This is a guest post written by Holly Whitman. Holly is a freelance writer and journalist, originally from the UK but now based in Washington DC. You can find her on Twitter at @hollykwhitman and more of her writing on her blog, Only Slightly Biased. To submit a guest post, email ourthoughts@gmail.com.
Kids are the future.
This is the sentiment of many education programs in North America. As this is rightfully true for education, it also tends to be true within churches. Youth groups are among the most popular parts of the foundation of the church, with the hope that many will stay or return after college to evolve into the adult congregation and leaders of the future.
With a significant amount of time and money being funneled into these youth groups, it seems that another is being left out. The elderly population of churches doesn’t get nearly as much attention from the church as the youth. If you log onto any church’s website, you’ll probably find a section dedicated to events and activities involving their youth group. You’d be hard pressed to find any activities involving the seniors.
This needs to change.
Give them a sense of community
One of the focuses the church, as a whole, can hone in on is giving the elderly a safe haven. The church is already known as a safe environment where people can talk out their problems. If people who are elderly understand they can go there anytime, they may be more likely to visit.
Even if it’s just for a friendly chat, the church can advertise free group meetings for the elderly. These meetings could simply consist of seniors meeting and talking about their problems and experiences. Not only does this help people who are elderly express their feelings, but it also gives them a sense of community and attention in their lives.
Members of the church can also visit with elderly congregants if they live in a nursing home and are unable to find transportation or are too frail to leave their facility. This, too, can help build their sense of community, as they can keep in touch and socialize with other church members. People visiting a nursing home should keep in mind that 50 to 70% of nursing home residents have dementia, so they should consider how best to interact with them. Providing this type of supportive community is one of the best ways to reach out to these individuals, in whatever way is best and most suitable for them.
Give them a gift
Churches have an obligation to create a safe and positive environment for the older generations. Besides creating a group atmosphere for the elderly to share their experiences, it would do the church wonders if they not offered free food and drink as a thank you.
This may sound like an odd idea, but it makes sense the more you think about it. With all the respect the older generations deserve, it’s only fitting they get a free doughnut or coffee. Perhaps anyone over the age of 65 could stop into their local church on a specific day of the week and pick up a complimentary snack. It’s less about the actual food and more about the giving of a gift to a generation who has worked so hard to pave the way for the younger generations. Rather than unintentionally ignoring them in favor of youth, churches must actively play a role in building relationships with seniors in their communities by making them feel valued, as Christ instructed us to serve and love everyone.
Give them opportunities to serve
The church must move away from the idea that the elderly in their congregation are reluctant to change and thus a burden in pushing the church forward in new ways to reach the lost. In many instances, this is not the case.
Talk about the vision for the church with seniors and involve them in projects that best suit their spiritual gifts. Help those who are interested in becoming a more active part of the church, whether that be in greeting guests on Sunday mornings or passing out bulletins during the service. Purpose and engagement are crucial to building this section of the congregation.
The church has a responsibility to society. Caring for, respecting and building up our elders is one of these responsibilities.
All of these riches are important and it would be great if there are enough resources to provide that to so many people.
However, people reap what they sow and the law is very strict and severe. It should be kept in mind that many of these wonderful riches are primarily a consequence of behavior chosen earlier in life and provided for in the form of family and grandkids.
For example, my grandmother, who had 10 childrend and over 100 direct descendants, had all of these riches in abundance and is an excellent example of an extremely worthy woman who reaped what she sowed.
The first reply to this article post has been bothering me. At first I didn’t reply because I don’t want to be a troll. The older and wiser I get the less inclined I am to think that people get what they deserve. We reap what we sow is true within limits. Just because someone is in a relatively poor spot doesn’t mean that is what they deserve. We need to be very careful to judge another’s lack and I not share.
What mostly accounts for ones wealth or poverty in life is the lottery of birth and not personal virtue. People’s poor choices can leave them in a bad situation, but people can change and we need to let them change. People like this grandmother with lots of children and grandchildren is truly blessed. Those with more should share.