Retirement: "Go-Time" for God
by Samantha Allgood
“The apostle John was in his nineties when he wrote the book of Revelation, and Moses was eighty when he led the Israelites out of Egypt,” said Dr. Amy Hanson, who serves on the national directional team for EFCA ENCORE (www.amyhanson.org), “Nowhere in Scripture are we given permission to step back and begin to coast in our Christian walk.”
Great Potential
From Omaha, NE, Hanson desires to press her passion for the later years into the hearts and strategies of today’s churches. As recent author of the book Baby Boomers and Beyond: Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults over 50, Hanson is dedicated to the strengthening of the Church, infusing today’s older adults with new fervor for life and service. She emphasizes the significance of fully using all the years one is given, specifically speaking to today’s standards of retirement. “My passion is to see older adults living Christ-centered lives of meaning and purpose. We’ve neglected to see the great ministry potential lying dormant among those in the second-half of life,” she said. It’s time to realize the “valuable time, experience and resources” within the 50+ age group.
What God Says
There is an instance in scripture that speaks to the notion of retirement. Hanson explains her findings from a study of Numbers 8:25, “The Levites were instructed to retire at the age of 50 from their regular service at the tabernacle, but they could continue to assist their brothers in their duties. Upon study, I discovered that the regular duties would have involved some strenuous labor. So as they aged, they needed to step back from this kind of work, and take on more of a mentoring role, helping the younger ones in the tasks related to the tabernacle.”
So, there may be a time for one to “retire” from his or her traditional work schedule and duties, but much is lost if there is simply an attitude of rest or uselessness. There are great opportunities to live full-out lives for the Kingdom of God if one is willing. Hanson pointed to an encouraging example in Joshua chapter 14. Caleb says, “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming,” (English Standard Version vv. 10-11). The Lord will sustain His children to do His work as they delight to accomplish the tasks of His will.
Taking Action
Practically speaking, Hanson explained the opportunities one has available with the gift of a more flexible schedule. Retired and partially retired individuals can serve through mission trips, at homeless shelters, mentor disadvantaged children, etc. Even if one is weak from a life of given service, there are always opportunities to pray. One need not have physical strength to be a mighty asset to the work of heaven. “The possibilities are endless,” she said. “We just need to start calling people to action and show them that they can do a lot more for God’s Kingdom.” Older adults are an integral part of the Church, both to the mission and life of each local body of Christ, Hansen affirms.
“There are 78 million baby boomers,” Hanson said. “They’re approaching aging in a totally different way; they don’t want to get old…they’re active.” As Christians with a great calling on our lives, we should be all the more active as we proceed on life’s journey. “There’s so much potential there, if we figure out how to harness that,” Hanson said. It’s time to “wake up” the Church. It’s time to rejoice in our older years and all that can be accomplished through them. May we never tire or slacken our pace, but continue running to receive our reward.
If you want help in unleashing older adults in your church and community, contact EFCA ENCORE Director, Chris Holck, at encore@efca.org or Amy Hanson at amy@amyhanson.org. Dr. Hanson’s book is available from NextStep Resources or Amazon.
