Diaconal Needs Across the World
David Nakhla, Chairman of the ICRC DC
Meeting in Recife, Brazil
January 25-31, 2024
Members of the Diaconal Committee (DC) of the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC) gathered in Recife, Brazil from January 25 – 31, 2024 for their quadrennial in-person meeting. The members of this committee of seven represent five continents, six time zones, and seven countries: Brazil, Canada, The Netherlands, India, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States. They seek to meet quarterly online and once every four years in person. The OPC’s Administrator of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, David Nakhla, has been serving as a member of the ICRC-DC since its inception in 2013.
The purpose of the Diaconal Committee, among other things, is to strive to understand what a fully-orbed Reformed diaconal ministry ought to look like, to network to exchange information regarding deacons locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, to explore ways for possible cooperation, to bring focus to the diaconal ministry by various means, and to bring attention to global disaster response needs that have affected ICRC member churches.
After a time of reflection on the progress made by God’s grace during the past decade, the committee took time to envision the work for the next ten years. Time was also spent defining “major disaster”, as per one of the group’s four mandates. Chris Boersema, the representative from Brazil, shared a seminar and possible curriculum for training church members in personal finances from a biblical perspective. Work began on developing a practical booklet for deacons, which will include a particular focus on diaconal home visits, providing appropriate passages of Scripture to be read along with practical suggestions to assist deacons in carrying out such visits.
Approximately twenty Brazilian pastors, elders, and deacons in the greater Recife area attended a diaconal conference featuring an excellent message from the Rev. Dr. Pieter Boon, the South African representative, speaking on “Diaconal Challenges in an Unequal World.” The ICRC-DC gave thanks for much work that was accomplished in a short period!
Taking in the sights of the 1500s city of Recife, Brazil, wading in the Atlantic south of the equator, worshipping with saints in two congregations of the Reformed Churches in Brazil (an ICRC member church), one in Recife and the other in Maragogi, and enjoying fellowship over meals eaten together rounded out the trip. One committee member from Northeast India was not able to attend due to various travel complications due in no small part to the conflict in his region affecting their churches. The ICRC-DC continues to request that all member churches pray that God would bring peace in that region of India and give protection to brothers and sisters in the OPC’s sister church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Northeast India.
