What is the nature of a meaningful diaconal encounter?
• wrapping a conversation in prayer. Deacons ought to pray prior to a conversation/visit, asking God to guide them. They can pray while they converse, and share their uncertainties with God. • listening! It is critical to listen to the person who you are with. Listening is a gift that deacons can offer. It creates an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. This gift of listening helps people put their thoughts and feelings into words, which is their first step towards helping themselves. Listening also helps people build relationships with each other and God. If we listen carefully, we can explore a variety of needs. And we will know what to pray when the time comes. • knowing what he/she is good at and focusing on that. Deacons should not be afraid to say “I don’t know.” • ensuring confidentiality. Deacons should assure the individual that it is safe to share with them. • pointing to God. Deacons can do this by offering words of encouragement, a brief word from Scripture, and prayer. They
