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What is the Vanguard Deacon Ministry?
Vanguard’s recent shift to a Life Group-centric approach toward care and community requires an equally body-centric route to new leadership. To meet the needs which surpass our Life Groups and accompany new members to our family, a team of lay leaders will oversee key areas such as hospitality, counseling, and Life Groups (to name a few) as we grow together as a community of believers seeking Him. This team is our Deacon Ministry.
The term deacon (sometimes referred to as an “overseer”) describes the “hands and feet” of ministry within a church body. All Deacons at Vanguard are married couples and members of Vanguard. Biblically, deacons are required to set examples for their body in their walks with Christ, their relationships, and their pursuit of God and His vision/plan for their body. Practically, like elders, they are key to successfully fostering a church’s vision; however, deacons do this by immersing themselves as a member of the body within the body, intimately connecting to its growth as an active participant in it. To that end, they address their specific teams and responsibilities and often “fill the gap” when needed, providing service and leadership perspective on any and every aspect of their given area.
Deacons will be overseeing their teams and areas as they specifically relate to Vanguard’s vision. They are your connection to the core leadership at Vanguard and are your direct contact for questions, concerns, assistance, and support regarding your ministry. They speak with the full authority of Vanguard behind them and, we assure you, they are more than up to the task.
Who are these deacons and what do they do?
Chair Deacons
Craig and Candice Covak have been married 15 years and are devoted parents to Grace, Elijah, and Judsen. Having been part of the Vanguard family for 11 years, we have seen - both as givers and receivers - how vital care and community are in the lives of God's children. We believe in Vanguard's mission. We believe in its body of believers. And we are inspired by what God is doing in them most of all.
As Chair Deacons, we construct and foster the workings of the ministry and strive to mentor, train, guide, and support our team of Deacons in both vision and practice. We serve proudly alongside them - and you! - as God's plan for Vanguard unfolds.
Craig and Candice can be contacted at craig_covak@vanguardchurch.org
candice_covak@vanguardchurch.org respectively. |
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Service and Support Deacons
Micah and Becca Haarbrink have been a part of the Vanguard family since 2006, passionately serving as leaders of the Young Married's ministry from 2008-2011 and now embracing their deacon role providing service and support to the leaders and body of Vanguard. Rooted in a calling for godly marriage, they desire meaningful relationship and connection for everyone that crosses Vanguards path with a firm belief that it can only be achieved through unified focus on God.
As Service and Support Deacons, Micah and Becca help organize and communicate service projects, care for people "in the gap" as they make their way into Life Groups and facilitate communication with other leaders to meet the needs of the Vanguard body as they arise. Micah and Becca can be found Sunday mornings with the Young Married's group or you can email them at haarbrinks@vanguardchurch.org with any questions.
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Counseling Deacons
Clinton and Erica Cooper, (the congregation may know Clinton as “Cooper”), have been members of Vanguard since 2003. They have a beautiful daughter, Makari, and a strong desire to be REAL with the body by talking openly and honestly about your desire to love people into a relationship with Jesus. Both Erica and Cooper have served in the mental health and social services field for over 10 years. Currently, Erica is a teacher of at-risk youth while Cooper works with families journeying through high-conflict divorces and domestic violence.
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Hospitality Deacons
Jeff and August Jimeson have been married for over 20 years with two amazing children (Jordan – 13 & Alyssa – 10). They have been attending Vanguard since December of 2009. They immediately felt God’s presence and knew they’d found a new home. Along with serving as Hospitality Deacons, Jeff and August lead Life Group 28 and feel that both areas of service have had a great influence on the Christians they are today.
As Hospitality Deacons, Jeff and August will oversee the greeting, ransom, communion, and Connection Center teams. These are all great ways to be God’s hands and feet in a practical way. Romans 15:7 says, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Along with Vanguard, Jeff and August believe that everyone should have a place they feel wanted no matter their circumstances – Vanguard is that place. You can find them greeting our body or serving in our children’s ministry.
They’d love to hear from you and can be reached at jeff_jimeson@vanguardchurch.org
august_jimeson@vanguardchurch.org
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