Jenny Manley

Deacons

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Matt Smethurst showcases how essential deacons are to gospel ministry, even while debunking misconceptions and unhelpful traditions. Practical, beautifully written, and full of encouraging stories, this is a helpful guide to an essential office.”

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

Church Leadership & Ministry

“I was an ambitious Capitol Hill staffer when I was first handed this book twenty years ago. In retrospect, it was this moment that totally upended my estimation of the local church and changed the trajectory of my life toward ministry in it. The personal ambitions I had been aiming for began to seem insignificant compared to the growing desire for God’s glory to be displayed through the local church. After now a decade of cross-cultural ministry in the Arab world, my understanding of a healthy church is continually shaped and sharpened by the principles of this book. Reader beware: this book could totally transform the way you see the seemingly ordinary local church.”