies for our automated doors, as well as an assessment of permissions and responsibilities, were also reviewed to ensure proper access control and issue resolution.

The committee has also been working to update the school’s website, to ensure that it communicates our values to prospective parents and students. The new website should be released this month. We are grateful for the school’s staff, students, and their parents, and we are committed to praying for them in addition to all that we intend to achieve this year. Please pray that the Lord would continue to use the school as a ministry that would not simply develop students academically, but develop them spiritually in an environment that seeks to set Christ at the center.

Building and Grounds (B&G) Committee Update (Joe Hash)
The B&G committee cares for and maintains the church property. We have been busy with updates and church maintenance and here are some highlights from the beginning of the year.

1. We will start by expressing gratitude for George Taylor's many years of dedicated & faithful service. Following his retirement in March, we brought on board a new Facilities Manager named Dan Poley, who boasts 30 years of experience as a handyman. We appreciate the fact that Dan had the opportunity to shadow George for a week, allowing him to become acquainted with his new role.
2. We passed our backflow inspection/test.
3. We completed approved paint jobs in the school and the 1987 Sanctuary building.
4. We rebuilt and reinstalled our lift station pump motor
5. We completed our fire protection inspection and replaced a couple of fire extinguishers.
6. We completed all the A/C tuneups via Wilson, our A/C vendor.
7. We completed the replacement of the A/C heating package unit for the 1905 building.
8. Recently cleaned up some shrubs around our Midway property with the help of fellow deacons. Please see the images below.

Conclusion
As your deacons, it is our delight and joy to serve you in Christ. If you need help or would like to volunteer in some way to serve our church family, then please do not hesitate to contact any of the diaconate committee chairs listed below.

In Christ,
Deacons Charles Hagan & Dami Adeoye, Editors