Deacons Ministry

The Ministry of Compassion and Service

We strive to share in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures or anyone in distress (as stated in the Presbyterian Book of Order).

Our Motivating Scripture

From the book of Matthews 25:35-40, which states,

³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Member Care

The Deacons reach out to the sick and shut-in members by making phone calls, sending cards and visiting members to serve communion. Deacons are also available to assist the family during funeral services that are held at the church. We welcome visitors with gift bags and give them information about the church. We also have a Benevolent Fund for members or community residents facing an extreme financial emergency.

The Deacons can be reached at deacons@newdchurch.com.

Ministries Under the Deacons Care

Diaper Ministry

The Deacons’ Diaper Ministry at New Deliverance Church started in November 2018. Three days each month, we distribute free diapers for both children and adults to families in need. On the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays and the First Saturday of the month, people can come to our church to get free diapers and baby wipes. Since the start of the Diaper Ministry, we have distributed more than 47,550 diapers to families in need.

We depend heavily on donations from members, friends, and community organizations to fund this ministry. We are thankful for the donations and grants that have made it possible for us to diaper babies in the Roseland Community!

Our church was blessed in 2021 and 2022 with a donation of diapers from the congregation of Elmhurst Presbyterian Church! We were also supported by Bryn Mawr Community Church with a donation of diapers.

Pastor Traci Smith, along with her husband and children, delivered a van full of diapers, in all sizes, in support of the Diaper Ministry. Once again, in 2023, Pastor Traci Smith and Elmhurst Presbyterian Church is blessing us with a generous donation of diapers in support of our ministry efforts.

Diaper Donation from Elmhurst Presbyterian Church

Feeding the Homeless and People in Need, Ministry

The Deacons champion a church-wide effort to help hungry people in our church community and across the south and west sides of Chicago by serving meals quarterly. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the Deacons ministry sponsored free Taco Wednesday to address food insecurity in the Roseland community and fed the frontline workers at Roseland Community Hospital.

In 2020, the Men’s Council collaborated with the Deacon’s Ministry to provide meals to frontline workers during the COVID pandemic.

The Green Team is partnering with the Deacons to provide Lunch with Love, a free grab & go lunch distributed from the church’s court way on the following Saturdays: January 23rd, February 6th & 27th, and March 13th & 27th. These meals are funded by a sub-award grant from Faith in Place funded through the Chicago Region Food System Fund.