There are few more lost opportunities to the kingdom than that of not engaging the encore generation in ministry. I define the encore generation as those who have finished their primary career whether at 40, or 65. They no longer need to work, have resources and especially time to be involved in ministry.Never in history have so many people been able to retire from an occupation and have so much time on their hands!
While folks may retire from a job, there is no scriptural precedent to retire from kingdom work. In fact, kingdom work is really our primary work, no matter what our stage in life. Unfortunately, in many instances the church does not actively seek to engage encore folks other than to shuttle them into a senior group (many are way to young for that) - which is often more about recreational activities than ministry anyway.
Many of my heroes in life are encore generation individuals who have chosen to use their "freedom" to advance the kingdom in significant ways. I think of Lee who uses his resources and IT technological expertise to reach thousands around the world via evangelism on the Internet. Or Dave, who gives much of his time to church leadership, Grant and Carol who fund ministry efforts around the globe and serve their local church ministry generously.
While I have many such heroes, what I do not often see is the church actively seek to recruit and deploy the encore generation in significant ministry. The expertise, wisdom, time and resources of this generation is an unrivaled opportunity for the church to expand its ministry influence in the community and around the world.
Because the church does not seek to engage these individuals, those who are ministry driven often find their own ministry or they serve outside the local church with someone who values them - and asks them to join them in meaningful ministry. Others, unchallenged, retire not only from their jobs but also from ministry, leaving their most productive years on the table and unused for the kingdom.
If you are part of the encore generation and are fully engaged I honor you. If your ministry is not yet actively seeking to engage this generation, think about the potential for your ministry. Engaging this growing group could be a game changer for ministries.
1 comment:
I agree that they need to be more involved in ministry and we probably under utilize them – but it also reveals an observation that I have had over the last 15 years which I believe is so contrary to what should be happening – functionally they are waiting for the generation that follows them to come to them to be asked. Functionally they have abdicated their leadership that I believe is implied in Titus 2,that the older take responsibility for the younger, (Women teach younger women) I think it is implied that they be initiators in leadership, that they would see the need to look behind them and become the leaders in character and spiritual mentoring and care. The Encore generation has followed into the same trap of a mentality like my grandmothers, bemoaning the fact that “you grandchildren never come to visit me.” Both of my grandparents had a 20-25 year window to be initiators toward the second and third generation behind them before health would have limited them to stop initiating a relationship. I am 53 with 3 grandchildren and approaching this time - but working as a pastor in a church - it is discouraging how few of the encore functionally take responsibility for spiritual mentoring of the generation behind them - instead complain of why they are not being asked. Somewhere along the way - we have lost the ability to mentor and speak into the lives of those that follow us. How I wish that we (50 on up) would be looking for someone to pour our lives into rather then waiting for someone to come to us.
KA
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