As I travel about, I see some very exciting older adult ministries. They are innovative, creative, and willing to take risks to try something new. How is it with your congregation’s older adult ministry? Are you just playing around with gimmicks? Or are you helping older adults become spiritually alive and making their retirement years fruitful and beneficial? How many of the following creative methods have you tried?
- Reaching out in an ongoing way to members working through the long process of grief.
- Creating recovery groups as a vital ministry of your congregation.
- Developing partnerships with caregivers at a neighboring nursing home or mentoring at a public school.
- Adding a full-time staff person for older adult ministry.
- Celebrating an annual ‘Bless the Years’ weekend.
- Developing a cadre of older adults involved in intergenerational ministries.
- Getting rid of traditions that are not working to make room for new ideas.
- Hosting free public seminars on issues important to older adults.
- Honoring older adults for their ministries in the congregation or community.
This list is just a beginning. It’s designed to stimulate your creative juices as you reach out to enrich and strengthen the lives of older adults.
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