Deacons must lead the way into effectiveness, and they must learn to be servant-leaders in the new world in which we find ourselves. Unless our focus is shifted from simply perpetuating traditional church structures to penetrating the world for Christ, we are destined to become more out of touch with and irrelevant in the world. Deacons are key in helping the church make the transitions into the future.

Ministry in the world requires different equipping, training and accountability to maintain biblical integrity and credibility among church leaders and their peers. Most deacons in traditional church structures complete records on their assigned cluster families or give verbal reports in deacon meetings. Deacon ministers in the world need this and other means of support.

Ministry in the world is filled with more unique stresses and temptations than those found ministering among today's church people. Here are a few suggestions to facilitate accountability and to support and equip those who minister in the world:

1. Learning clusters are a safe place for those who are ministering in similar situations. A learning cluster might be a community group, a support group or a prayer group. It can provide relationships which can help a minister move forward, stay focused, and maintain integrity and hope in what can be difficult situations. Learning about the work, trials and struggles of others is vitally important. In trying to understand someone else's world, we sometimes can earn their respect so they, in turn, will try and understand our world and beliefs.

2. Sharing with the deacon body becomes an avenue not only for sharing prayer requests, but for sharing and celebrating what God is doing in and through the ministries of the world. It's a way of "sounding the call" to others whom God might be calling to ministry. Always try to seek out the called and establish a network for those in the congregation who might be able to continue the relationship and trust-building experiences.

3. A mentoring relationship with someone who might have "gone before" and proven himself or herself worthy of ministry in the workplace, community and world can be worthwhile. Connecting with mentors who can understand a situation, be a prayer warrior and provide support in various situations is invaluable.

4. Utilizing technology becomes an avenue for connecting with resources, support and persons all over the world. Can e-mail be a way of connecting and accountability for those in need of ministry who are traveling? Can the Internet become a source of information which helps one understand the world in which persons we are ministering to are working?

One source which can help church leaders understand the challenges of the new culture and then make needed adjustments so they can minister effectively in that culture is the book, "Making the Church Work: Converting the Church for the 21st Century."

Other insight can be gained by attending the Deacon/Spouse and Church Leader Retreats scheduled for Oct. 8-9 at Caraway and Oct. 22-23 at the Baptist Assembly at Caswell. With the theme "Developing Deacon Ministry Teams," the programs will feature ministry-skill development breakout conferences. For more information, go online to www.bscnc.org/lld or call (800) 395-5102 ext. 419. Registration opens July 1 for both sites.

(EDITOR'S NOTE-Hammett is a deacon consultant for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. This article is based on his new book "The Gathered and Scattered Church: Equipping Believers for the 21st Century." The book can be ordered by calling [800] 747-3016.)