Paducah District Older Adult Rally great!
 enlarge>> Getting ready to exercise at the Paducah District Older Adult Rally, October 8. |
Written: 10/27/2009
Who needs Older Adult Ministry? Shouldn’t we be focusing on “grabbing” the younger generation into the church? After all, the older generation has had their day in the sun and now it’s time for someone else to shine.
Yes, that is a good point. It is time for the younger generation to “shine.” We want them to shine – blaze like the sun at high noon. But don’t forget the beauty of the full moon! What would your world be like in total darkness without the moon and the stars?
Older Adults are in the latter stage of “the day” but we need the sun and the moon to shine!
Who needs Older Adult Ministry? The Church, your Church, does!
Why do churches need to be intentional about Older Adult Ministry? Because older adults are growing in numbers!
“Over the next 16 years, the number of people over 50 will grow by 74%, while the people under 50 will grow by only 1%.” (America’s Crisis in Aging by Edwin J. Pittock, 2004).
According to Richard Gentzler in The Graying of the Church, “By 2030, more than 20% of Americans will be 65 years or older and will outnumber children and youth under age 18.”
Society and the Church must come to terms with these facts. In fact, these are assets. We should use them. The 2000 US Census reported persons in the Purchase Area of Western Kentucky who were 60 years of age and older represented 20.96% of the total population of that area. These figures will continue to rise.
The primary task of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ – to reach out and receive people into the Church, to help them relate to God through Jesus Christ, to nurture them in Christian faith and to support, equip, and send them out to live in the world as Christian disciples.
If the church is not striving to fulfill these needs to all people (including older adults), it is missing the goal.
There are reasons why the church should be attentive to ministry with older adults. They are God’s children and He loves them. They are:
· closer to eternity and
· tend to more receptive
· care for others
· tend to have more available time
· are loyal to the church
· provide leadership in the church
· are more geographically stable
· plus historically they give more money to the church
· and they want to be needed.
(Graying of the Church, Richard Gentzler)
The Paducah District, through the efforts of Cathy Burkhead from Reidland UMC and Vida McClure from Clinton UMC, district representatives from the Conference Older Adult Council, are taking notice and action.
On October 8, the Paducah District hosted an Older Adult Rally at Benton First UMC. The purpose of the Rally was to draw attention to the need of “intentional older adult” ministry in our district. A total of 40 persons attended representing ten churches (including one from the Paris District) and four clergy.
· Fred French, retired clergy and pastor of Lebanon Church, spoke to the group, paralleling life as a stream. The water, he said, rushes through the stream but the same water never passes through again. As we travel through this life, we encounter many things – some good – some bad. Our question should be focused not on the “why” but prepare to meet the next challenge.
· Cathy Burkhead shared the need for intentional ministry and the how’s of organizing.
· Because our bodies change with age, Suzi Renaud, owner and instructor of The Yoga Room, shared simple movements to keep our joints moving as we age.
· It has often been said that laughter is the best medicine. If so, we had a big dose as the Possum Trotters from Benton provided a hilarious performance, pantomiming famous Grand Ol’ Opry stars.
It was a good day of fellowship, of sharing a meal and receiving door prizes.
So what’s next for Older Adult Ministry in the Paducah District? Cathy and Vida are in the early planning stages. But we would like to hear from churches and especially from pastors who agree that intentional Older Adult Ministry is an important part of the mission of the church – making and caring for disciples.
Please contact:
Rev. Vida McClure, Paducah District Liaison, Memphis Conference Older Adult Council, 270-653-3352 or vmcclure1227@att.net .
Call Cathy Burkhead at 270-898-4250, or email her at cjburkhead@comcast.net .
Watch for later developments. In the meantime, let us hear from you! We are available and we want to assist your church in this ministry.
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