The Sidesman is beyond staying at the entrance and incense bearing

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 Celegen

BETTERING THE DUTY OF A SIDESMAN
(Every sideman or youth needs to reread)

Being a sidemen is a beautiful and dignified duty that brings honor and glory to God despite the fact that many people shy away from doing this

The duties of the sidesmen are very crucial, essential and of depth in the celestial church and over time this duty has expanded beyond spiritual works, and care of the house of the lord.

The sidesmen ministry is a school of spiritual knowledge and opportunity to serve God at the highest level

As people often say of old, “sidesmen is meant for old and uneducated people, and this is nothing but a fallacy”

Many of the church members in service of military, para-military and police for instance have and add great value to the sidesmen

it is a duty for everyone, every youth male and female must pass through and love to experience

Educated people are most essential in the face of sidesmenship to progress and color the duty of the lord to greater height

The sidesmen covers and plays several roles and parts in the church;

#Altar Duties——care and cleaning of the altar, and its utensils, incensing altar, lighting of candles, conducting and leading service

#Non- Altar duties ——-assisting the clergies, coordinating the conduct in the service etc

The sidesmen is entering into a modern and millennium era in which several of it’s functions are upgraded and redefined

There is need for improvement in the duties and organization of the sidesmen and here are some methods to improve the duty :

#Broader View and Expanse

Apart from altar duties, there is more to the office of the sidesmen which are :

#protocol and welfare
#human resource
#catering and culinary duties
#technical and equipment
#Media and IT
#human relations and soul winning strategy
#Prayer and spiritual
#Financial management
#Traffic management and control
#Security and order
#Medical and first aid

#Biblical Teaching and Orientation

Before anyone is enlisted as a sidesman, there is need for a thorough teaching about what the office is about and what it entails before one is called as a sidesman
There is need for education to awaken the interest and values in the heart of the youths to take up this important role in the church

#Training Enforcement

There is a need to enforce and ensure that those aspiring to ascend the ladder of duties in the church must be trained in the duties of that office before being certified with better platforms for teaching
There should be a prerequisite on ground that one has to pass through and fulfill before being ordained or anointed as one

#Seminars and Conferences

It is high time seminars and conferences with extensive and elaborate teachings for the sidesmen are done, where they are taught indepthly the basics and fundamentals of their duty

#Practicals

One of the issues of the sidesmen is practice and know how’s of the duty
Some of the original ways of doing the duties need to be taught and practicalized and corrected.

Questions on methodology and conduct is be treated and extensively explained to understanding of all sidesmen so that they can efficiently practise with confidence

#Books and Guidebooks

There is need to cultivate the habit of books and reading for sidesmen.
A manual or a book guiding on simple fundamentals of a sidesman would help and be done with diagrams, sketches on how to do basic altar duties and functions would help better the sidesmen

#Courses and ethics

In the millennium era, it would help a great deal if courses on human psychology, and relation, how to deal and relate with people, leadership and more would help redefine the duties

#Go beyond Vigils and Meetings

Vigils and prayers are quite helpful and make a strength for the sidesmen but this needs to be improved and reviewed to suit the development of the group

#Application of acquired skills and knowledge

There are many facets of professions steaming in the church in all areas like military, medical, police, computer and technical fields and should be encouraged to utilize, apply their skills to the duty of God.

#Leadership

There is need to for visionary leadership that makes the duty of the sidesmen convenient and more organized, and efficiently done that would effectively lead the sidesmen to a united spiritual force in service for God

#Better Strategy
There are better ways and strategies of organizing and carrying out duties and functions with better knowledge and guidelines to handle situations and people

#Code of Conduct
There should be a code of conduct that all sidesmen should follow;

#whilst dealing with newcomers
#whilst handing conflicts and fights
#whilst restoring order in the service
#whilst carrying out spiritual duties

#Mentoring

Sidemen needs to be mentored and tutored by older senior sidesmen who teach, coach, correct and regulate their conduct and practise in the church

#Boosting of Confidence

Many sidesmen lack confidence and courage to carry out their duties and hence need support and grounds to practice and remove shyness.
This is seen when lighting candles and burning incense on a heavy laden service

#Use of Media and Technology

Better incense bearers, sprinklers, and cleaning devices would reduce the tediousness of the duties and make it easier to do
The use of media would encourage a better coverage and reaching of all sidesmen worldwide, for recording of teachings and disseminating of information

QUALITIES OF A SIDEMAN

#Cleanliness, Neatness, Good example to others,
#Exemplary leadership, upright, responsibility, punctuality, prayerful lifestyle,
#Receptivity, discipline, patience, cheerful, highly spirited, good relationship and attitude towards people,
#Diplomatic, knowledgeable, show courtesy, sense of duty

By Brother Tola Adele