Best-Effort Worthy

We were blessed this month to share in a couple breakout sessions at the national AG senior adult ministries conference in Branson, Missouri. Over 850 adults attended.

Our primary breakout session focused on Engaging Younger Generations in Older Adult Ministry.

Imagine our delight, just hours later in the general session, when the Senior Adult Ministries Director, Bob Cook, introduced a college sophomore, Jessica Martinson, who shared that God has clearly called her into this arena of ministry.

This kind of early calling takes us by surprise. But really, we think it should be a lot more common. Younger-to-older influence was hugely significant in the Early Church. Ever hear of Timothy and Titus?

We’re not startled when college students show an interest in children’s ministry or youth ministry. Why should an interest in life’s later stages be off limits?

We’re convinced that pastors and older adult leaders have not been deliberate enough in seeking after young leaders.

In August YES! did our very first webinar on the same topic of engaging younger leaders in older adult ministry.

One of our presenters, Dr. Amy Hanson, just finished serving three years on our YES! board. Amy, now 50, is a prime example of God calling a younger person into this area of ministry (at seventeen). When we started YES! in our early to mid-fifties, it was incredibly inspiring to meet Amy, a couple decades younger, completely invested in people in the post-50 age spectrum.

Amy admits that breaking into her first church position fresh out of college, leading over 300 older adults, was not without its initial challenges, but this young, vivacious woman soon won their hearts.

Similarly, Amy knows that intergenerational ministry is not always easy but is ALWAYS WORTH THE EFFORT!

We couldn’t agree more! Thank you for sharing this journey with us!