Pastoral Staff


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Steve DeWitt, Youth Pastor
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Elders and Deacons

CrossPointe Fellowship is built on Jesus’ three priorities: Love God, Love One Another and Live the Mission.

Our primary means to help us live these priorities are our Life Groups and our Ministry Teams

All of our leaders, including the elders and deacons, are first and foremost servants who want to serve you. Our church is structured as an upside-down pyramid, and our pastors are at the bottom of the pile, just below the deacons. By the way, if you join our church, you start at the top of the pile.

Elders

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
(1 Timothy 3:1-7)

You are invited to call an elder any time about any needs you may have. We would count it an honor to serve you. Contact an elder.

Here’s how we serve
1. Pray
2. Teach
3. Lead
4. Oversee
5. Protect
6. Serve

We invite you to pursue God’s call to be an elder

As mentioned, our church structure is an upside down pyramid. We are looking for men who are pursuing the bottom of the pile. If this is you, we encourage you to consider God’s call to be become an elder. If you think God may be calling you to be an elder, or if you would like to train to be an elder, please contact one of our elders or the church office.

The qualifications to become an elder are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, the passage quoted above, and Titus 1:5-11, the passage below. These qualifications refer to one’s current condition, not one’s distant past. Please do not assume you’ve done something to be disqualified from being an elder. Let’s talk about it. Remember, Paul was a terrorist before becoming a pastor, an apostle and a missionary.

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
(Titus 1:5-11)

Deacons

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 3:8-13)

Deacons are examples and, therefore, lead servants. We are the men who lead the way in meeting any needs which may arise in the church to free the pastors to devote themselves “to pray and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

Here’s how we serve:

1. We are examples to the other guys of the normal Christian life as found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. In this passage God gives us the qualifications for deacons, all of which are qualities for every Christian man. The passage is quoted above.

2. We are responsible for watching out for and serving a select group of people appointed to be under our care. (Everyone who wants a deacon gets a one). We serve our deacon group by

a. building mutually edifying relationships with them.
b. praying daily for them and contacting them as Jesus guides us.
c. periodically contacting each member of our group to ask how things are going and how we can pray for them.
d. watching for each member of our group during church gatherings and contact them as appropriate.
e. visiting and ministering to each member of our group in time of need.
f. coordinating our ministry efforts with the pastors as needed.

3. We help steward benevolence.

4. We help the Facilities Team.

5. We prepare and serve the Lord’s Supper.

6. We help grow the church in a ministry lifestyle through our example and servant-leadership.

7. We mentor prospective deacons.

We invite you to pursue God’s call to be a deacon

Our church structure is an upside down pyramid. We are looking for men who are pursuing the bottom of the pile. If this is you, we encourage you to consider God’s call to be become a deacon or pastor.

If you think God may be calling you to be a deacon or if you desire to help the deacons with their roles as mentioned above or if you would like to train to be a deacon please contact the lead deacon, a pastor, or the church office.

The qualifications to become a deacon are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, the passage quoted above. These qualifications refer to one’s current condition, not one’s distant past. Please do not assume you’ve done something to be disqualified from being a deacon. Let’s talk about it. Remember, Paul was a terrorist before becoming an apostle, pastor and missionary.