What Is “Diakonos”
διάκονος
diakonos
dee-ak’-on-os
Strong’s Definition
NT:1249 Probably from διάκω diakō (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): – deacon, minister, servant.
[Total KJV occurrences: 30]
Thayer Definition:
1) one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister
1a) the servant of a king
1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink
Mounce Dictionary Definition:
Noun: (diakonos), GK 1356 (S 1249), 29x. diakonos means “servant, minister.” The idea of one who waits on tables is a part of the conceptual sphere of diakonos, but the word includes much more. Paul’s description of himself as one who serves often carries the idea of giving himself at great personal cost for the gospel (2 Cor. 6:1–4). Paul, a servant of God, carries out his task of spreading the gospel through enormous sacrifice. This concept of diakonos is found also in Paul’s claim to be a servant of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6), of righteousness (11:15), of Christ (Col. 1:7), of God (2 Cor 6:4), of the gospel (Eph 3:7), and of the church (Col 1:35).
diakonos is also used to describe a particular office in the church (“deacon” in Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12). However, it can be used of people serving in some capacity, such as Phoebe (Rom. 16:1; some argue Phoebe has an official title as deaconess), often official capacity, such as Apollos and Paul (1 Cor. 3:5; cf. 3:6; 6:4; Eph. 3:7; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:23), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), and Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6). It is a matter of interpretation as to which category a specific verse belongs. Secular rulers can also be termed, “God’s servant” (Rom. 13:4), and demons can conceal themselves as “servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:15).
Reference Scriptures
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”
Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
II Peter 1:1 NKJV
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 Tim 2:2-3 NKJV
15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Cor 4:15-17 NKJV
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Prov 27:17 NKJV
35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
Mark 9:35 KJV
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Matt 20:26 KJV
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mark 10:43 KJV
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Cor 3:5-6 NKJV
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Eph 3:7 NKJV
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
1 Tim 4:6-7 NKJV
I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
John 17:20-23 NKJV
The Vision
To create a community of clergy ministers of like precious faith who sharpen each other and serve the kingdom in integrity with the graces given to them by God for His people.
The Mission
- Creating avenues of interaction, inspiration and impartation amongst members
- Making resources for spiritual development available through our library, seminars, mentoring for members.
- Building trust and accountability relationships amongst members.
- Celebrating the uniqueness and individuality of each member just as the Father does.
- Enabling members gain online access to select ministerial training through Ekklesia School of Local Church.
The Visioner
Pastor Nkechi Ene, a full-time minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, serves as the presiding pastor of The Carpenter’s Church, and the president of The Carpenter’s Ministry with its multifaceted arms. (www.thecarpenterschurch.org).Having met Pastor Charles a few weeks into the inception of the ministry in 1990, she served subsequently as the associate to Pastor Charles Omofomah until he went home in glory in 2013.
She was born in Accra, Ghana and spent most of her early years in Lagos, Western Nigeria. She is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a first-class honours degree in Electronics Engineering. She began her career in the oil industry before she answered the call into the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. She has inspired many into taking the bold step to discover and enter into God’s purpose for their lives with her switch from a well-paying engineering career in the oil industry to the ”most fulfilling job of all”, that of being a full-time minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Kech (as she is fondly called), is a woman of God who pursues a passion for excellence in the things of God with transparency and tireless dedication. Truly a “mother in Israel” her love for God’s people is at the centre of her heartbeat as she desires to see them move from one level of glory to the next as they apply the undiluted Word of God she teaches to their lives. For over two decades she has been the host of the award-winning TV program Freshdew (www.freshdew.tv) which began in April 1998 and now airs within Nigeria and internationally, reaching millions with fresh inspiration and direction for their lives. In July 2019, Freshdew started airing on daily TV. Other platforms airing the program daily include YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, and Spotify.
Her leadership extends to Ekklesia: School of Local Church, where she serves as the president and director of studies. This budding school equips believers with knowledge of the Word of God and aspects of Christian endeavour including leadership, business and music. Ekklesia also trains men and women who sense a call to the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in the local church.
A spiritual father and pastor to many pastors, Pastor Nkechi provides loving oversight, exemplary leadership, and spiritual mentorship for ministers God has brought under her wings. In response to this call to provide mentorship and guidance for ministers who desire to fulfil the call of God upon their lives with excellence and grace, she founded and heads The Diakonos Club.
She is also the author of some inspiring and incisive books including Dancing with Your Spirit Volumes One and Two and No Fear Here (www.thereadywriter.net).
Pastor Nkechi (nee Chijioke) is anointed to dynamically and prophetically teach the Word of God with grace expressed in clarity and charisma. She is married to Emeka Ene, an engineering executive and they are blessed with two birth daughters, Zoe and Chloe and an adopted daughter, Tracy (married to Ikiaebi), and four beautiful granddaughters, Nyrusha, Zeetoya, Towsha and Melsha.
How We Live
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Tim 3:14-16 NKJV
As a minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and in line with my choice to be a committed member of TDC, if admitted into TDC, I choose to:
- Be a follower Of Christ imitating Him in all I do.
- Be a doer of the Word of God and not a hearer only.
- Be an icon of integrity in word, action and motive in my personal life and public ministry.
- Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- Be teachable and humble and remain in a place where I can receive counsel and chastening where needed.
- Be a standard of the Word and the Spirit in my spiritual, financial and moral affairs.
- Be committed to speak the truth in love always
- Be a conscious not to act in a way that would undermine my testimony as a minister and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of.
- Be a strong support to TDC, its leadership, and its outreaches.
- Be accountable to TDC and inform TDC within 48 hours of any legal or potentially scandalous cases or charges that I face.
What We Believe
- In one God who is the Creator of all that ever was, that is, and all that will ever be. And that He is infinitely perfect and eternally exists in three persons: Father, Word and Holy Spirit.
- In the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, death on the cross, bodily resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
- That it is only by the cleansing blood of Jesus that a man experiences the forgiveness of sins. That the remission provides not only spiritual salvation for everyone who believes, but bodily healing and material prosperity as well. That all these are ours, if we will walk in the light of the redemption with faith in God’s Word.
- That the entire Bible is the inspired word of God, with special emphasis on the New Testament and the Prophets as an infallible rule of faith and conduct.
- Everyone has been saved and reconciled to God, but that this salvation and reconciliation becomes effective only at one’s acceptance and confession of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Redeemer.
- In the ministry of and baptism with the Holy Spirit along with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
- In the manifestation of the nine gifts of the Spirit as stated in Scripture.
- In divine miracles including bodily healing and spiritual deliverance.
- That water baptism and the Lord’s Supper (breaking bread in communion) are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present dispensation. However, they are not to be regarded as means of salvation.
- Every born-again Spirit filled believer should maintain a consistent prayer life. This should be through both praying with the understanding and in the Spirit.
- The true Church is composed of all those who are born-again. Through this new birth we are united together in the Body of Christ. He (Jesus) is the Lord and Head of the Church.
- In the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believers in Christ to everlasting joy with the Lord and of unbelievers to judgment and to eternal conscious punishment.
- In the institution of marriage, that marriage was instituted and ordained by God. It is honourable and the bed undefiled. Polygamy, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, and all other sexual immoralities are forbidden in the Christian worship of, fellowship with and service to the true and only God by the body of believers and also in fellowship with and service to fellow believers.
Member Advantages
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Prov 27:17 NKJV
TDC Members have spiritual benefits that exceed the following:
- Inclusion in and access to the TDC member directory
- Free TDC lapel pin upon admission
- A free monthly teaching selected by the Visioner for TDC. members for the purpose of inspiration and impartation
- Access to the online TDC Member prayer request portal
- Access to the growing Clergy Library at Ekklesia School of Local Church on TDC Library days.
- Access to a Correspondence course by seasoned Ministers every year.
- Participation in the TDC online blog and network with other members of like precious faith
- A free online subscription to the quarterly TDC e-newsletter
- Discounts at the TDC store
- Access to contacts for tried and tested and recommended individuals with skill sets in several fields
- Reserved seating at TDC events and Conferences
The membership is a minimum of N25,000 annually or N2,500 monthly. Members can choose to support the Ministry with offerings that exceed their minimum dues.
TDC reserves the right to terminate the membership of any member for violating the terms of membership or gross misconduct as deemed so by a duly constituted Disciplinary Committee.