Care Groups
As a body of believers, one of our goals is to offer and provide spaces for relationships to form and flourish. To aid in creating these relationships, our Senior Pastor and Diaconate Ministry are introducing you to Communication Awareness Reaching-out and Engagement, also referred to as C.A.R.E. The concept of C.A.R.E. is built on the instructions given to Moses and Aaron by God for organizing the Israelite tribes as detailed in Numbers 2:1-3:39. Additionally, Acts 6:1-7 provides the foundation that undergirds the seven C.A.R.E. teams. We are using these God provided models to increase, and in some instances create communication and pastoral care throughout our families of The Creek.
With these goals in mind, every member of The Creek is assigned a Deacon. With C.A.R.E., each Deacon is responsible for contacting their assigned members. The expected consistent communication between Deacons and members should be used as opportunities to pray, share happy family milestones, offer spiritual encouragement and care, and provide support during times of crisis.
In addition to each Deacon having members assigned under their C.A.R.E, the Diaconate is composed of seven C.A.R.E. teams. The teams support individual Deacon responsibilities, foster team concepts based on spiritual gifts, and strengthen pastoral components that are essential in building the body of believers. The four internal C.A.R.E. teams – Baptism, Communion, & Offering, Bereavement, Hospital & Nursing Home, and New Membership Assimilation & Prospective Members – will include Diaconate members only. The three external C.A.R.E. teams – Fellowship Development, Mission Development & Benevolence, and Vision Development – will include laypersons, ministries and the Diaconate ministry members. Collectively, the C.A.R.E. teams provide additional support and assistance to our Senior Pastor.
Baptism, Communion and Offering C.A.R.E. Team - Internal Team
The Baptism, Communion and Offering C.A.R.E. team is responsible for the practical support of communion, baptism services and collection of the offering. The team coordinates, schedules and provides training for the other deacons who serve. Responsibilities include maintaining the inventory and preparing the elements used for the Communion service. Additionally, the team is responsible for preparing the baptistry and dressing areas for baptism service as well as providing personal support to the minister and baptism candidates.
Deacon Donald Bentley
Deacon Valerie Clay
Deacon Michael Harris
Deacon Gloria Hicks
Deacon Anthony Nash
Deacon Danielle Reed, Team Servant Leader
Deacon Michael Smith, Sr.
Deacon Felita Tucker-Battle
Bereavement C.A.R.E. Team - Internal Team
The Bereavement C.A.R.E. team is responsible for providing personal support when a death occurs within the church family. The team might help with some of the initial concerns that come up when a family member dies such as communicating with the Church Office, assisting with errands, providing transportation and other special needs. Responsibilities include visits to the home before and after the funeral, assistance with funeral planning, accompanying the member to the funeral home. Their objective is to communicate the compassion of the church family as the member experiences losing their loved one.
Deacon Vanessa Blunt
Deacon Harvey Chambers
Deacon Maria Hammonds
Deacon Wayne Lightfoot
Deacon Francis Tannor, Team Servant Leader
Deacon Belinda Timmons
Deacon Whitney Shepperson, Team Servant Leader
Fellowship Development C.A.R.E. Team - External Team
The Fellowship Development C.A.R.E. team is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing church wide fellowship activities such as the summer picnic, new member fellowships and volunteer recognition events. Working with laypersons and other ministries, they will recruit additional volunteers, as needed.
Deacon Angela Lightfoot
Deacon Christine Nash
Deacon Frances Thompson
Deacon Ron Spencer
Hospital and Nursing Home C.A.R.E. Team - Internal Team
The Hospital and Nursing Home C.A.R.E. team is responsible for initiating personal contact with a member who is hospitalized or in another type of healthcare facility. The team’s main objectives are to offer spiritual support and emotional encouragement to the member and their family through prayer, visits and other forms of communication. While hospitalized, the team is responsible for coordinating short weekly visits to pray with and provide devotional literature to the member and their family.
Deacon Yasheka Bentley, Team Servant Leader
Deacon Sheila Bryant
Deacon Joann Holiday
Deacon Tina Martin
Deacon Robyn Poindexter
Deacon David Reed
Deacon Ryan Shepperson
Mission Development and Benevolence C.A.R.E. Team - External Team
The Mission Development and Benevolence C.A.R.E. team is responsible for coordinating and supporting current and new mission activities. The team will collaborate with the Mission Ministry. Responsibilities include identifying mission opportunities, creating appropriate plans and enlisting volunteers to implement the needed services to complete the activities. Additionally, the team is responsible for reviewing benevolence requests, verifying needs and coordinating other elements of the requests.
Deacon Myla Burgess, Team Servant Leader
Deacon Gregory Hillman
Deacon Troy Merrideth
Deacon Robyn Poindexter, Team Servant Leader
New Membership Assimilation and Prospective Members C.A.R.E. Team - Internal Team
The New Membership Assimilation and Prospective Members C.A.R.E. team is responsible for contacting new members and prospective members. The team will initiate personal contact to share information about The Creek, provide invitations to current and appropriate church activities and help in getting them involved in the life of the church. Responsibilities include recording and maintaining a ‘new and prospective members database’ that records personal information, delivered materials and how the church responded. Additionally, the team is responsible for assigning the new member to a Deacon.
Deacon Eddie Camp, Jr. Team Servant Leader
Deacon Theodore Darden, Jr.
Deacon Kimberly Parker
Deacon Stephanie Spencer, Team Servant Leader
Deacon Jean Thomas-Banks
Deacon Willie Thompson, Jr.
Vision Development C.A.R.E. Team - External Team
The Vision Development C.A.R.E. team is responsible for partnering with the Senior Pastor in planning for the future of the church and the focus of church priorities. This team will collaborate with the Strategic Planning Team. Responsibilities include developing short-term and long-term goals for the church to fulfill God’s calling through prayer, spiritual discernment, and communication with the congregation.
Mrs. Lou Ali, Team Servant Leader
Mrs. Veronica Shuford, Team Servant Leader