Senior Adult Ministry
Currently, a very visible and great Senior Adult Fellowship exists here at FBC; we live it and see it all around us; especially when we meet at the Anchor Fellowship on Mondays – every Monday. We are realists! We admit that our bodies are aging, but we have discovered that our spirits are eternally youthful and we are determined to exercise that rejuvenated spirit. We are blessed to remain among the people that the Lord Jesus declared to be the SALT of the earth. We are “Senior Adults doing Life Together”.
Certainly, this is not to say that we have abandoned our joyful and healthful interaction with, and love for, our younger brothers and sisters in the fellowship of the church, nor does this mean we have retired from the mission of FBC. But, our Anchor Fellowship is pledged to meet the specific needs of those senior adults whose ages range from 60ish to 90ish. Many of us are retired from the “work-for-hire” days, and have time, talents and treasures in surplus with discretionary expenditures of time now possible, and generosity is encouraged by years of joy in the Lord.
From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Mondays we are the Anchor Fellowship. Our fellowship is enriched by activities specifically designed for people of our “maturity”. For example: “Devotion in Motion” is a fitness program that uses stretching exercises to keep our muscles and joints in good working condition. God gave us marvelous, durable bodies, but He assigned the maintenance responsibility to each of us. (Much of the exercises we do are done from the sitting position in a chair). We have two group sessions: first one at 9:00 AM and the second one at 10:00 AM each Monday. Everyone over 60 should be attending this “Devotion in Motion” session. It is an extension course – possibly extending the length of life, and certainly enhancing the quality of life for us Senior Adults.
Another example: From 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Mondays, the renowned Anchor Fellowship choir rehearses. This choir is famous through St. Petersburg/Pinellas County for their concert performances in almost every nursing home and assisted living facility in the area. Under the direction of our worship pastors (who are on the church staff), this choir is GOOD! If you love to sing, you will love senior choir practice on Monday mornings. A great Bible Study follows choir practice at 11:00 Am and then at noon we break for a healthy lunch – planned for seniors.
While these other activities are happening on Mondays, small groups of dedicated crafters are creating lovely and novel things to be given to various charities. The quilting artists sent 60 quilts to the flood victims of Katrina. Other crafts, such a ceramics and scrap booking are popular.
Also, during the year, we have parties for all the major holidays, and we travel about 9 times a year to attractions here in Florida. We try to do at least one cruise and/or an extended motor trip every year. Oh say, can you see? What a Fellowship!
However, Senior Adult Ministries is a great deal more than just fellowship. Senior Adult Ministries is a specialized service/ministry of First Baptist Church, St. Petersburg. The Church’s mission is our mission. Our commission from the Church is to direct our services to the needs of senior adults, and to target this age group with an effective program of evangelism.
Through the year 2006, we made noticeable strides in expanding and improving our programs of service to and by senior adults. To list the most obvious: 1) The “Buddy System” is a communication tool. It is a service that matches our senior adults who live alone, with a “buddy”, and they keep in daily contact. 2) The “SHARE” program (distribution of fresh vegetables, fruits and meats). This ministry was started and has grown under the leadership of Senior Adults. In December ’06, over 40 families enjoyed turkey, ham, fruits, vegetables made possible through this ministry. 3) Nine senior adult small groups assemble each Sunday in Heritage Hall for informational and devotional purposes, and then go to their small gatherings for interactive Bible study. We are in the process of re-applying the Standard of Excellence brought over from our Sunday School years. 4) Our Volunteers In Pastoral Services (VIPS) are active in visitation to hospitals and nursing homes. They are also actively reaching out to greet those who visit our traditional worship service at 9:00 AM on Sundays. They assist visitors by helping them get connected with one of the small groups 5) Our newsletter, The Communicator was distributed in a timely fashion each quarter during 2006, and it seems to get better every quarter. If you are not on the mailing list, call the church requesting to subscribe (it’s free!) and be sure to leave your mailing address.
For the year 2007, our vision is the enlarging of our senior adult program with the goal to develop and execute an effective strategy for convincing many of our members to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, and allow Him to make us “fishers of men”. As I see the vision: Scores of Senior Adults regularly, faithfully inviting their friends, neighbors and other contacts to come join us for our traditional, classical worship on Sundays, and then following up to get our guests into one the small Bible Study groups after worship. In my vision, I see Senior Adults walking down the aisles on Sunday mornings, accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. I ask you, through the eyes of faith, can you see it? What a day of rejoicing that will be!
