Church & Christian Business Guide®

Feature Article 6

Mobilizing the Church's Greatest Assets
by John L. Witwer, Publisher & Management Consultant

Five months ago I was invited to speak to the Golden Fellowship at our church. For the next month I engaged in intensive prayer and Bible study about this assignment. I take speaking requests very seriously. One Sunday, as my wife and I waited for the morning service to begin, the Holy Spirit gave me this title, "Mobilizing the Church's Greatest Assets."

After receiving that inspiration, I accelerated my Bible study and preparations. First, I wanted to know what God meant by "the Church's Greatest Assets." Having been the CEO of several corporations, spanning thirty years, and on numerous boards of directors, I know that people are the greatest assets in any organization. They're far more valuable than computers, buildings, or other tangible assets. I also wanted to know "What kind of people?" I began to study the concept of greatness in the Bible, then the subject of the elderly and their contributions to the church. After all, I was asked to speak to our large and wise seniors group, which I considered an awesome assignment. I'm only a junior senior myself, at 63.

As recent new census data became available, numerous articles appeared in the major daily newspapers. The emerging issues and trends are almost frightening for Christian leaders. The Colorado seniors' population, age 65 and up, has grown by 83% in the past two decades and is expected to grow another 98% in the next two decades. The 85+ age group is the fastest growing segment of the population. Furthermore, these segments of our population are growing faster than the health care system. If there is any truth to the concerns about Social Security and Medicare systems, in the future we could face serious issues with seniors, which represent a substantial portion of many church congregations. At the very least, every seniors group should be growing substantially, if only by keeping up with population trends. It is very clear that we must begin to do some serious planning for future seniors ministries.

For several months I studied the lives of great Christian seniors, from Genesis through Revelation. I catalogued every Scripture, outlined the relevant study topics, and studied the Chronological Bible extensively, determining ages of the saints at every significant event. As I went along I became very inspired to discover incredible role models among those vital seniors. I am convinced that righteous seniors are the church's greatest assets, and they are potentially very valuable in all of the church's ministry programs.

In America today we have an urgent need for better role models. The very best ever are found in the Bible. Some of. them have been there for thousands of years. In their sixties, David and Joshua went to war and Nehemiah wrote his memoirs. At seventy, King David received detailed plans for the temple and charged his son, Solomon to be successful, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In his eighties, Moses took great counsel from his father-in-law, assembled a successful leadership team, and prepared to lead Israel to its promised land. In his nineties, while in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, the aged Apostle John had a visitation from Jesus Christ and wrote the instructions that impacted the seven churches of Asia.

The Bible's Centenarians are positively awesome. At 100+ years, Abraham started his promised family. The prophetess Anna held the baby Jesus in her arms and identified Him as the Redeemer of Israel. At 110, Joshua assembled the nation that he was leading and instructed them pertaining to their heritage and the covenant. At 120, Moses, "while his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor abated," wrote the Book of Deuteronomy in about 30 days and instructed Israel how to be successful as it entered into the Promised Land. At 130, Jacob led his family to the land of Goshen and God made of him a great nation. In his 140's, Jacob ministered to his sons and grandsons -under the unction of the Holy Spirit. As I read the testimonies of these great senior saints, I was really inspired, awed, and challenged!

At the same time, I became increasingly concerned. Because of my profession, which allows me the privilege of interviewing hundreds of pastors annually and listening to their concerns, I am aware that there are serious concerns in today's typical Church, pertaining to senior's ministries. Some churches have become a valley of dry bones, they've lost the fire, and they will cease to exist in 5 to 10 years if they do not succeed in bringing in the new generations. Many potentially vital seniors have few if any opportunities to serve in capacities such as those that are suggested in the Bible. Many anointed, righteous seniors are little more than spectators, although they possess a valuable set of skills and attributes, as articulated in the Holy Scriptures.

When I got into the teachings and earthly ministry of Jesus Christ in the four gospels, my excitement continued to climb even more. The angel told Mary that her son, to be named Jesus, would be great. He was called the Great God and Savior, Great Prophet, Great High Priest, Great Shepherd, and the center of God's Great Plan of Salvation. Jesus said of John the Baptist, "among those born of women there is no greater than John. "Then Jesus made an astounding statement  regarding His followers, while comparing them with John the Baptist, "yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28 NIV)

Sometimes the disciples jostled for the best. position and argued about who was the greatest. They missed the real point about true greatness. King David told the Lord, "Your gentleness has made me great." (Psalm 18:35 NKJV)

When Nehemiah was confronted with opposition, he stuck to his task and was not distracted because he said God had called him to a "great work." The teachings of Jesus clearly show how the disciples of Christ achieved greatness: by learning to be the servants of all, learning humility, observing and teaching the Law and the commandments, and following Him. According to the Bible, those who are followers of Jesus Christ, especially those who have grown in wisdom and understanding (which come with age) and who continue in the ministries of Jesus Christ, are indeed the church's greatest assets.

The contributions of the righteous elderly are many and very important to the church. Many of them can do excellent counseling, such as is seen in the example of King David with his son Solomon. They can perform spiritual services in the temple, like Simeon and Anna. Many seniors have the time, wisdom, skills, and experience to be very fruitful in the works of the church. Leadership skills, like those demonstrated by the aged Joshua, are sorely needed in the church today! Gray haired executives and many seniors are being employed with great effectiveness in the corporate world today: Why are they not being sought out in the church as well? Seniors are needed urgently to model righteousness, proclaim our heritage and mentor the younger generations, as instructed by the aged apostle Paul in Titus 2:1-8. Seniors are also in a good position to provide essential resources to build and maintain the temple.

In reading the testimonies and case histories of the righteous seniors in the Bible, the person and ministries of the Holy Spirit is ever so prominent. The gift of faith enabled many to achieve greatness and to do the seemingly impossible, like giving birth to a son well past the age of child bearing. Jacob prophesied to his sons and grandsons. The apostle John had a visitation from Jesus, while in the Spirit. Zacharias prophesied to his son John the Baptist, regarding his ministry. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is mentioned seven times in Paul's teaching in Titus 2:1-8: Paul taught the Thessalonians to "quench not the Spirit and despise not prophesyings." (1 Thess 5:19-20 KJV) It seems to me the time has come. Let the anointed, righteous seniors testify, prophesy, and move in the power of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the book of Acts. My heart cries out to church leaders - look in the pews, you'll find some great resources.

As you read this article today, I'd like to ask: Where are you in your walk with God? Are you weary? Burned out? Dried up? Unsure of how you will cope with a burgeoning seniors group in the years ahead? Are you concerned about your children and grandchildren, and the direction they are headed in life and career? Do you need God's power to better provide them with wisdom, direction, and to minister to their urgent needs? Do you feel that you are powerless in your ministry? Do you just need refreshment and your faith built up? Or do you want to hear from God regarding the direction of your ministry? If you responded "yes" to any of these questions, I encourage you to make plans to attend the 50+ Awakening and Seniors Ministries. Conference described on page 11. Invest two days in the rest of your life and ministry!

King David at 63 years of age said, "1 have been anointed with fresh oil." When I saw that scripture I shouted, "David expressed my sentiments exactly." God has graciously allowed me to experience a fresh anointing at the same age as David. You can too, but you must expect and pursue it with God! David, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit said, "the righteous shall flourish like a palm tree ... they shall still bear fruit in old age." (Psalm 92) You can too! Choose to walk with Jesus and the great righteous seniors today!

Moses had to face reality, as his father-in-law spoke with him. He had to make some big changes in his organizational structure, or he would have burned out and had chaos in his organization. Some churches today face the .same situation and challenge, as the population explodes around them. If we do some good advance planning now, we can turn this challenge into a great opportunity. That will result in motivated, fulfilled, and fruitful seniors ... the Church's greatest assets!