PAYING FOR OLDER ADULT MINISTRIES

I want to emphasize the volunteer (as in non-paid) aspects of the WOW program at Immanuel Lutheran Church. 

It is not unusual for a church that is considering starting or enhancing their older adult ministry to exclaim that they would like to start such a ministry but their staff is already way too busy and there is simply not enough money to fund an expansion of services for older adults. 

In a blog a week or so ago I placed this paragraph to emphasize the benefit to the volunteers of making things work well.

“Importantly, all of the dozen or so volunteers in WOW that make everything work are from Immanuel.  These volunteers include the eight or so who work in the kitchen, the three program coordinators, the several who help set the table and greet people who attend, the nurse, and the exercise director.  Since these volunteers may well be getting even more out of this weekly event than the participants, this is an important understanding about the role of outreach (to others) when a church develops programming to enhance the life of older-adults.”

Achieving a well coordinated weekly program and arranging for publicity, planning and preparing meals, and providing support for the nurse and exercise leader all take time and effort; but never underestimate the ability of older adult volunteers to make it work.  The lack of funds from the church treasury and the lack of paid staff need not be limiting factors.

What is needed, of course, is congregational leadership that believes in the ability of older adults to make things work and provides them with encouraging support as the occasions dictate.  Nothing really will happen without a basic sense of belief and trust in the older adult community by the Pastors. 

Of course, programs like WOW need to be coordinated with the staff of a church in a number of ways.  The publications of church bulletins and schedules need to include the WOW programs for the week.  The money that is paid by the participants for lunch ($2.00) needs to be funneled through the church accounting system in some way and money for buying food supplies and costs for programs comes from that “lunch money account”.  Also the technical requirements for some of the presentations may need assistance from a person on the staff who knows their way around a computer/projector set-up for instance.  

        --> Incidentally, the coordinators of the WOW finances would be happy to share in more detail the evolution of their self-supported older adult ministry.  For example, in WOW’s developmental history are amazing ways that the church as a whole has benefited --  e.g. from new equipment from time to time. 

In an ironic but positive way, there is another cost-benefit.  On Wednesdays when the older adults flood through the church, they stop and talk to the staff, from the secretaries to the Pastors.  They are each other’s friends --  everybody gains. 

What a deal!    

Bruce