Date

10-14-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

David Roberts

Keywords

Deacons, Boot Camp, Leadership, Discipleship, Southern Baptist Church

Disciplines

Religion

Abstract

As one of only two ordained offices of a Southern Baptist Church, deacons have a responsibility to grow spiritually. Second Baptist Church, Cypress Campus, does not regularly hold the deacons accountable for spiritual growth. As a result, spiritual complacency has infiltrated the deacons. Therefore, the pastor offered an eight-week intensive discipleship program for the deacons to ignite spiritual growth. The Deacon Boot Camp included four elements to strengthen discipleship and foster spiritual growth. The four elements were Heaven Week, squadron meetings, guided daily devotionals, and accountability partners. They integrated theological training with the application of spiritual disciplines. The project creator used boot camp to train the men to be in the best spiritual shape of their lives. Each participant practiced spiritual disciplines for eight weeks so that the disciplines would become daily routines. The habits formed during the camp equipped the men to grow for a lifetime. The twenty-four men who finished the Deacon Boot Camp completed spiritual fitness evaluations. Additionally, several men were interviewed at the conclusion. The results were overwhelmingly positive. The Deacon Boot Camp will be provided again for Cypress Campus deacons unable to attend the first course, and deacons at the other five campuses of Second Baptist Church will be offered the training.

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