{"id":3592,"date":"2018-01-26T18:41:07","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T18:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=3592"},"modified":"2018-01-26T18:47:03","modified_gmt":"2018-01-26T18:47:03","slug":"pass-the-salt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/01\/26\/pass-the-salt\/","title":{"rendered":"Pass the Salt"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPlease Pass the Salt\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Rachel King, Discipleship Director for the Sonshine Network Ministries<\/strong><\/p>\n

This familiar phrase is heard at tables everywhere. As families gather at the dinner table, in the kitchen of an avid cook, or even at a fast food restaurant, salt is the staple for adding flavor to every type of food. Adding flavor, however, has not always been the primary function for the use of salt. Until refrigeration was invented and common in every home, salt was used as a preservative. It was used to cure fish and meats, and pickling or brining were used to preserve many vegetables. So, what does that have to do with Senior Adult Ministry?<\/p>\n

Senior Adults have a mandate from God. Throughout the Old Testament, God instructed that they were responsible for seeing that His Word, His stories, and their experiences were to be preserved and passed on to the next generation. That was a huge responsibility and still is for our senior adults!<\/p>\n

So often, after raising children and retiring from work, seniors may feel that life has passed them by. Rapidly changing technology and the busy lifestyles of their children leave them wondering about their purpose, and where they will find a place to be relevant in the future. In God\u2019s Kingdom, everyone is invited to the \u201ctable\u201d, and He has a plan and purpose for everyone, including seniors. So, how do we encourage seniors to find their purpose and pass their knowledge and experiences to the next generation? The balance of keeping the seniors engaged and involved, while also encouraging them to relinquish some of their roles so that emerging young leaders can step up, may be our biggest dilemma.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, \u201cseniors\u201d is a very broad term. It includes the frail and elderly, those who are experiencing health problems and loss of independence, and even the \u201cNew Old\u201d who are familiar with technology, possibly working, taking care of parents or grandchildren, and still experiencing a very busy lifestyle. Engaging them all can be difficult. But here are a few tips.<\/p>\n

Emphasize service. The one thing most seniors have is time. They can prepare crafts for children\u2019s services or make meals for bereavement. They can teach or assist in Children\u2019s Ministry or Sunday School classes. They can hold and rock babies, greet visitors, or mentor in local schools or libraries. Find places in the church where they can work alongside those who are younger. Be intentional in partnering seniors with youth and children to create intergenerational environments. Encourage seniors to share their personal testimony and experiences which can often capture the interest of children and teens. <\/em><\/p>\n

It is important that the local church meets the needs of seniors as well. Not all seniors have accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Make sure you meet their spiritual needs, as well as their mental and physical ones. Here are a few ideas that will minister to seniors, and reach seniors in your local community.<\/p>\n

Create ministries that can help them, such as walking groups, visitation teams, or health fairs. <\/em><\/p>\n

Create opportunities for them to learn something new. Have a computer or cell phone class so they can become more familiar with technology. It is important that they can stay in contact with family members. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Host events where they can be creative; cooking, crafting, or painting classes are some possibilities.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Plan times where they can create friendships; lunches, picnics, and holiday parties, or fun trips will do the trick!<\/em><\/p>\n

Several years ago, my father was serving as a board member of a large credit union. He had worked in finance all his adult life. Since his retirement, this is where he found purpose and pleasure. However, he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s Disease for some time, and could no longer drive. He didn\u2019t know who was president or even the current year. He sat through meetings and said very little, but our family knew that he was no longer able to continue holding that office. He insisted that he was fine, and did not realize the extent of his dementia. This was his last connection with longtime friendships and his sense of purpose. He refused to resign.<\/p>\n

Finally, our family knew it was time to intervene. We gathered together, and my sister, working in India, joined us via skype. We kindly spoke to him about resigning, but he insisted on remaining\u2026. until my sister explained that she had to work abroad because an executive in the U.S. would not retire. The executive\u2019s retirement would open the door for others in the corporation to move into positions they have been working toward, but unable to fill until he stepped down. My sister explained that there were younger people that would like to take my father\u2019s position on the Credit Union board but they would not have an opportunity until my father stepped away. That clicked and he agreed to resign! It took the focus off his inability<\/strong> and changed to an opportunity <\/strong>for someone younger.<\/p>\n

That approach is important in the health of the church. We need<\/em> senior adults. Many of them have preserved the knowledge, experiences, and faithfulness of God, and we must make opportunities for them to pass it to the next generation. When passing the salt at the table, there is a time when both people are holding the salt shaker. Make a place where seniors can work alongside and mentor someone younger. However, let them know the timeline for when they must \u201clet go\u201d for the passing to be successful. Hopefully, the next time someone asks you to \u201cPlease pass the salt\u201d, you will do it with a greater appreciation for the senior adults in your life!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":3590,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[757,4],"tags":[704,759,709],"class_list":{"0":"post-3592","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-allgenerations","8":"category-discipleship-ministries","9":"tag-all-generations","10":"tag-rachel-king","11":"tag-senior-adults","12":"entry"},"title_es":"Pasa la sal","content_es":"\"Por favor, pase la sal\"<\/strong> Por Rachel King, Directora de Discipulado de Ministerios de la Red Sonshine<\/strong> Esta frase familiar se escucha en las mesas de todas partes. Cuando las familias se re\u00fanen en la mesa de la cena, en la cocina de un cocinero \u00e1vido o incluso en un restaurante de comida r\u00e1pida, la sal es el alimento b\u00e1sico para agregar sabor a todo tipo de comida. Agregar sabor, sin embargo, no siempre ha sido la funci\u00f3n principal para el uso de la sal. Hasta que se invent\u00f3 la refrigeraci\u00f3n y era com\u00fan en todos los hogares, la sal se usaba como conservante. Se usaba para curar pescados y carnes, y se usaba encurtido o salmuera para conservar muchas verduras. Entonces, \u00bfqu\u00e9 tiene eso que ver con el Ministerio de adultos mayores? Los adultos mayores tienen un mandato de Dios. A lo largo del Antiguo Testamento, Dios instruy\u00f3 que ellos eran responsables de ver que Su Palabra, Sus historias y sus experiencias deb\u00edan ser preservadas y transmitidas a la siguiente generaci\u00f3n. \u00a1Esa fue una gran responsabilidad y todav\u00eda lo es para nuestros adultos mayores! Muy a menudo, despu\u00e9s de criar a sus hijos y retirarse del trabajo, las personas mayores pueden sentir que la vida les ha pasado. La tecnolog\u00eda que cambia r\u00e1pidamente y los estilos de vida ocupados de sus hijos los dejan pregunt\u00e1ndose sobre su prop\u00f3sito, y d\u00f3nde encontrar\u00e1n un lugar para ser relevante en el futuro. En el Reino de Dios, todos est\u00e1n invitados a la \"mesa\", y \u00c9l tiene un plan y un prop\u00f3sito para todos, incluidos los ancianos. Entonces, \u00bfc\u00f3mo alentamos a las personas mayores a encontrar su prop\u00f3sito y transmitir sus conocimientos y experiencias a la pr\u00f3xima generaci\u00f3n? El balance de mantener a las personas mayores comprometidas e involucradas, al tiempo que las alentamos a renunciar a algunos de sus roles para que los j\u00f3venes l\u00edderes emergentes puedan avanzar, puede ser nuestro mayor dilema. Tenga en cuenta que \"seniors\" es un t\u00e9rmino muy amplio. Incluye a los d\u00e9biles y ancianos, aquellos que est\u00e1n experimentando problemas de salud y p\u00e9rdida de independencia, e incluso al \"Nuevo Viejo\" que est\u00e1 familiarizado con la tecnolog\u00eda, posiblemente trabajando, cuidando a sus padres o nietos, y todav\u00eda experimentando un estilo de vida muy ocupado. Involucrarlos a todos puede ser dif\u00edcil. Pero aqu\u00ed hay algunos consejos. Enfatizar el servicio. La \u00fanica cosa que la mayor\u00eda de las personas mayores tiene es el tiempo. Pueden preparar artesan\u00edas para servicios infantiles o preparar comidas para el duelo. Pueden ense\u00f1ar o ayudar en el Ministerio de Ni\u00f1os o clases de la Escuela Dominical. Pueden sostener y balancear beb\u00e9s, saludar a los visitantes o ser mentores en las escuelas o bibliotecas locales. Encuentre lugares en la iglesia donde puedan trabajar junto a aquellos que son m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes. Sea intencional al asociar a personas mayores con j\u00f3venes y ni\u00f1os para crear entornos intergeneracionales. Anime a las personas mayores a compartir sus testimonios personales y experiencias que a menudo pueden captar el inter\u00e9s de ni\u00f1os y adolescentes.<\/em> Es importante que la iglesia local satisfaga las necesidades de las personas mayores tambi\u00e9n. No todos los ancianos han aceptado a Cristo como su Salvador personal. Aseg\u00farate de satisfacer sus necesidades espirituales, as\u00ed como sus necesidades mentales y f\u00edsicas. Aqu\u00ed hay algunas ideas que ministrar\u00e1n a las personas mayores y llegar\u00e1n a las personas mayores en su comunidad local. Crear ministerios que puedan ayudarlos, como grupos de caminatas, equipos de visitas o ferias de salud.<\/em> Crea oportunidades para que aprendan algo nuevo. Tenga una clase de computadora o tel\u00e9fono celular para que puedan familiarizarse m\u00e1s con la tecnolog\u00eda. Es importante que puedan mantenerse en contacto con los miembros de la familia.<\/em> Organiza eventos donde pueden ser creativos; clases de cocina, artesan\u00eda o pintura son algunas de las posibilidades.<\/em> Planee tiempos donde puedan crear amistades; almuerzos, picnics y fiestas, o viajes divertidos har\u00e1n el truco!<\/em> Hace varios a\u00f1os, mi padre estaba sirviendo como miembro de la junta de una gran cooperativa de cr\u00e9dito. Hab\u00eda trabajado en finanzas toda su vida adulta. Desde su retiro, aqu\u00ed es donde encontr\u00f3 el prop\u00f3sito y el placer. Sin embargo, hab\u00eda sido diagnosticado con la enfermedad de Alzheimer por un tiempo y ya no pod\u00eda conducir. No sab\u00eda qui\u00e9n era el presidente ni siquiera el a\u00f1o en curso. Se sent\u00f3 en las reuniones y dijo muy poco, pero nuestra familia sab\u00eda que ya no pod\u00eda seguir ocup\u00e1ndose de esa oficina. Insisti\u00f3 en que estaba bien, y no se dio cuenta de la magnitud de su demencia. Esta fue su \u00faltima conexi\u00f3n con amistades de larga data y su sentido de prop\u00f3sito. \u00c9l se neg\u00f3 a renunciar. Finalmente, nuestra familia sab\u00eda que era hora de intervenir. Nos reunimos, y mi hermana, que trabaja en India, se uni\u00f3 a nosotros a trav\u00e9s de Skype. Amablemente le hablamos de renunciar, pero \u00e9l insisti\u00f3 en quedarse ... hasta que mi hermana me explic\u00f3 que ten\u00eda que trabajar en el extranjero porque un ejecutivo de los EE. UU. no se retirar\u00eda. La jubilaci\u00f3n del ejecutivo abrir\u00eda la puerta para que otros en la corporaci\u00f3n se movieran hacia posiciones para las que hab\u00edan estado trabajando, pero no pudieron llenar hasta que \u00e9l renunci\u00f3. Mi hermana me explic\u00f3 que hab\u00eda personas m\u00e1s j\u00f3venes a las que les gustar\u00eda tomar el puesto de mi padre en la junta de Credit Union, pero que no tendr\u00edan oportunidad hasta que mi padre se retirara. \u00a1Eso hizo clic y acept\u00f3 renunciar! Le quit\u00f3 el foco a su incapacidad<\/strong> y cambi\u00f3 a una oportunidad<\/strong> para alguien m\u00e1s joven. Ese enfoque es importante en la salud de la iglesia. Necesitamos<\/em> adultos mayores. Muchos de ellos han preservado el conocimiento, las experiencias y la fidelidad de Dios, y debemos brindarles oportunidades para que pasen a la siguiente generaci\u00f3n. Cuando se pasa la sal a la mesa, hay un momento en que ambas personas sostienen el salero. Haga un lugar donde las personas mayores puedan trabajar al lado y ser mentores de alguien m\u00e1s joven. Sin embargo, h\u00e1gales saber la fecha l\u00edmite para cuando deben \"dejar ir\" para que el pase sea exitoso. Con suerte, la pr\u00f3xima vez que alguien le pida que \"Por favor, pase la sal\", lo har\u00e1 con un mayor aprecio por los adultos mayores en su vida.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/01\/Pass-the-Salt.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-VW","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3592\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}