Re: The Early Christians: In Their Own Words

Even in the smallest church community, the overseer had to be a friend of 
the poor, and there was at least one widow responsible to see to it, day 
and night, that no sick or needy person was neglected. The deacon was 
responsible to find and help the poor and to impress on the rich the need 
to do their utmost. Deacons also served at table. There was no excuse for 
anyone because he had not learned or was unable to do this service. 
Everybody was expected to go, street by street, looking for the poorest 
dwellings. As a result, Christians spent more money in the streets than
the 
followers of other religions spent in their temples.