A Journey In Service

When I first moved to Starkville back in 2011, the Edwards family was one of the first I got to know. This family has a heart for serving the Lord and the community of Starkville. I have loved getting to know them even more through FBC Starkville, so it was an honor to get to interview Scott about his time as a deacon here.

How long have you served as a deacon?

I was ordained as a deacon by FBC Starkville in 2007 and served on the deacon council during 2008-2010, 2012-2014, and 2020-present.

How did you know God was calling you to serve as a deacon? What led you to become one?

One of the men in the church, I believe it was Dr. David May, called me and said that I was nominated to serve as a deacon, so Lydia and I prayerfully considered that request. We knew that deacons held important roles in the church, and we wanted to follow God’s will in where we would serve in the local church. We just were not expecting to be called as a deacon as young as we were. It was very humbling even to be nominated, let alone elected, as a deacon; walking into my first meeting with a room full of FBC Starkville “giants” was a very overwhelming experience!

What are the requirements to be a deacon?

The role of deacon is talked about for the first time in Acts 6 when the apostles needed assistance in caring for certain widows. The word deacon means “to serve,” so the seven men chosen by the apostles were designated as servants in the early church. Deacon requirements are recorded in two New Testament passages: Acts 6 says deacons are to be “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom,” and 1 Timothy 3 says deacons are to be “worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” To me, the most important aspect of being a deacon is being “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3). Dr. Walter Carnes always reminded deacon candidates, including myself, that when a man is full of the Spirit, then all other aspects of righteous living required of deacons will pour forth! He would remind us of this during our deacon ordination council meeting, and I have never forgotten his sage advice.

How has being a deacon impacted your life? Your spiritual life, more importantly?

I firmly believe that all church members need to serve the Lord in some capacity in the local church – we are all members of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27). But the Bible clearly holds pastors and deacons to a higher standard, so serving as a deacon has impacted my life in many ways. Serving as a deacon is a commitment to serve in the local church – so I must be available and not shun leadership and service. Spiritually, I have to always be committed in growing my personal relationship with Christ, if I am to be “full of the Spirit.” This means more than just church attendance and helping pass the offering plate; it means daily devotion to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship.

Your family - is being a deacon sometimes a “family affair”

All church involvement, especially ministry, should be a family affair! In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he admonishes that deacons must have wives that are worthy of respect and manage their families and homes competently (1 Tim. 3:11- 12). A man who is “full of the Spirit” will spiritually lead his family in like manner, so family involvement should be a natural occurrence. There have been times when one or more of our boys have accompanied me to the hospital to make a visit, or to the nursing home to check on a church member. And my wife, Lydia, has always done a great job of helping me to organize meals for church family members who are experiencing difficult, or even joyous, times. Lydia also shoulders the burden of taking care of the family at home so that I can frequently be away from home to serve others, and she clearly sees this supporting role as an incredibly valuable service to the Lord.

Pertaining to the Lord’s Supper - how has being a deacon serving in that capacity impacted your spiritual life?

Serving during the Lord’s Supper is one of my favorite activities at FBC Starkville. It is a beautiful time to worship the Lord and reflect on His sacrifice of love for us, and helping serve the elements of communion, the symbolic body and blood of Jesus, to the literal Body of Christ is a special act of worship that I cherish.

What does it mean to you to serve not only FBC Starkville, but our community?

The local church does not exist in isolation, but in community with other believers and people who are already loved by God yet need to start a relationship with Jesus. I am proud of all the ways that FBC Starkville ministers to people of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, the United States, and the world! Lydia and I especially enjoy serving in the university ministry, where we co-teach the Graduate Student Community Group with our awesome friends, Brent and Amy Fountain. This group of young adults are moving all over the world and will have an incredible impact for the Lord in many communities.

Finally - do you have a particular story in mind that you would like to share? Maybe how your service as a deacon has impacted someone?

This isn’t really a story, but more like a reflective thought. Looking back, my ordination as a deacon was one of many ways that He was preparing me to become an Army chaplain. God placed me right amongst some incredible Christian men, and I was able to learn from them, see their hearts for ministry, and experience their zeal for the Lord and growing His kingdom – all through serving others. Serving alongside these men helped prepare my heart, and my family, for the service perspective that we would need in my current ministry. And, now, I am glad to be back on the deacon council and serving FBC Starkville once again!

---
Scott, you have not only served our church and community faithfully, but your service as a chaplain in the Army National Guard is an invaluable service to our country. We thank you so much for all you have done. May God continue to bless you and your family as you continue in faithful service.