Two summers ago I attended the OPC General Assembly at Calvin College. One agenda item was the church-planting work of their home missions committee - there had been some 28 new works in the preceding year. Church-plant pastors attending the assembly were invited to stand and be identified. I was startled by the number of men in their late middle age or even past retirement age.
A week ago we had the pleasure of the company of a delightful couple from Lancaster County, PA. We treated them to some home-cooked stir-fry and other delights (it's subjective, I know) and then sat down to chat, mainly about them. He is almost 60, a former Lutheran pastor now estranged from that denomination after embracing Reformed Theology and standing up for the sanctity of life. He and his wife, a Maths teacher, are in fellowship with the PCA.
It was just humbling to hear about their spiritual journey, how he was 'fired' for making his pro-life stand, and how they intend to use their remaining years to work as missionaries in the UK. How personally challenging and encouraging to meet up with Christians from one's own age-group who continue to bear fruit into old age (sorry about that Tom)! Who said that missions work is only for the young?
