Roll Up Your Sleeves
The church needs seasoned, dedicated midlifers who have more time to see projects through to completion
“There were times when I began to wonder if we had bitten off more than we could chew,” Leann Elmer confessed. Then she smiled. “But I’m so proud of our incredible kids!”
Leann, one of our church’s volunteers whose children are grown, is discovering more meaning in life by working with children’s drama. Leann and the musical director, Louise Harkaway, had tackled the task of staging a musical when they noticed how eager the children of Living Water Community Church were to perform.
“These kids keep you on your toes,” Leann said, hugging young actor Luke Richardson, who had played a part in the church’s first kids’ musical. “They’re amazing.”
Louise led the musical portions of the rehearsals, while Leann managed the speaking parts and costumes. Both ladies organized the event and coordinated a team of helpers.
Louise’s husband, Tom, also contributes numerous volunteer hours by serving as an administrative pastor at Living Water. Tom sees himself as a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, but without his engineering mind, many of the complex logistical needs of setting up a weekly worship service in a rented high school wouldn’t happen.
Use your gifts
Churches really need people like Tom, Louise and Leann because they’re seasoned, dedicated and have more time to see projects through to completion. They represent what’s great about people who volunteer in the church during midlife. They have lived long enough to know a thing or two about responsibility, and they know how to have fun while helping with life-changing ministries.
When asked how she became involved in drama, Leann answered, “I’ve always loved drama, but I had never thought of myself as a director.” Just then Betty Viterna walked by. Leann grinned and patted Betty on the shoulder. “Now there’s a born leader for you.”
Betty quickly waved off the compliment. Having recently retired from her job as a lunch lady at the high school where the church meets, Betty found she had more time for ministry. Betty dives in with both plastic-gloved hands and leads volunteers when the church hosts an event involving one of our favorite things—food.
Recently, Betty and the team served a lasagna lunch at the church’s Neighbor Day—when we invite people to find out what a visit to Living Water is all about. Her effort helped to make the function a huge success.
Betty’s husband, Mike, a busy lawyer, is in some ways like Leann’s husband, Larry, a busy doctor. Both of these professionals have limited time, but each has great ability and eagerness to volunteer during the hours they have free.
Larry prepares the communion elements once a month and is the first to raise his hand when there’s a men’s ministry project. Mike, on the other hand, has become involved in leadership by accepting a nomination for the personnel ministry team. His professional expertise will contribute to the evaluation of ministry staff.
Just say yes
How did these midlife volunteers get knee-deep in ministry? “Well, it starts with one person asking, ‘Can you help serve in the preschool ministry rotation once each month?’ ” Leann said. “And before you know it, you’re hooked on helping these great kids.”
“I don’t really do that much,” Betty added. Her husband, Mike, made a face at me behind her, revealing that he wasn’t buying her story.
“You’d be surprised,” he said. “She runs circles around me.”
And running circles is quite accurate. During the church’s Biker Sunday, when rain put a damper on plans for an outdoor barbecue, Betty and her team bolted into action. In 15 minutes, they transported a parking lot venue into the school’s lunchroom.
At the conclusion of the Biker Sunday message, one young person committed her life to Jesus Christ. Betty still smiles when she talks about it. “When you see the results, it makes you feel really good that you had a small part in it.”
If you’ve hit midlife and are searching for fulfillment and action, there’s no more satisfying way to invest your newfound hours than to roll up your sleeves, put your hands where your heart is and serve in a local body of believers.