POAMN attendees learn about SENIORS ministry

BOULDER, Colorado — On Wednesday, the Rev. Dr. Jae Hong Kim of Suwanee, Georgia, laid out what he called “a comprehensive model for older adult ministry” for the 100 or so people attending “Bridging Generations,” the annual conference of the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network.

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“Call me Jae,” he said, teaching those in attendance to say “nice to meet you” in Korean. As a prayer, he led attendees in singing “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” a hymn that’s popular with many Korean congregations, he said.

Kim presented the SENIORS ministry he developed, for spirituality, enrichment, nutrition, intergeneration, outreach, recreation and service. A comprehensive model establishes a clear direction and vision to make senior ministry meaningful and effective, he said. A structured approach ensures senior ministry is dynamic, systematic and impactful.

A turning point for Kim occurred in 2009 while serving the Korean Community Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, when he joined 10 older adults on a mission trip to Nicaragua. “I was astonished with the energy and responsibility of the older adults,” he said. “Many of us have stereotypes of older adults. I learned they are a great resource for the church.”

Kim returned to Atlanta and began studying gerontology, economics and technology. He was impressed by Richard H. Gentzler Jr.’s book, “Aging and Ministry in the 21^st Century.”

“It’s practical and procedural,” he said of Gentzler’s approach. “I tried to implement his ministry model in my church.”

Gentler laid the framework for Kim’s SENIORS model, writing, “intentional ministry by, with and for older adults should include specific ministry in each of these areas: spirituality, enrichment, nutrition, intergeneration, outreach, recreation, service.”

• For spirituality, Kim started a 12-week program that included stretching, Bible study and prayers. Seniors also visited city hall and prayed for the city. “We connected to our government and to our community,” Kim said. They also held Thursday senior chapel and implemented a retreat program, which Kim called “a good program but demanding to organize.”
• Enrichment “involves learning opportunities and classroom seminars on topics of interest to older adults such as finances, advance directives, legal issues, computers and the internet, life review and book clubs,” he said. “People need information but they also need spiritual experiences.” They launched a Happy Senior College, a modern dance team, a men’s choir and a Korean drum class.
• Nutrition and wellness “involve congregational health ministries, parish nurse ministry, low-impact aerobics and other forms of exercise, cooking classes and nutritious meals,” Kim said, adding that many older adults “are knowledgeable about nutrition.”
• Intergeneration “is a difficult area to develop. There are gaps in terms of culture and experiences,” Kim said. This approach “creates intentional ministry in multi-generational settings such as retreats, Vacation Bible School, Bible studies, Sunday school classes, puppet and clown ministry, tutoring children and mentoring adults.” The church established a Nehemiah Fund for the Next Generation, which “offered projects to nurture the next generation.” When Kim visits churches, he often asks if they have a fund for the next generation. “Many do,” he said.
• Outreach ministry “involves intentional evangelistic efforts in reaching older adults in the community as well as inviting older adults to be involved in outreach to others of all ages.” Ministry by and for elders now includes a YouTube ministry team. “They advise other seniors how to share in the ministry,” Kim said.
• Recreation ministry “involves play and leisure activities and might include board games, fellowship meals, travel events and field trips, scavenger hunts, and fishing and golfing outings.
• Service ministry “invites older adults to be involved in various skill levels, including long-term and short-term mission projects, transportation, visitation, respite care, home chore services and minor home repairs.” Kim said servant leadership “is always emphasized.”  One example: a toolbox team fixes chairs and desks in people’s homes.

Among the benefits of SENIORS is “it’s like opening seven windows in a house,” Kim said, “offering a full view of the possibilities for serving seniors.” Challenges include developing the educational materials and training ministers for older adult ministry.

“Getting older is easy. You don’t have to do anything to get older,” Kim said with a smile. “But if you want to get older with wisdom and faith, you have to study and you have to be serious about aging well.”

“I teach people in their 30s and 40s and 50s that time flies and you need to be smarter than our generation,” Kim said.

Around their tables, participants discussed which of these ministries they might focus on developing in their church. They were also asked to discuss programs in their churches for increasing the engagement of relatively younger seniors.