Faith and Faithfulness - 04.19.2026

Acts 6:8-15, verse 7

1.) When God commissions believers: 

*He faithfully prepares and equips us for His purpose. 

*He graciously empowers and emboldens us for His mission. 

*He lovingly inspires, engages, and confirms for us His impact and plan. 

------Serve Faithfully Today! 

Trinity Baptist Community Church International is shepherded under the direction of Bishop Dr. Michael J. Love. Trinity is a preaching, teaching, and reaching church. Under the direction of Bishop Love, Trinity has over 100 ministries, as well as global expansion, church planting in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and 37 churches in India. Please come out and join Bishop Dr. Michael J. Love as he critically imparts the Word of God at Trinity Baptist Community Church International www.trinitybcc.org

Copyright @ 2026 TBCCIdrloveministries. All rights reserved. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

moments of your time and uh look at verses uh nine through fifteen eight through fifteen eight through fifteen in that chapter you know this story but for our congregational for our congregational scripture together I backed up and picked up verse number eight Acts chapter six verses eight through fifteen key verse will be verse number eight if you're able and you don't mind standing with me uh once we get let's let's read that together that I say eight was a seven seven thank you Diana keep you straight up here darling verse number seven for those who are tuning in to the live stream let's read that together it says and the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith now let's read that loud enough so our screaming audience can hear us out there and the word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith as you take your seats I want to spend a little time with you on the subject matter faith and faithfulness faith and faithfulness we've been spending some time over the last uh I guess six weeks or so not only walking through the life and times with the foundation of the mission that Jesus had laid out on his eye with his eyes focused toward the cross and seeing the fulfilled promises of God and the impact it has had on so many on the lives during that time and so many of us today. As Jesus proved his faithfulness and not only proclaimed what who he is and what he would be doing but then showed up and made it powerfully plain as he rose from the dead that every word of God is true. And now we find the disciples now apostles walking in that faith they have to walk this journey out without the physical presence of Jesus walking alongside them and speaking into them but having that indwelling Holy Spirit which he promised would come and live inside of them and make them new creatures to Christ and seeing how God was working on that Pentecost moment and breaking it out in so many different languages letting us know very clearly that this message is not just for Jerusalem but for the whole wide world and now we find ourselves getting into some of the uh the living out portion of of this gospel uh we spent time with Peter and John last week as uh they were dealing with the lame the unnamed lame man at the gate beautiful and as he was looking for for mere arms and Peter says to him silver and gold I I don't have but what I have for you what has been given to me through God Almighty in the presence and power of Jesus Christ is much more important than anything that you can physically hold on to or any anything that can track you think and transform your lifestyle and your your vocation or your or your livelihood. It is and and when he reaches out and lifts him up and says rise and walk and the young the unnamed lame man from birth feels something that he's never felt before experiencing something that never been a part of his life cycle and he he finds strength in his ankle bones, leg bones and he jumps up and leaps up and walks and runs it was a new day a new day in his life the text continues on by introducing us to a time frame here in chapter chapter number six it opens up by giving us the the context and the background for what is about to take place with with Stephen but let me read you his storyline and then I'll back it up to that verse. Let me start off with the verses that we're going to cover. Verse 8 says and Stephen King James full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people then there arose certain in the synagogues which are called the synagogue of the Libertines and the Cyrenians and the Alexandrians and of them of Cilicia and Asia disputing with Stephen I'll drop a pen right there. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake then they suborned men who said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes and they came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council and set up false witnesses which said this man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us and all that in the council I'll underline this one and all that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him saw his face as it had been the face of an angel can I just stop right there let me give you just life lessons and then we'll then we'll we're back into this and dissect it a little bit more. When God commissions believers and we all have our commission he faithfully prepares and equips us for his purpose number one secondly he graciously empowers and emboldens us for his mission and thirdly I jotted down he lovingly inspires engages and confirms us confirms for us his impact and his plan serve faithfully today do I have anybody in the house let's back into this thing then if you don't mind so this chapter opens up powerfully by by telling us that there's a situation that's now occurred in these opening verses as the as the disciples were were were multiplying and the growth was taking place in the church the numbers were coming from all different uh cultural backgrounds and the Greeks and the Hebrews it says there was a murmuring among them there was this there was this discontent that had taken place a conflict in the house and the the apostles disciples who are now the apostles said we we a pair of pastors fair for he said we we really need to be focused and about their business about God's business of praying for what to God and for what God is doing and then proclaiming the message that God has for us to share as we expand this church movement it's not that the other pieces are unimportant but we need to be honed in and focused on what the Lord has planted on our heart and mission us to do we need to find men and let me see if I can find exactly what the scriptures are seven men of honest report verse three says full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom whom we may appoint over the business of caretaking of ministry and within that process and then because there had been there had been widows and those in the church who said the Greeks and the Hebrews have basically said you know some of us aren't getting taken care of in here. We're not quite getting the attention that we really need in here. Don't make me stay too long and and there needed to be a focused attention on meeting the cares and the needs particularly as you're rolling out this impact that God would have in the forming of the New Testament church and that's when they found verse 8 says they found Stephen full of faith and power and he did great wonders and they they listed him among the others these men who would be the diakonots the servants ministers caretakers of the flock how many of you know that that the Lord has this marvelous way when the world rises up and attempts to uh to distort the message or to or to uh hurt the imagery or the message carrier or to stop the mission of the work that he has he has this marvelous and unique way of taking what the enemy is trying to do to stop the work that's about to proclaim and turning it into good. Is that a scripture someplace? He has this marvelous way church family of taking uh flipping the switch on all of that negative stuff that the enemy tries to put in the way we in the midst of they they're in the midst of growing this congregation of this word of God spreading out this message getting out to all the countryside moving beyond jewish boundaries into into the gentile nationhood and and there are Greeks and Hebrews who are who are who become who have come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and in the midst of that marvelous growth and impact that is taking place the first thing that the enemy does is let me see if I can plant a little decision a little division in there y'all don't let me preach this and the Lord takes the moment that the enemy thinks he's got a sense of victory they just seen Jesus up on the cross they just gone to this magnificent thing where he stretched his arms out and gave his life and the enemy thought he had him up there on the cross they thought surely I've stopped the work of God here there'll be no salvation with those believers because I have not stopped the one who's come to bring salvation to the world and just as sure as they thought they had him on the cross come Sunday morning. If the enemy just could have stopped it before you got to Sunday morning they thought he had a victory and now the spiritual warfare is thinking if I can't stop if I couldn't stop him from being uh the the great savior then maybe I can stop him from having impact on their lives or even question their faith walk so that when they commit themselves to this work of this work of God has called them to then let me toss a little bit of a let me toss a little bit of confusion in there. Let me let me let me introduce a little conflict to the narrative and see just exactly how they're going to respond to conflict in the narrative and God flips that switch once again on them and says you know that you're not gonna distort and stop the work that I've called these men and these believers to do. You're just giving an opportunity for us to utilize those who have gifts in this area to now step into their giftedness and have impact and and and uh service to those who have a need at this given point so I like the way the scriptures set the groundwork for us and make it powerfully plain that that even when the enemy stepped out to stop them the Lord stepped in and and called out the faithful and put them in charge of the work and it closes out this section by saying and the word of God increased the enemy thought he could stop it but I mean what power does he have can I say that like you really mean it what power does he really have to stop what God is doing in your life and if you really believe that there'd be some shouting in this house man take that home with you take that home with you and the word of God increased the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith and then we introduce Stephen and Stephen has the audacity to step to step out and begin the process of not only powerfully proclaiming filled with the Holy Spirit but powerfully proclaiming this word God has not only commissioned him but in this process you get to see that God that God had prepared him and positioned him before he called him he had equipped him to do the work that he had called him to do Stephen didn't just show up he shows up on the pages of the Bible and then you don't get a sense of his background or his family or his vocation or anything like that. But somehow God has positioned Stephen with the apostles doing the work the kingdom work that he has for him and now he has empowered him he has absolutely positioned him and prepared him and equipped him to step out and proclaim with power this good news of Jesus Christ. And when he does that when he obediently steps out and proclaims that and he does miracles signs gives him signs and wonders in order to help authenticate that he indeed is indeed God's one of God's people proclaiming God's word and being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and once again the spiritual warfare kicks in because we see very clearly this is in there and they were not able to resist the wisdom they wanted they wanted to get on the sideline the synagogue of the libertines and the Cyrenians and the Alexandrians those for Cilicious and Asia they wanted they wanted to get in philosophical dialogue and conversations with the man if I can possibly get him off of his his foundational statement his foundational belief in Christ then I can possibly move him away from that and he won't be effective in his ministry anybody ever been in a situation where where the where those who are unbelievers try to get you to argue off of your point they're trying to they try to they try to proof text you tell me how somebody they haven't read anything that looks like a Bible but somebody told them there's some in there's some inercy in this word of God and there's some inconsistency in this word of God and and if I can just pull out a scripture that you can't explain away you know then somehow I can chip you up in your belief in Jesus and if I can get you a little bit not confident at all in what you believe in this word then and that this word is not true then if the word is not true then why would you trust the word and the works of Jesus Christ? What is your faith in if you don't believe the word of God and somehow they play this whole mental game this philosophical game of trying to see if they can't trip you up if you can't find every answer to every question that they rose on the Bible from a secular or theological point then somehow they've proven their point. And that was the game they're playing on Stephen that's the game they're playing on Stephen but did you notice what the text says and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. Now the only pen I dropped right there is that if you're going to get into the point of having dialogues with unbelievers and it's important and you want to get into the philosophical the theological dialogues with unbelievers can I just love you enough to tell you that you might just want to make sure that you got your word with you I mean Jesus laid the example didn't he Satan tries to tempt him and he said it is written if it if it's just my if it's just my word against your word my philosophy against your philosophy we can be here arguing all day long. But if you want to argue then why not argue against the word of God then when you see him because somewhere in here Paul would remind you that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. So you you're gonna you won't get you won't see him so how about we help you out here while you're down here it said and and and it says that they just were not able to resist this spirit and was saved. And they continue this dialogue because it's it's something powerful about how God not only prepares us and positions us, he equips us before he as he's putting us into the place of his kingdom service. And we don't always understand what he's doing in our lives we don't necessarily I mean I mean if if you're human you if we're real about it you you know we don't see all that God is doing or the why of all this God is doing in our lives until we get to the point that we actually have to utilize this thing. I mean you you you you don't want to go into battle and then have to try to figure out how to use you know to try to reach back for your armor the Lord said put that armor on put it on in preparation for the battle that you inevitably are going to face that you're gonna face it. There are going to be those who resist you there are going to be those who not gonna not like you they might like you for a moment as long as they can utilize something get something from you that consumer mentality but just as soon as they're done with you the secular world will toss you aside you see that they couldn't resist his wisdom they couldn't resist his spirit in which he spoke and then they begin to question his character question his word question his message they they bring men along with them to try to indeed proclaim uh distort the word saying he was blasphemous he you know he was against Moses he was against God and then when they couldn't get the the the small group couldn't win the argument against Stephen because the Lord was empowering him and giving him wisdom and power and might in his word I mean how are you going to withstand the word of God? That's why it's important to argue from the word of God otherwise it's just a shouting contest it's just who's the most eloquent speaker in the room who can overtalk one another if but but but if I patiently you you talk you you talk yours out and then let's say how does that apply to this is your wisdom greater than God's wisdom is that what you is that the argument you're placing in front of me and and so they bring they go and then get others stir up people around them so you get a small group to try to come against them and then you get a larger crowd and you stir up the elders and the scribes and say they came against him and then they brought him to a council we're gonna shut this Stephen up some kind of way not recognize it how do how do these students of the Old Testament word not recognize the the the work the spirit of God just working inside of the man they bought false witnesses they distorted his message they said we've heard you say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and shall change the customs which Moses delivered to us and then this this verse that closes out as as this segment here as we witness how God commissions him prepares him equips him empowers him with wisdom and and and and and the ability to speak out truth and then emboldens him to stand and proclaim it I mean with his with his head up firmly on the word of God and then he does that then the Lord does his thing as they're about to they they continue to basically they continue to try to say he is not who he is and he's saying what he's saying is not the truth. It says all that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him. This is an interesting statement in Scott in the middle of this encounter saw his face as it had been the face of an angel God has this beautiful way this marvelous way of not only uh confirming our commission giving us a He knows we're human so we need we need a little nudging every now and then we need a little confidence building every now and then we can find ourselves looking at our circumstances and get all caught up in our situations in life that's that's our humanity that's the sin nature kind of working its way out of us like that. But the Lord has this beautiful way of taking those things and somehow working them all together and making them work out for our good and for his glory and in the midst of them bringing the crowds of people together that to basically try to stop them from doing what God had called them to do they literally they literally brought a crowd to them so that they could witness what God is about to do. And his face shone like the face of an angel I'd love to stop that story right there. But if you keep on reading the writer Lucas establishes an entire chapter some not all 60 verses but 53 of those Talking about how Stephen steps up with boldness. I need you to welcome it. This season that we're in, the Lord is calling out some bold proclaimers of the word. Somebody in the house is going to have an opportunity to stand for what you believe in in Christ Jesus. Somebody is going to get challenged. They're going to find out that you love the Lord. And they ain't going to be happy about it. I mentioned on last Sunday, but I was excited about two things I saw this week. I love the fact that I can't even think of the young man's name. The former bull had the audacity to stand on his word. Even if it cost him his job as a professional basketball player. But I also, but also caught my attention this week that was powerful. I know you saw this. Did anybody hear that from me? Have the audacity to talk about how much he loved Jesus. How his faith had done so much for him and prepared him and positioned him and equipped him to do these things. And I can only imagine what it was like. And he was, he was saying, when we got on the other side of that moon, and we were looking at the surface of the moon and looking out at the earth out there. How can you not, how can you deny that there is a God, the creator of the universe? And this brother has the audacity to get on national TV and start talking about Jesus and how good he was in his life and how he could not be doing any of this stuff. He knows, he knows that if it wasn't for the Lord on his side, then he never would be in that uniform, never would have that opportunity to go out of space, never would have a chance to proclaim the goodness and grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, the King, Lord of Lord, and the King of Kings. And if it means that there's gonna be some spiritual battle that comes his way, and he might as well get ready, because you know everybody's not gonna like what he's got to say, then he's all girded up with his spiritual mama and he's ready to go into the battle. Now we find Stephen standing before the council, and they're saying that the priest is saying to him, Are these things true that they're saying about you? And Stephen breaks out into this whole chapter-long sermon when he begins to walk them back through the Old Testament. He said, Let me take you where you ought to know. I'm gonna walk you back to your walk you back to the history of the Old Testament and point out just how stiff neck you folk have been, how your your legacy has been in you are today. It's the same mindset that was remembering when Moses had them in the wilderness. It's the same mindset that said, Let me go back. It's better for me to be a slave in Egypt than to be out here in the wilderness, wondering if I'm what I'm gonna eat the next day. It's the same mindset. Wait a minute, Lord, did you just bring us out here so we can die out here in the wilderness? At least we had some food back in Egypt back there, you know. We were in slavery, but we had some food to eat. It's that same mindset, you stiff-necked Jews, he said to them, you stiff-necked unbelievers. You trust in yourselves and not in the Lord. And he walks them through this thing. Biblically. And then he says, You're the same ones that denied that this Jesus was the Christ. And you're and you know that when they heard that thing, God. I'm not gonna walk with that. You know. And so he he has the audacity to stand holy and proclaim it, and God has the audacity to strengthen him in his walk to the point. Yeah, let me just flip through the end of this thing here. Because you're gonna want the good news before we go home. But they but they they begin to he calls them stiff naked and uncircumcised in their hearts and their ears. Maybe throwing tomatoes up on this stage. That's why I call them for stiff naked and uncircumcised. You do you you always resist the Holy Ghost, just like your father did. This is the stuff we didn't know. This is the kind of stuff that'll make you shout. And then and then they pick up stone, they called him out, they pick up stones when they heard these things. But it says, Let me pick up 55, yeah, and I didn't ask you for this in chapter seven. It said, but but he being full of the Holy Ghost. Remember the one of the prerequisites for him coming into this Diakon and his ministry of service was that he was a man of good a good reputation, a man filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and man faithful and committed. And now it's being tested. It's being tested to the extreme. It's being tested the way you now would possibly give up your very life for what you stand for. And it says him being full of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly in the heaven and saw the glory of God. And God standing on the right hand, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God the Father. Yeah, it's like what it's like a well-done moment, son. It's like you you've done what I sent you down here to do. Your journey may be short, but you've completed the mission. It may look like you've been overwhelmed by the enemy, but you're going out here victoriously. So Jesus is standing at the right hand of God the Father. And then when they cried out with a loud voice, they stopped their ears and ran on him of one accord. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And a witness laid their clothes by a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned, and they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lay not this sin on their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. The power of God using the enemy's taking his best shot at you and I, you and me in the midst of our journey here. Only gives space for God to authenticate who he is, what he's promised, and how he's gonna work it out in our life journey. Stephen didn't know how many days he had, but he knew that he had today. And if there's an opportunity today to proclaim this good news of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, then give me today. And let me proclaim it boldly, Lord, empower me with your Holy Spirit so that when I open up my mouth, I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you in this process. Let me talk about Jesus with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. And if that means somebody's gonna toss stones, if that means they're gonna run you out of your neighborhood, if that means they're gonna have to give up your job, if it means that you might have to ship a few things or go a different place, then the same company gave you all the stuff that we have today, the same company, the same, the same, it's the same, look for the mum, and the pump, it's gonna be free onto a few things, but you can come on the you've done your mission here, you can hang them up and hold them in the corner. There might be a fall hiding up. Holding on to the close, not knowing even what he's hearing, that the Lord is piercing his heart with this good news word, this dynamic gospel message. And he might not start shouting over there in the corner right now. He might be hidden in the back of the church someplace, sneaking in, sneaking out, so they don't see him when he's coming in the house, that kind of thing. But but but that seed, there's something about that word of God, that seed that's planting in their hearts. I gotta go home. I gotta go home or I'll be up here too long. I still got something we need to do here. That that seed of the word that planted in that soil just might bear fruit someday. Thank you, Lord. Let me pray. No, Deanna, before I pray, let me let me go over these life lessons one more time. Let me pray it's on out. I gotta get to you today. I'll be up here all day long, sir. And God commissions belief for those who are streaming audience. He faithfully prepares and equips us for his purpose. Two, he gracious, he graciously empowers and emboldens us for his mission. And thirdly, he lovingly inspires, engages, and confirms for us that he knows we need confirmation every now and then, but we just we creatures his impact and his plan. Is his plan serve him faithfully today. Father God, thank you for this moment. Thank you for giving us this opportunity as families to come together in your house of prayer. And spend just these few minutes in your word with the apostles. Feeling your presence, power, equipping and preparation, inspiration to go out and share this consciousness of the saving Christ of Jesus Christ. Anyone and everyone that should send across our faithfulness when the opposition comes, and uncertainty will come. Give us the faith and faithfulness to stand with you and stand on your words, trusting you every single moment of days, serving you to the best of our human ability with your wisdom and your power. So that others might hear this good choice. And come to accept Jesus as Lord and Satan. We just want to say thank you, Lord, and give you all that's going on and praise it as yours, and it is yours alone. So we lift it up to you in the precious name of Jesus. And all God's given the heart said amen. As we prepare the entrance of the worship for giving, the doors of the church are open. The invitation to membership is extended to you. If you're here and seeking a church home fam, we invite you to come down first. Let us introduce you on your Christian experience with the candidate for baptism. The Lord is leading your arms open for you. We invite you to come while the music is playing and the objects are preparing time. As we do that, take a diagram, you can either read that. Come and lead us in our worship giving you those who are giving online our website, TrinityBCCI.org. You can find the giving button.

SPEAKER_03 34:18

Amen. What a wonderful word that God gave us today. Let's give a round of applause to our Lord and Savior and to our bishop as well. This is the time that we give what we plan to give back to the Lord. But I want to remind you again that God has given us his best. And that's his son. Stephen knew that. When he was being stoned, he looked up in heaven, and he saw Jesus Christ standing in the throne. One day, those of you who are have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will see Jesus Christ. You will see heaven. You will be there. We all want to hear well done. Well, God gives us the opportunity to help others. God gives us the opportunity to give back to him what he's blessed us with. Just a little bit of what he blessed us with. You should have already planned what you want to give this morning or this afternoon. But if you haven't, we're going to pray. And ask God to reveal to you what is it he wants you to give to the church. Will you please stand? We're going to pray. Thank you, Father, for your words that you gave us today. Thank you for the opportunities you've given us to give back to you, Father. A little bit of what you bless us with, Father. We do this for the upbuilding of your kingdom, for the upbuilding of your church. Thank you, Father, for speaking to us now. If you haven't already, Lord, about what you want us to give back to you, Father. Thank you for blessing those that give today. Thank you for blessing those that don't have it to give today, Father. Thank you for using it mightily as they lead out your church, Father. And go back to their homes and their jobs and their schools. Thank you for your blessing on their lives, Father. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Everyone said, Amen.

unknown 36:59

You may receive it.

SPEAKER_04 41:01

Occasion and opportunity where we can come together as a church family and uh have these special celebrations like the like a Wonder Day, the ordination of my family members as a deacon. And uh First Lady has this interesting ability to steal all of my thunder. I don't know what I just popped in my head as I was standing up here. It's like, you didn't leave me anything I can say about her. I went on Facebook and First Lady had put a prayer out there on Facebook and I said, Man, if I could take that prayer and just pray that thing, that would be perfect for me. But we're so excited to be able to share in this moment with the family and this commissioning and uh and to see God just the beginning of the fruit of the uh years and years of labor, uh faithful labor that that you and that you both and your families have done so beautifully. We're we're you know, my uh moms claimed you, but you know, that's because we both claim you both you know that it is your family does. And so I've asked Deacon Dr. Carl Wright if he would come this way and open us up, open up our time together, this ceremonial time together with the scripture. And if he's so led with a prayer. Then we'll have a charge and then we'll have the laying on of hands and prayer. Is that all right, church family? Amen. What a beautiful day this is. Amen. I'll get out your way.

SPEAKER_02 43:16

In like manner, must the deacon be great and the reverend. Not double tongue, that means stable. Not given too much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, which is one word in the Greek greedy of filthy lucre. And that means not craving ill gotten gain. And let these also first be approved. Let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so, my Their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Let's pray. Dear Father of Mercies Divine, how wonderful it is to see that you have called to our accompaniment. Such a nice fellow. Soft spoken, but not to be played cheaply. Given to honoring and supporting his attitudes, and the fellowship of the folk that are called to his side. Bless your man, fortify, and nourish him. The husband of a mighty queen, the father of mighty princesses, seeking the truth that sets folk free, and indulging therein with a passion and a calmness and a sweetness. Amen.

SPEAKER_04 47:34

So as you know, as a church family, it's a very special uh this is a very special time and a very special ceremony, and we're excited to be gathered here today, you know, in the obedience to the word of God and in the presence of our Lord and Master set apart for the sacred office of the diakonate. Uh Terry Smith, Brother Terry Smith, and has been shared. He's he's served in so many fashions. He's proven and tried, and we thank God that he's been such a family member for so many different years for us, and we're we're thankful for your friendship. So just a few questions we asked as a part of our charge. Uh number one, do you believe that the Bible to be the word of God, the only perfect standard for faith and conduct? Do you believe that God has set you apart for this ministry and this office of the gospel? And are you willingly, are you willing to dedicate yourself and your family to this work? Do you promise by the grace of God to discharge faithfully the duties of the deacon of the gospel and proclaim the word in all sincerity at home and abroad, administer the ordinances in accordance with the scriptures, comfort the sick and sorrowing, and seek to proclaim the good news to the lost? Do you resolve in humble dependence on God to fulfill this ministry in word and in deed and serve as God's example of service? If I can invite uh Deacon, Deacon Michael, Deacon Carl, Deacon God, the first of the ministers of the Deacon's wives were there. Let me get the menaces of the joint, please. On stage, we're gonna bless this young man. Yeah, come on. Deacon, come on, Deacon Mary. Don't be hiding back there like that. Church family, if you'll stand with me. Heavenly Father, this is a marvelous day you've blessed us with. It's a wonderful opportunity and privilege to be able to come together and just acknowledge and be thankful for this setting aside that you're doing, Brother Terry, to this wonderful service and ministry. We've all seen how he's been faithful in the different aspects of his serving, using his spiritual gifts you've given him, you've equipped him with to serve in multiple facets, and you open up this new season, in which he can just love you more and serve you better, representing Christ, not only here but in the world. So we ask you to continue to fill him with your spirit, Lord. Give him wisdom, your wisdom, Lord. Encourage and empower him to do what you indeed are, setting him aside to do and calling him to do this work. Let him represent not only Christ in word and indeed, but let others around him feel the love of Christ flowing in and through him as we walk alongside him as he's the hands and feet of Jesus. Bless his wife. He continues to serve you, Lord, and be a blessed representative or help me in all the aspects of her journey. Bless their children, Lord, with a marvelous today and future, Lord, in Christ Jesus. And as we join in this circle of the laying on of hands and the setting apart for this service, Lord, we're praying that you would just make your presence known in and through his life in a marvelous way. Giving comfort where comfort is needed, strength where strength is needed. Wisdom as wisdom is needed, Lord. Opportunity as opportunities to serve are needed. And may his love for you through Christ Jesus grow and grow and grow. So that he's walking in his purpose that you've given him, according to your plan that you laid before him. With your preparation, Lord, experiencing your provision and enjoying your peace. All this we ask in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And God's people in the house said, Amen. And amen. Let's welcome our new deacon.

SPEAKER_03 53:05

So I guess so. I'm gonna give you this mic up, okay? Since these are your equipment anyway.

SPEAKER_00 53:14

Um I just want to say thank you to the congregation and for being a part of my journey into um being a uh uh a follower and believer of Jesus Christ. My journey would not be complete without those who have been instrumental in my journey from the time I was little until this man who's aging before you. But with that being said, um I want my brother, my brother, my sisters. Dr. Borick, can you please come up? Because you're a part of my village. Also, along the way, obviously uh Gina's been um crucial and vital to my development from the time uh I started pursuing her. I had I had to go to church. That was that was part of the deal. And um, and um from that um we were we were blessed to be married, and we have three beautiful daughters who I just simply adore. And um part of my village is not here, but they're never far away. I know my friend Benny is watching me, I know my best friend Kenny uh Johnson is watching me, and for everyone here on this stage, I am part of you, and you are part of me. And I just want to say thank you to everyone. Truly, thank you so much. God bless you all.

SPEAKER_04 55:12

See? That's a backup thing. Yes, yes, yes. And thank you all so much. Thank you all so much. So we see family members sneaking in here, love that. So good to see you all. Yeah, we're gonna close out our time since we all stand up here together without benedictions, and we're gonna have we got a few little snacks out there so we can fellowship a little bit. Oh, you got a presentation? Come on, Deacons. Come on, Deaconess. You know you gotta put me on cue now. You you need this, you need to say something, you just present.

SPEAKER_01 55:46

Well, I'm presenting now and saying something. Um so from the Deacon Wives, we would like to present this card and also Arcade to our newest deacon, Deacon Smith, and also Sister Gina Smith. There you go. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 56:07

As we prepare to close out our time with our heads bowed again, our eyes closed, our hearts humbled before the living God, as we assume an attitude of prayer and lifting our hands to Him in praise. And now unto Him, who is able to keep you and me from falling, and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, dominion, power. Now henceforth and forevermore. Let all God's people say amen. As we lift our voices and holy, help me out of here.