Encore mission is a term that describes adults in or near retirement who leverage their time, experiences and passion to fulfill the Great Commission. Some people may choose to go as full time missionaries with the IMB or a sending agency, but many more can serve two weeks or longer as volunteers in places of great need.
Why would someone consider serving on mission during retirement
- Retirement offers an opportunity to give more time than someone had during their working years to serve the Lord on mission.
- Older adults are honored and respected around the world giving us an open door for conversations and service.
- There is joy in serving the Lord and using your gifts and talents for His Kingdom.
- Field missionaries have needs that retirees can meet and often do not require salary or benefits.
- Visa provisions in some places allow seniors to live overseas for a year at a time.
Where can you start?
- If you are near retirement or currently retired, ask the Lord if he wants you to serve.
- Then talk with your pastor about places where your church is already involved on mission.
- Next, begin a conversation with your church’s mission partners and ask about needs and opportunities for senior adults to serve as singles, pairs and groups. You will need the prayer support of your home church, so be sure to involve them in the process of discovery, and sending.
- When a field partner is open to the possibility of senior adult volunteers serving two weeks or longer, a vision trip could give prospective volunteers a chance to visit and explore encore mission on the field before going for a longer time.
Still interested? Read some of the Encore Mission testimonies. They will inspire and challenge all of us to do more with our time and talents where we live and in places God will send us.
Will you give God the Encore of your life for His Mission?
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