Serving God At Every Age

I was speaking with my sister over the weekend.  She's a few years older than me and on her own since losing her husband almost two years ago. Something is going on in her life that she can't explain, and I thought it might be useful for you to hear a bit about it.

She has been a Christian since age 16 and has served the Lord all her life. Like most Christians who grow up and stay in church she has served and ministered in a variety of capacities in the life of several churches. 

Now, as she is soon approaching her 70th birthday, God has given her a burden for lost souls in a greater way than she ever experienced before. She's still uncertain as to why this is happening at this particular time, and what God is leading her to.  Her response is to desperately seek God, asking Him to make it clear how she can best serve Him in response to this burden He's placed on her heart.

I went through a very similar process at one time, but I was in my early 30's at the time. That's why what's happening in her life right now seems so remarkable to me. Age 70 is a time when most people want to sit back and reflect on what happened over their lifetime. It's not generally when people are saying, "God, what is this new thing you are calling me to? How can I use my life to serve you best?"

During the years when Louise and I were traveling across Canada doing children's ministry, I frequently had a chance to speak to the seniors groups in the churches where we were ministering. I taught a session I called "Seniors In Service". The main point of this seminar was that God never puts us on the shelf, and that regardless of our age He will always have some way we can serve Him. We let the concept of retirement creep into our service to God, and that's something God ever intends for us. While the kinds of things we do change as we grow older, i.e. the nature of our service changes, God will always have ways for us to minister. Retirement is not a Biblical concept.

These things were easy to say to senior people when I was in my 40's. Even then, as I was challenging seniors that way, I just knew those words would come back to haunt me one day. Now that I am in my 60's, and not experiencing the same kind of energy I once did, I can see I am going to have to constantly challenge myself with the very message I was teaching people as much as 20 years ago. 

One of the great things at The Mission is that we have a broad demographic in terms of age. We have about 40 - 50 people in each of the major age categories. That's fantastic and highly unusual these days! That means we have 40 - 50 people who are retired from their jobs, or at least thinking about it. They may be finding that the things they used to do in serving God are getting harder as well. Does that mean we retire from serving God and our Christian experience is all about seniors lunches and bus trips to the Sight and Sound Theatre?  

The only person God is ever finished with is the one who refuses to serve any longer. For those who are willing, God will always open doors of ministry. He will always provide ways in which we can be useful in ministry to Him and to others. We can always have an impact regardless of our age.

So my sister, in her retirement years, is clearly sensing God doing a new thing in her life and she is anxious to discover what God has in store for her. In His timing He will reveal that to her, and I believe she has some exciting times ahead, ministering as God leads her. 

Are you open to what God wants to do in your life, regardless of your age? If God says, "I have something new for you" are you open and eager to serve however He leads? The rewards of serving God are amazing at any age. Don't rob yourself of experiencing Him working in and through you.

Christians Acting Like Christians

Last week I had the opportunity to witness something I think is worthy of comment. What I saw should be so normal among Christians that no one would take any notice, but since that isn't always the case I felt it worth commenting on. I was so encouraged to see a large group of Christians acting like Christians.

I had the opportunity to attend my second Annual General Meeting of the Brethren in Christ. Last year a resolution was passed to go through the process of selecting a new name for the denomination. A group of leaders would consult and discuss and come back to this year's AGM with a recommendation for a new name. They did so, and it was apparent they expected the new name to be adopted rather quickly without a whole lot of discussion or dissent. They were surprised.

As it turned out there was a considerable amount of concern over the new name being proposed, and eventually that led to a motion to put off the decision for another year.  In essence the leaders were asked to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new proposal. That motion was passed by what I'm estimating was a 3 to 1 margin.

Now here's the thing that caught my attention.  I was so impressed throughout this process how everyone acted in such a "Christian" manner. Those who were dissenting put forth their comments in a calm, respectful manner. Doug Sider, the Executive Director who will really bear the brunt of the decision to go back and start again, couldn't have been more gracious in his response. 

Perhaps, like me, you have witnessed dissent in business meetings that turns into something less than amiable. It's not that uncommon for people who have strong opinions to get rather heated in presenting those opinions. It's not uncommon for people who have had their ideas rejected to become defensive and argumentative.

I was so pleased when none of that happened last Saturday, in spite of the fact that the matter at hand had the potential to be very contentious. It was a situation ripe with potential for feelings to run high and tempers to come to the fore.  It just didn't happen.

It made me proud, not just be a member of a body that could handle a difficult discussion with such grace, but to be a Christian. I almost wish there had been a body of unbelievers observing in some capacity.  What a great testimony it would have been!  I would have been proud to be associated with this group of Christians.

My only regret is that all of the people in our churches did not have the opportunity to witness how the body of Christ can function, even in the midst of disagreement. What a wonderful example it would have been for Believers who may still be prone to high emotions and harsh words when things aren't necessarily going their way. I believe the people in our congregations would have been pleased and proud to see their leaders at work, demonstrating Christ-like grace and patience in the midst of what could have been a volatile situation if involving people less mature in their faith.

So my thanks to the leadership of the BIC and the leaders from our churches for setting a Godly example for us all. I'm sure God looked down on that gathering and was pleased.