Diakonie ECM

OUR MISSION

Mission of our Charity of United Methodist Church in the Czech Republic is to unit and support Christian Help Centers of UMC, Teen Challenge Plzen or even centers of different names.

These institutions are primarily aimed to help the needy members of our society, not only for Christians. Hence, activity of these centers lead primarily from the church outwards. Their action is benefitial for the society and it strive to solve negative socially pathological phenomenon.

OUR PROJECTS

POINT 14

The Center for Consultation and Prevention in Pilsen

POINT 14

After Care Center - Prevented Housing in Pilsen

Christian Help Center Pilsen

The Therapeutic Community Holy Hill

Christian Help Center Pilsen

Work and Social Program

Christian Help Center Horni Pocernice, Prague 9

Christian Help Center CC Majak (The Light-house), Prague 2

Christian Help Center Klubicko (The Skein), Litomerice

Christian Help center Duha (The Rainbow), Pilsen

Christian Help Center Y-port Jihlava

Christian Help Center - The Shelter for Men, Jihlava

Christian Help Center - The Hope for Life, Jihlava

WORDS FROM THE BIBLE

2008-12-01 21:45

The Choosing of the Seven

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests...

—————

What does it mean "DEACONIA"?

The word deacon (and deaconess) is probably derived from the Greek word diakonos (διάκονος),which is a standard ancient Greek word meaning "servant", "waiting-man," "minister" or "messenger."One commonly promulgated speculation as to its etymology is that it literally means 'through the dust', referring to the dust raised by the busy servant or messenger.

In Christianity, we often can find a motive of selfless service to the neighbour or for general welfare. This charity comes from biblical texts and from their interpretations and it shows itself in many different ways. Christianity, one of the constitutive elements of our culture, put great accent on the service for the neighbour. I am sure everybody knows the story about compassionate Samaritan where Jesus demonstrated how his followers should behave towards people in need. Biblical texts help believers to see Jesus in all the needy people and, after helping them, not to insist on earthly reward. In another biblical text we can find a mention about the situation in the first Christian community. There was the office of the deacons whose job was to distribute financial help to the willows and orphans. We can hear the echo of the name of this office in the name of protestant charity organisations-diaconia. Since that time, care for people in need is an inseparable part of the life of Christian communities throughout the world.

Poll