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Dear Shiloh Family,

     The two extremely large individuals squared off like a couple of bulls placed in the same pasture for the first time.  The whistle blew and the ensuing collision thundered like the clash of two rams on a rocky mountain side.  Soil, sweat, and spit splattered in every direction and continued until one player was driven backward or sideways off the line or board they both straddled.  Consequently, this was a football drill known as the “board drill.”   

     The idea is to knock your opponent off a board or get your way while your teammates choose sides and cheer (yell and scream) until there is a clear winner or until the coach blows the whistle to halt the contest.  Sounds fun, doesn’t it?  

     Very often, deacons in some churches serve on what they deem as “Deacon Boards.”  Unfortunately, their meetings and conferences look and sound much like the previously described gridiron exercise.  

     I’m so proud of your “Body of Deacons.”  They function like the true body of Christ.  Even when they disagree, differences are settled in a prayerful, professional manner.  I am confident that you and your church are foremost in their every decision.  I can’t remember ever seeing a group of men and families persevere through so much adversity and still remain faithful to a calling like these faithful men.  Through sickness, hardship, frustration, hospitalization, and even death of loved ones, they keep your church and God’s business at heart.   It is a great honor to serve with such distinguished and Godly men. 

     I am particularly thankful to Brother Craig McDonald who led the budget team along with our church staff in developing our existing and proposed new budget.  It has grown exponentially over the past three years and required more attention and restructuring than ever before.  Your faithful deacon, along with others, has been a champion.  

     My heart also swells with pride and gratitude to the Deacon’s wives for weathering the storm and bracing the shield against the onslaught of Satan and his demons towards their husbands and families.  Thank you from the depths of my soul.  I do not possess the vocabulary to express my love and appreciation.  

     Please, pray for these men, our staff, and their families as we prepare for 2024.  I’m convinced it is a pivotal time for our church body.  

     In the same field of thought, we need a few more servants for the Lord in our deacon body.  If you meet the Biblical qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3, and feel like God is calling you to serve, please, contact me or speak to one of your Deacons.  

 1 Timothy 3:8-13: 8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.  NKJV

The purest and strongest form of leadership comes from a position of servanthood.    

God bless you all, 

Pastor Derrell