During 2005-2008 the UM Committee on Older Adult Ministries had responsibility for administering grant funding through the Comprehensive Plan on Older Adult Ministries. Unlike the funding for 2009-2012, which calls for specific emphases, Intergenerational Ministry in 2010 and Caregiving Ministry in 2011, the funding for grants in the past was for general program ministries by, with, and for older adults.

We thought you might like to know how the grants provided through the 2005-2008 Comprehensive Plan for Older Adult Ministries have made a difference. Here is just a sampling of what we have learned through follow-up with the recipients:

Parish Nurse Ministry
FUMC Apopka
Apopka, FL
"Since October 2007 our Parish Nurse Ministry has exceeded our expectations. First of all, we have learned what an asset a Parish Nurse is to a congregation. Her ministry has provided us with information concerning our physical health and well-being, spiritual counseling, grief counseling and special programs for all members of our congregation. [As a result of the grant funding for training and expenses.] The following is a partial list of what has been offered to our congregation:

• CPR course
• Blood mobile and blood bank donations
• Tutoring program for our children -- staffed by our older adults
• Seminars on
  • signs and symptoms of stroke and heart attacks and possible interventions
  • medications -- why and how to take them
  • living wills
• Monthly blood pressure checks
• Spiritual and grief counseling
• Weekly seniors' exercise program."

Angels on Call/Friendly Visitor Training
FUMC Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa, CA
"Thanks to the grant funding, FUMC successfully coordinated an Angels on Call/Friendly Visitor training program attended by six churches. Senior New Ways Director, Judith Pruess-Mellow conducted the training. Participants learned a wide variety of in-home care skills to help people at home over short and long periods of time; they learned not to be 'fixers,' but to be 'listeners'; how to bolster spirituality and attract younger folks into the friendly visiting ministry. Since the seminar, FUMC Santa Rosa has developed a 'Prayer Line,' an additional phone line to hear from people who need contact with a pastor. In turn, their needs may be referred to Angels on Call/Friendly Visitors who follow up as the pastor suggests with in-home visitation."

Older Adult Ministry for Small-Membership Churches
Sunshine District of the Rocky Mountain Conference
Pueblo, CO
Grant funding helped in the development of a brochure, "Older Adult Ministry for Small-Membership Churches," designed and written by a group of UM clergy and lay persons from small-membership churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference. The brochure focuses on the "Specialness of Small-Membership Churches" and lists possible activities for Older Adult Ministry in small-membership churches.

A copy of the brochure, Older Adult Ministry for Small-Membership Churches, is available upon request by contacting the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries by phone 877-899-2780, ext. 7177 or e-mail: tkline@gbod.org.

Ministry to the Aged
Liberia Annual Conference
Monrovia, Liberia
West Africa
Having experienced civil war from 1980-2003, the needs ofthe aged in Liberia are great. The objective of this ministry has been to provide assistance that will give hope and restoration. Since receiving grant funding in 2007, this ministry has received approval as an Advance Special through the General Board of Global Ministries -- "Feeding of Homebound Elderly and Caregiver Training" Advance #3020646. One hundred percent of each gift goes to the ministry specified with all administrative costs paid by World Service.

These are just glimpses of how grant funding is helping in various ways to further ministry by, with, and for older adults. There are other examples of intentional and creative ministry happening as a result of leaders listening and responding to the needs of older adults, and visioning and planning appropriate programs. We hope by sharing a few examples you will be inspired and encouraged to continue (or begin) in ministry by, with, and for older adults.

Teri Kline is the Project Coordinator for the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries, GBOD.

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