Serving in vacancy. Equipping the next generation. Centered in the Gospel.
When Josiah Christensen’s pastor first encouraged him to consider the Lay Deacon Program, he simply wanted to help lead Bible studies. What God had in mind was much bigger.
Through the program’s teaching, coaching, and gospel centered formation, Josiah found himself not only growing in knowledge, but in confidence and calling. “Gospel Fluency helped me center my life on the gospel and become fluent in its message,” he shared. “It shaped the way I see everyday life as an opportunity to proclaim the good news that our sins are forgiven on account of Jesus.”
That preparation became especially meaningful when Christ Community Church and School in Leesburg entered a pastoral vacancy. Today, Josiah helps with weekly worship planning and facilitation, stepping into leadership with the support, training, and relationships formed through the Lay Deacon program.
At its heart, he sees this work as deeply biblical. The word deacon comes from a Greek term meaning servant, and in Acts 6 we see deacons raised up to meet the needs of the church while the gospel continues to be proclaimed. That same spirit of service is alive in Josiah’s ministry.
“It shaped the way I see everyday life as an opportunity to proclaim the good news that our sins are forgiven on account of Jesus.”
One of the places this is most visible is in the congregation’s partnership with the school, where Josiah and his wife Becky developed a two year plan to increase biblical literacy using Concordia Publishing House’s Enduring Faithcurriculum. The goal is simple and powerful. Immerse children in the full story of Scripture. Many of them now hear the same Bible account in Sunday School, chapel, and the classroom three times in one week.
The impact is already showing. When one child began retelling a Bible story to a teacher at school, Josiah saw a glimpse of what he calls mustard seed ministry, small moments of faith that grow into generational proclamation.
“My favorite part of being a lay deacon is encouraging and facilitating gospel proclamation by increasing biblical literacy,” he says. “Some of the children taught now will teach their children, who will teach their children.”
He is quick to add his encouragement to others. Congregations should identify and raise up servant leaders, and the Lay Deacon Program is a powerful way to do just that.
To learn more about the Southeastern District Lay Deacon Program and how your congregation can take part!