In a meeting this morning at work, I was pleasantly surprised to learn of an idea that that is sure to be a hit. Next spring, during a denominational retreat for retired ministers, a workshop session will be dedicated to teaching seniors how to play Xbox. Apparently, in a pre-event survey asking these retired ministers what kind of topics they would like to have addressed in the upcoming retreat, several of them mentioned that they wanted to learn how to play video games with their grandkids!
How are you enfranchising the seniors in your community? Are they a thriving part of your ministry outreach and events? I realize this is not practical or necessary for some churches (just like other specific demographics within a church may not be well represented), but if there is an opportunity, why not make something happen? With the baby boomer generation on the brink of full bloom, the time is ripe.
At least the car granny will be driving as she totes her guns will only be a “virtual” problem.
s. zeilenga
February 3, 2006
I would love an afternoon spent playing video games with my pastor.
Ryan
February 3, 2006
It’s good to hear about someone willing to step out of the Christian box and teach a class on something not from the Bible. I know, I’m a heretic.
brandon
February 4, 2006
that’s awesome!
dan
February 5, 2006
This is very cool and a way of helping seniors connect with youngsters.
Seniors are a vast untapped resource, it seems to me, and almost totally ignored by the emergent community.
On a one-week mission trip to Louisiana to help out Katrina victims, I was surprised that the majority of the volunteer staff, who served us short-termers in various capacities, were senior citizens. Many of them were veterans of other groups and projects such as Hard Hats for Christ.
Many seniors have more free time than the rest of us, but I think we unintentionally feed into the “I’ve-done-my-bit-already” mentality by not calling on them.
I’m reminded that Moses was called by God when he was 80. Caleb was well along in years when he took the giants’ mountain strongholds. You’ll also notice that it’s implied Caleb made the most of his time during those 40 years in the desert by investing in the lives of the young people.
It’s a cliche, I believe, that there is no retirement plan with God, but I don’t think we usually live that way.