The New Testament speaks of Christians gathering together and being led by qualified men who shepherd them and help them on the road to Heaven. They have various designations that describe the office. They are called elders (Titus 1:5), bishops (Philippians 1:1), pastors (Ephesians 4:11). But whatever the Biblical title they go by, they serve in a qualified office:
“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:6-9).
The role of an elder is to shepherd the flock of Christians at their location (Acts 20:28). At Guy we are currently led by three able men. Floyd Wiedower, Greg Hooten, and David Stephens have over a hundred years of combined Christianity between them and have been great assets to our growth, not only spiritually but also in number.
Though there are currently no deacons at Guy, they are to serve in accordance with the qualifications given by the Apostle Paul:
“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 1:3-13).
On behalf of our elders, deacon and preacher, we invite you to come study with us, come teach us and let us teach you so that together we can have the kind of unity our Lord desires (John 17:21).