April 28, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
Senior adults present
challenge as well as opportunity
___"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).
___Senior adults make up one of the fastest-growing parts of the Texas population. Almost 2 million Texans are 65 or older, and the number grows larger every day. This vast army of people affords both a challenge and an opportunity for Texas Baptists.
___This trend is part of a patternnationwide. Projections indicate that by 2050, almost a quarter of the population will be in this age range.
William M. Pinson Jr.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas and the institutions, associations and churches related to it are focusing on ministry to and with this huge number of people. A sizeable number of the over-65 group need ministry. Illness, infirmity, loneliness and poverty plague many. As a result, Texas Baptists have increased the ministry in Christ's name to these people. Churches carry out many ministries, such as visits to shut-ins and nursing home residents, repair service to residences, food and clothing resources, transportation to medical care and day care for the elderly. Institutions related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas provide facilities for the care of elderly people. Medical centers partner with churches in providing preventive health services. The Christian Life Commission and the State Missions Commission provide resources and conferences on ministry to the aged. Universities related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas offer courses of study in gerontology and make available opportunities for fellowship, travel and study for senior adults.
___The BGCT also majors on ministry with senior adults. Ministry to this age group is important, but most of the people over 65 are capable of ministry and service and should not be ignored as a re-source to help fulfill the Great Command-ment and the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that the older generation has a role to play in carrying out God's purpose in a lost and needy world.
___In churches, senior adults often play a key role serving as teachers, deacons, choir members, soul winners, committee members and personnel for various ministries. Senior adults serve effectively in volunteer roles. Others serve on staffs, either full time or in interim capacity, such as interim pastors.
___In associations, senior adults assist in a variety of ways, such as serving as officers and on committees, assisting with associational ministries and filling roles as volunteers on associational staffs. In institutions, senior adults carry out many responsibilities as volunteers.
___The BGCT provides numerous avenues of service for seniors through Texas Partnerships and Mission Service Corps; thousands of people over 65 serve effectively in both short-term and long-term ministries. In the Baptist Building, a number of senior adults carry out marvelous ministries on a volunteer or part-time basis.
___Among Texas Baptists, the Holy Spirit is active and the older members of our family of faith not only dream dreams but are active in carrying them out.
___Please pray for the ministries to senior adults. Pray also for the ministries carried out by senior adults. And pray that this huge army of servants of the Lord will be recognized and used in his service.Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!