Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC), a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church, celebrated 10 years since formally organizing in 2001. DMC serves deacons in the approximately 250 congregations of the CRC in Canada.
The mission of the organization is to inspire, equip, and encourage deacons, churches, and their partners in transforming communities with the love of Christ.
Deacons of Woodynook CRC in Lacombe, Alberta, hosted Diaconal Ministries Canada’s 10th anniversary celebration.
Deacons of Woodynook Christian Reformed Church in Lacombe, Alberta, organized a celebration to acknowledge the anniversary but also to recognize just how many people have been involved in diaconal work throughout the years.
According to the Diaconal Ministries Canada website, DMC’s roots date back to 1960 and the formation of the All-Ontario Diaconal Conference (AODC), whose board members included representatives from the six classical diaconal conferences in Ontario.
In the late 1950s and early ’60s, Western Canada diaconates also organized diaconal conferences. Eventually leaders of all the conferences sought greater levels of cooperation, which ultimately led to the formation of the national organization.
Joe Doef, chair of the DMC board for 2011-2012 and representative of Classis Alberta North, a regional group of churches, said, “For all deacons, but especially for first-time deacons, DMC has been a great source of help, information, and encouragement, and it’s my prayer that it will continue to do that till Christ returns.”
