RETIREMENT IN (NOT FROM) MINISTRY
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
Am I retired? I don’t think so.
I’m retirement age. I collect my social security check monthly. But I’m still pastoring. I decided, that is, the Lord decided for me, that I was going to continue with the gospel good.
I am well. I have a congregation. I know my Bible. I’ve got experience in pastoring churches throughout the continent since the early 60s. Therefore, the Lord said to keep on keeping on. I have done just that. In that I find special fulfillment.
I no longer pastor a people within a church building. In this period of my life I pastor believers in our homes. Therefore, I minister to a “house church.” We have often remarked how we have come full circle — from Early Church house church start-ups to our own ongoing worship in our living rooms.
Just last week we gathered in Esther’s home. There we had apple muffins and coffee or tea while welcomed into her gracious abode. Then we centered in worship. My, what a delightful time in the Lord we enjoyed. We are truly blessed in our coming together to Him.
So how does church life proceed with the Lord’s ministry through our humble commitments? It’s this way: We sing hymns and choruses. We pray. We read the Bible. We study the Word. We testify in encouragement to one another. We send moneys to mission work in other countries. We tithe. We give sacrificial offerings in addition to the Lord’s tenth. We fellowship with one another. We celebrate one another’s birthdays. We assist one another when in need. We reach out to others in need.
For instance, our house church has ministered to several incarcerated in a nearby jail. We have visited them, written them letters and cards, and then followed up upon their release with monetary aid and Christian support.
In this house ministry, we have downsized bureaucracy and “churchiness.” That is, we have no church bulletins nor newsletters. We don’t have an office, per se. We don’t have a copy machine. Instead, my computer and printer serve quite well. We have no official stationery.
We have suspended committees and church boards. We have no annual elections. We don’t even have a membership role. We have by-laws and a profession of faith statement that we make available to the authorities in order to be registered with the government.
What we do accent particularly is our informal worship. If a worshiper desires to get all dressed up in the finest of garb, fine. But most of us have decided that the informal, casual wear is sufficient.
We have no particular order of worship though we usually proceed with hymn singing, prayers, testimonies and then Bible study or sermon. We conclude with prayer.
We also observe communion and baptism. When a new person comes to Christ, we usually baptize that individual in the nearby lake. However, in the middle of winter, we baptized recently by sprinkling while inside our own home.
When visitors come to join us, they have always told us that they feel most welcome. I think the cozy atmosphere surely does help.
What has been especially nourishing to me is ministry continuing into retirement age frame.
I feel needed. I still have a commitment to prepare sermons and studies. I am there to visit when parishioners are sick, in the hospital, die or prepare for weddings.
It’s all quite still there! Ministry, that is. It’s just that the casing has changed somewhat.
Am I retired? I don’t think so.
I’m retirement age. I collect my social security check monthly. But I’m still pastoring. I decided, that is, the Lord decided for me, that I was going to continue with the gospel good.
I am well. I have a congregation. I know my Bible. I’ve got experience in pastoring churches throughout the continent since the early 60s. Therefore, the Lord said to keep on keeping on. I have done just that. In that I find special fulfillment.
I no longer pastor a people within a church building. In this period of my life I pastor believers in our homes. Therefore, I minister to a “house church.” We have often remarked how we have come full circle — from Early Church house church start-ups to our own ongoing worship in our living rooms.
Just last week we gathered in Esther’s home. There we had apple muffins and coffee or tea while welcomed into her gracious abode. Then we centered in worship. My, what a delightful time in the Lord we enjoyed. We are truly blessed in our coming together to Him.
So how does church life proceed with the Lord’s ministry through our humble commitments? It’s this way: We sing hymns and choruses. We pray. We read the Bible. We study the Word. We testify in encouragement to one another. We send moneys to mission work in other countries. We tithe. We give sacrificial offerings in addition to the Lord’s tenth. We fellowship with one another. We celebrate one another’s birthdays. We assist one another when in need. We reach out to others in need.
For instance, our house church has ministered to several incarcerated in a nearby jail. We have visited them, written them letters and cards, and then followed up upon their release with monetary aid and Christian support.
In this house ministry, we have downsized bureaucracy and “churchiness.” That is, we have no church bulletins nor newsletters. We don’t have an office, per se. We don’t have a copy machine. Instead, my computer and printer serve quite well. We have no official stationery.
We have suspended committees and church boards. We have no annual elections. We don’t even have a membership role. We have by-laws and a profession of faith statement that we make available to the authorities in order to be registered with the government.
What we do accent particularly is our informal worship. If a worshiper desires to get all dressed up in the finest of garb, fine. But most of us have decided that the informal, casual wear is sufficient.
We have no particular order of worship though we usually proceed with hymn singing, prayers, testimonies and then Bible study or sermon. We conclude with prayer.
We also observe communion and baptism. When a new person comes to Christ, we usually baptize that individual in the nearby lake. However, in the middle of winter, we baptized recently by sprinkling while inside our own home.
When visitors come to join us, they have always told us that they feel most welcome. I think the cozy atmosphere surely does help.
What has been especially nourishing to me is ministry continuing into retirement age frame.
I feel needed. I still have a commitment to prepare sermons and studies. I am there to visit when parishioners are sick, in the hospital, die or prepare for weddings.
It’s all quite still there! Ministry, that is. It’s just that the casing has changed somewhat.
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