"Thank you Brother LaVinka! This is a much- needed book in Bible believing churches today. I have been involved in the ministry for 50 years and have seen far too many churches that have deacons who do not have a clue concerning what their ministry is to be. One church where I was the Director of Christian Education brought men on as deacons because they were successful in business. However, they were far from biblically qualified. In another church, they functioned as a board of directors, trying to give their Pastor instructions as to how I was to do things. One of the men told the Pastor, "I control the money in this church and if you think differently I will do a Mexican Hat Dance on your head!"
If only I would have had Brother Leo's book "Deacons and Their Wives" back then it would have made the task much easier. He does a Yeoman's job of defining and explaining the work and ministry of Deacons. The book is saturated with Scripture!
I plan on purchasing copies for all my Deacons and plan to make it a part of our devotionals at the beginning of each Deacons meeting. I urge every Pastor, every Deacon, every Deacon's wife and every man who aspires to be a Deacon to get this book and read it." Pastor David L. Brown
David L. Brown. Ph.D., has been the Pastor of Oak Creek First Baptist IFB Church, WI, for 42 years. He is President of the King James Bible Research Council and Logos Communication Consortium, Curator of the Christian Heritage Bible Collection, an author of numerous books and articles, an international speaker, and a widely used consultant.
Lavinka, Leo R.: - LEO ROBERT LAVINKA WAS BORN IN 1934. HE WAS RAISED IN MONTICELLO, FLORIDA, BUT NOT IN A CHRISTIAN HOME. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE TOUR IN THE AIR FORCE, HE ATTENDED FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WHERE HE GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DEGREE. HE WORKED FOR THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, DISTRICT BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO THE DIVISION OFFICE IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN 1969. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION AND HAD OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MANY DIFFERENT MILITARY AND CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS IN THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES, PUERTO RICO, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, PANAMA CANAL ZONE, AND SOMETIMES IN OTHER CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA COUNTRIES. IN 1973 HE TRANSFERRED FROM CON-STRUCTION TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WHERE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING, COORDINATING, TRAINING, AND EXECUTION OF THE CORPS' MISSIONS TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY, AND NATURAL DISASTERS RECOVERY EFFORTS. HIS RESPONSIBILITY EXPANDED TO THE MIDDLE EAST BEFORE AND DURING DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, AND KUWAIT RECOVERY. HE IS THE RECIPIENT OF SEVERAL AWARDS FOR HIS SERVICE AND RETIRED IN 1999 AFTER 39 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. HE WAS SAVED IN 1969 WHILE ATTENDING FORREST HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH IN DECATUR, GEORGIA, UNDER THE MINISTRY OF DR. CURTIS HUTSON AND THE WITNESSING OF A COWORKER. HE WAS ORDAINED AS A DEACON BY PASTOR HUTSON IN 1970. HE ALSO SERVED AS A DEACON AT CORINTH BAPTIST CHURCH, LOGANVILLE, GEORGIA UNDER PASTOR DON RICHARDS; RETURN BAPTIST CHURCH, CLARKSVILLE, GEORGIA UNDER PASTOR WALTER BURRELL; AND IS CURRENTLY A DEACON, TREASURER, AND SECRETARY AT ZION HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, CLEVELAND, GEORGIA UNDER PASTOR NATHAN NIX, (ALL INDEPENDENT, FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST CHURCHES). HE HAS TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL FROM ELEMENTARY TO ADULTS IN SEVERAL CHURCHES AND SERVED IN THE BUS MINISTRY AT FORREST HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH. HE HAS ALSO BEEN A JANITOR, YARD KEEPER, AND A TEACHER AT A SATELLITE CHURCH. HE HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN VISITATION PROGRAMS FROM 1970 TO THE PRESENT. BROTHER LAVINKA IS THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL OTHER BOOKS: 1. "ETERNAL SALVATION" 2. "ARE YOU READY?" 3. "ANSWERED PRAYERS" THEY ARE ALL AVAILABLE ON TOP (THE OLD PATHS PUBLICATIONS) WEBPAGE WITH LINKS TO DISTRIBUTORS' WEBSITES HERE: http: //theoldpathspublications.com/Pages/Authors/LaVinka.htm
