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In this episode of The Reformed Deacon, recorded at the 2026 National Diaconal Summit, Rev. Danny Olinger, General Secretary of the OPC Committee on Christian Education, takes a whirlwind tour through nearly ninety years of diaconal ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

From caring for struggling pastors and families during the Great Depression to disaster response, refugee ministry, foreign missions, and short-term missions, Olinger shares stories of how the Lord has used deacons and congregations to meet needs throughout the OPC’s history. He also traces the development of the Committee on Diaconal Ministries and the church’s ongoing commitment to keeping Word and deed together.

Danny brings the history back to where diaconal ministry begins—the local church—and encourages today’s church to “pray for the next generation of deacons,” encourage young men in service, and “give your hearts away.”

You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.

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This episode is the first in a series featuring recordings from the fifth OPC National Diaconal Summit (NDS), released by the OPC Committee on Diaconal Ministries.

In this opening plenary session, Bob Keys became the first deacon actively serving in a local Orthodox Presbyterian Church to address an OPC National Diaconal Summit as a plenary speaker. He introduced a theme that would resonate throughout the Summit: the ministry of mercy is not simply the work of deacons; rather, deacons help lead the entire church in showing the mercy and compassion of Christ.

Speaking to more than 220 deacons, deacons-in-training, elders, and pastors, Bob set the tone for the Summit by reminding the men that while accomplishing tasks is important, it is not the ultimate goal. The greater calling is to shepherd Christ's church into the compassion of Christ.

Over the coming months, we will release the audio from all fourteen plenary and workshop sessions from the Summit, making these encouraging and practical resources available to the broader church.

The video versions of all the Summit sessions can be found on OPCCDM.org.

Resources from this episode:

Handouts, the PowerPoint presentation from Bob's NDS Session and other resources from the OPC National Diaconal Summit V 2026 can be found here.

You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.

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In this episode, guest host Brad Hertzog sits down with OPC CDM Administrator, David Nakhla, Pastor of Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Chris Cashen, Grace Fellowship, Zeeland, Michigan member, Stephen Majauskas, and OPC missionary, Heero Hacquebord following their recent visit to Kharkiv, Ukraine—just miles from the Russian border. There they witnessed firsthand how one small Reformed congregation continues to proclaim Christ and care for its community despite the daily realities of missile attacks, displacement, and uncertainty.

You'll hear how acts of mercy are opening doors for the gospel, why the ministry of presence is often one of the greatest gifts deacons can offer, and how the courage and perseverance of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters challenges us to think about our own service to Christ.

Whether you serve as a deacon, elder, pastor, or church member, this episode serves to encourage you to embrace difficult ministry opportunities, trust God's providence, and remember that faithful service often begins simply by being present. It also reminds us that we have the privilege of standing alongside our brothers and sisters in Ukraine through the OPC's Ukraine Crisis Fund, where our prayers, giving, and encouragement continue to strengthen this vital work.

You can find all of our episodes at thereformeddeacon.org. Make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast player, so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for giveaways and more information. Find other resources on OPCCDM.org. Make sure to send us some feedback on your podcast player or ask a diaconal question by going to OPCCDM.org.