What are Deacons?
The church is not a building. The church is a people– it’s relational and organic. Tim Keller called the church an organized organism. And while the Bible gives local churches such as Reach a fair amount of liberty in how we organize ourselves, there is a pattern of organization laid out in scripture that we strive to build towards as much as possible. We want to build our church in accordance with the Word, believing that in doing so, we can more fully experience and exemplify the heart of God through His kindness, His wisdom and order, and the freedom He gives us.
As the early church emerges, the New Testament then settles into a two-part pattern where local churches are served by the teaching and shepherding of elders, and acts of mercy and generosity towards tangible needs by Deacons (Philippians 1:1). The word Deacon means one who serves. Deacons first emerge in Acts 6, when the early church in Jerusalem discovered that its widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution.
Deacons are an office for men and women assigned to serve in specialized areas to meet tangible needs, to organize and mobilize acts of service and ministry, and to strengthen the unity of our church family.
Deacons at Reach
We introduced Deacons to Reach in a Sunday teaching in February 2024, and commissioned our first class that Spring. We weren't inventing anything. We were catching up with language, process, and honor to a spiritual reality God had already established among our people who had served this church faithfully for years.
At Reach, we ask every Deacon to (1) commit to serve a two-year term of service, (2) affirm our Statement of Faith and Teaching Positions, (3) live according to the Biblical character requirements of 1 Timothy 3, and (4) assume notable responsibility in the ministry area they’re serving in under the leadership of our staff and oversight of our elder team.
Thank You Deacon Class of 2022!
At the end of a term, each Deacon and our leadership discern together whether to keep going. Some from our first class are renewing this fall while others are completing their terms with our deep gratitude.
To Nick Jackson (Trail Life), Aaron Tedrow (Research & Theology), Vanessa Garey and Christina Bothel (Ministry Team), Lyubov Bernik (Missionary Care), and Kaitlyn Condon (20s & 30s): thank you.
You were our first Deacons, and you showed us what this role looks like at Reach with humility and sacrificial service. We get to build on what you started.
Meet the 2026 Deacons
Renewing for a second term
- Matt & Kelli Sato, Deacons of Marriage Care
- Liam Pronovost & Joseph Sanchez, Deacons of Youth
- Maren Vallerand & Kelcy Maier, Deacons of Women's Ministry
- Davin Hwang, Deacon of Response Team
Newly commissioned
- Jordan Whitten, Deacon of Worship
- Jonathan Knighton & Alma Klauber, Deacons of Research
- Eric Lee & Dan Lao, Deacons of Men's Ministry
- Ben & Nicole Gross, Deacons of Church Camp
- Allyson Farstad, Deacon of 20s & 30s
The Process of
Becoming a Deacon at Reach
Every Deacon at Reach comes through the same five steps: Identification, Assessment, Approval, Presentation, and Commissioning.
We present Deacons publicly because leadership at Reach shouldn't happen behind closed doors. If you'd like to encourage any of these candidates, please do. We'll pass your words along. If you know of something that genuinely calls a candidate's readiness into question, please share it privately with one (or all) of our Elders by 10/24/26 at elders@reachchurch.cc.
On Sun 10/25/2026, we'll invite our Deacons on stage at each of our gatherings to bless, commission, and send them into the work God has given them.
How you can respond
Pray for them by name. Ask God to fill these folks with the Spirit and wisdom, and to protect their homes and families.
Send your feedback to the Elders. If you have any questions, concerns, or affirmations of these candidates, please do pass along to the Elder team at elders@reachchurch.cc.
Encourage them. A note, a text, or a word in the lobby goes a long way!
Find your place. Deacons are not the only ones called to serve. Our dream for Reach is for every gift to be honored in the entire church family, fully mature and fully unleashed by the power of the Holy Spirit. If you see a gap at Reach, you may be the gift God brought to fill it. Get started at getinvolved.cc.