Ministry and Mission among Older People

Many churches, including ours, have specific outreaches to young adults, all trying to be the next Hillsong. This demographic is, nevertheless, missionally strategic, as they are what’s called the “missing generation” in churches. Our future depends on reaching them.

However, mission among the elderly does not possess the same trendy cachet; although retired people represent a rapidly increasing segment of our population.

Of course, demands to include older people also illustrates the stereotypical self-centredness of the Baby Boomer generation. As this population bulge progressed along their timeline, they insisted on having their own needs met at each stage: first as youths, then as parents, now as retirees.

Yet there is also a danger in treating age cohorts as unified wholes. It is primarily the well-off middle class Boomers, who promote their self-interest. Among the working class, and ethnic groups, their experience has been very different, and many in our inner city area undergo real deprivation and exclusion.

What we need are ministries, similar to youth work, with specialised staff, who can concentrate on this group, in the church and community. One friend of mine was asked by her Vicar to work with older people, when she herself retired early. She was able to set up a series of groups, even taking over an unused shop to base the project.

When she retired fully, the assemblage of craft groups, social gatherings, and spiritual reflection sessions, was considered so valuable, that the church took on a staff member to continue it. Needless to say, she was gutted, that now they were prepared to pay someone, to do the work, which she had done for free, and for love.

But that is the way of pioneering missional work. The initial founder is often ready to sacrifice, but afterwards no one else is willing to take it on. In our money-rich-time-poor society, it’s hard to find people to lead activities. They are still willing to volunteer. But coordinating Third Sector organisations requires people with time.

The same problem affects all church-run community activities. Previously, most youth work happened in church halls, led by people who came straight from work. Now, sadly, we need professional paid Youth Workers.

I have been visiting a local centre for older people. Sometimes, I wonder why. Just chatting seems often pointless, although sometimes they do share about health and other issues. It seems to be something a pastorally-minded Anglican Vicar might do. We Baptists often care more for overt conversations about God and the Gospel.

But recently they’ve asked me to lead prayers for Remembrance Day. So I’ll have to squelch my own pacifist leanings, to minister to people for whom the War was an important life experience. They’ve also agreed I can conduct a short Advent course, to draw in those who attended Church or Sunday School in the past.

While I’m not counting on this as a breakthrough, it does illustrate that if we gain trust, through longterm relationships, doorways may open up for fruitful spiritual ministry.