As you know, Redeemer has become a community partner with Alderwood Elementary. Alderwood is one of Bellingham’s 14 Elementary schools in the district. Alderwood is on the smaller side and is situated in the Birchwood neighborhood, close to the airport. Partnering with Alderwood isn’t just a short-term commitment. We are looking ahead over the years to come. Bit by Bit and day by day the students there start to recognize our faces. They will start responding to our smiles. They will begin to learn that Redeemer is there to stay!

We wanted to share about some different areas we are serving in the school:

Cafeteria

 “Recently I had my first “shift” serving at Alderwood. I and a few others have signed up to volunteer in the cafeteria for about an hour and a half while the students eat lunch. During that time we put on a pair of gloves and help kids open milk containers, hand out napkins, and answer any questions they may have. If we arrive early, we even get to play with the kids on the playground before the bell rings! 

We also get to spend time at the Art Table which is where the older students can be once they’ve finished their lunch. We are just there to show an interest in what the kids are doing and in who they are. Truth be told they ignored me the first day I was there. Some would look up when I asked a question others wouldn’t even acknowledge that they heard me. According to the para-educator, Sarah, who runs the lunch room that isn’t surprising. These students have seen a ton of transition over the last year. In the cafeteria, alone, there have been seven previous lunchroom paras. None until Sarah have stayed all citing it “too much.”  

According to Sara she even has a difficult time finding subs, because many people find Alderwood “too hard.” So, you see these kids, and the staff, aren’t used to people sticking around. They think I’m just another face that won’t be returning. But, that is something that we, at Redeemer, are hoping to change for them in the weeks, months, and years ahead.  One milk carton and one art project at a time.” 

Builders Club

“I have served at the Builders Club after school program.  It has been a real blessing so far, and I have noticed the kids enjoying too.  The club is an after school program where the kids come get a snack, then go out to the playground for 15 mins and then we do Builders club where you build the “theme of the day” in Legos.  It has been eye-opening and fun to get to know some of the children in the club and also to ask questions about how life is like for them and to honestly just be a stable person that shows care for them.

The first time we went to Builders Club, and we were getting ready to leave. We felt like we had a great time but weren’t quite sure the impact we had. But as we were leaving some of the kids came over and said “ARE YOU COMING BACK NEXT WEEK!!??” and I said “SOMEONE IN OUR GC WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK” and then one of the girls chimed in “No, are YOU coming back next week…please please please?”  It just helped us understand that even when we think we may just be there being helpers, it makes an impact on these kids.” 

There are serving opportunities available at Alderwood either on an ongoing basis or a one-time Breakfast and Book event. If interested or you have any questions, please email Kelli Potts: kelliannpotts@yahoo.com

This week, we're meeting another deacon, Brandon.

Redeemer: How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?

Brandon: I started coming to Redeemer in I think July of 2010, so that’s a little more than six years. I became a member in 20… 13(?) and a deacon in 2014.

R: What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?

B: Deacons serve the church by meeting practical needs. That can happen in a number of ways depending on the needs of the local church body in which the deacons serve. I think when I started, I kinda felt like there was a “right” way to do this, or that at least there should be. I’ve since learned there’s a lot of freedom and space here, so while being “right” is important, there’s a bunch of ways to get there.

R: What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?

B: I really like helping people find their “thing” and encouraging people to apply their passions and skills to help build up the body. It’s really rewarding to see people serve and actually like it.

I hate scheduling, and I am terrible at it (everyone who knows me right now is either laughing or nodding along). I don’t have to do it very often, but when I do, I put it off as long as I can.  So that’s challenging. Yeah. I hate scheduling, and I’m really grateful for people who like and do it well.

R: What’s the most common question you are asked about being a deacon, and how do you respond?

B: There’s sort of two. One of them is ”So what does that mean?”, and I usually say something like “I help care for the practical needs of Redeemer. Kinda whatever comes up”.

And the second one, which often comes up in the same conversation, is “What’s the difference, then, between being a deacon and just serving faithfully?”

As deacons and deaconesses at Redeemer, our intention is to get the thing done and build up the church, so there is a fair amount of overlap. But, perhaps uniquely, we want to create an environment where as many people can help as possible, so we always (or, we should) have our heads up, looking to get others involved. Sometimes, that’s just taking the person that says “I want to help; tell me what to do” and invite them into any old thing. And others, we ask people to help, figure out what they like doing, and put them in a spot where they can apply their passions and skills, where they hopefully have fun doing it.

So there’s definitely times where we’ve got our heads down late at night, grinding away on some awful project that just has to get done. But, whenever possible, we’re trying to involve others. It makes the garbage more fun to deal with, anyway.

This week, we get to hear from Dane, to hear a little bit about his heart for the church.

How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?

My wife and I have been a part of Redeemer Church for almost ten years; we came to Redeemer just a few months after Redeemer first started doing public services. About eight years ago I felt intrigued about what a deacon is within the local church. I began to research the qualifications of a deacon within 1 Timothy 3 and realized that Redeemer would greatly benefit having deacons within the church, caring for the church's needs. So I reached out to the elders of Redeemer, entered a process and became a deacon I believe seven years ago. 

What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?

I thought that deacons specifically only did mercy ministry work within the church, as you can see happen within Acts 6. Now there is some debate if these seven qualified men were deacons or not within Acts 6. I am not going to try and convince why I believe these men were the first deacons of the 1st-century church, but I saw an excellent example of particular people set aside to care for the practical needs of a local church body. I don't think my view has necessarily changed; I have always seen deacons having the duty to care for the practical needs of the church but what has changed is I think that serving practical needs includes much more than just mercy ministry. There are so many needs that arise within a local church, and the deacons have the privilege and joy to serve those needs to care for the community. 

What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?

I love getting to meet a lot of the different people that are a part of Redeemer Church. It is amazing, from a deacon's perspective to see all the different, unique people that God gathers around the gospel. It amazes me to see all walks of life gather together and become family members all because of what God has done, and He continues to do through the gospel. 

This week, we're meeting Christian as part of our Meet The Deacons mini-series.

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How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?
 
Christian: I joined Redeemer in 2010, and was commissioned as a deacon in 2013.
 
What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?
 
C: Honestly, I didn't really know what a deacon was. I understood that it was some type of leadership role, but that was about it.
 
It has been a slow process of learning what a deacon is, and I'm still learning. I’ve been shifting from a “doer” mindset to an “equipper” mindset. It's not the same as being a ministry volunteer, though I often do volunteer tasks. I believe that it is a position with the responsibility and privilege to equip volunteers to work as the body of Christ with their Spirit-given gifts to meet the practical needs of the church. It’s about delegating responsibilities to volunteers, and cultivating the gifts that God has given them.
 
What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?
 
C: I like that I get to serve the church. It still amazes me that I have a role in Jesus’ church. I think, “Why would God pick someone like me to serve his church?” The answer, I think, is because God wants to show his power, grace, and love through my service. He wants to show that it’s not about me, it’s about him and serving others. It’s humbling to really consider what it is that I’m doing while I’m serving – I am serving the church that Jesus Christ, the Lord of heaven and earth, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, came to live and die for, establish, and accomplish his mission through. And really, that’s what all of us as Christians get to do as we fill the different needs in the church. It’s amazing!
 
The most challenging part of serving as a deacon, for me, is being a leader. Naturally, I think I’m good at “doing”, but learning to lead and cultivate others has been a difficult, but good process. I have been praying for the gift of leadership, and I have seen God give me opportunities to grow in this area and provide great resources to help me.

What’s the most common question you are asked about being a deacon, and how do you respond?
 
C: “So, what do you do?”
 
I usually respond with something like: “I coordinate the Cleaning Crew, which is Redeemer’s custodial ministry, making sure that our church buildings are clean and presentable for our church family and guests. I also help with various other needs that arise, such as filling in as Sunday Coordinator, or helping with the logistics of our Outdoor Work Party event.”

This week, as part of our Meet The Deacons mini-series, we're talking with Vanessa.

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How long have you been part of Redeemer, and how long have you been serving as a deacon?

Vanessa: 7 years at Redeemer. I’ve been a deacon for about 5 years. 

What was your understanding of the office before you starting serving in the capacity you are? Has that changed over time? If so, how?

V: My understanding of the office of a deacon has not changed much at all. Deacons are called to serve the practical needs of the church and the community. I’ve learned that the specific role of a deacon does look different from church to church. 

What do you like about being a deacon? Is there anything you find particularly rewarding or challenging?

V: I like being able to help where there is a need. I may not be passionate about everything that I do for the church but I am passionate about serving Jesus and the local church.

It’s challenging coordinating volunteers and the rewarding part is seeing how God does provide for a way to accomplish our goal even if we don’t have all the volunteers we need.

It’s also really rewarding to hear stories of evidences of grace from people at Redeemer. 

What’s the most common question you are asked about being a deacon, and how do you respond?

V: So you don’t work for the church? No, it’s all volunteer, though I did get paid to cover for a few staff over the summer.

This week's post by Brandon Adent, a deacon at Redeemer Church. He loves words, music, and words about music.

Before I became a deacon, I had no idea what one even was. The few places in the bible I saw them addressed had more to do with how one qualified for office than what they actually did, a question I still struggle with at times, if I’m honest.

The office of Deacon has service at it’s core, and tends to the tangible needs of the church they serve. Those needs differ from church to church, so the office of Deacon can be - and is - expressed differently between churches.

At Redeemer, the deacons all have their areas of gifting and service, but really, we all make ourselves available, wherever the need is. We want to serve Jesus well, to care for His people, and to help people serve in ways that are consistent with their gifting.

So, over the course of the next couple months, we’ll be peppering our normal blog with short a little bit of question and answer with some current deacons at Redeemer. This will hopefully give us all a chance to at least know who our deacons are, what they do, and why they do it.

Stay tuned to hear from Vanessa later this week!