The Later Years for Missionaries: Six suggestions to Make the Transition
Dan Schmidt; EMQ January 2007; p58
In this brief article Dan speaks to individual missionary supporters, mission agencies, and missionary-sending churches. Most of his admonitions can be put into practice by any of us who have a heart for missionaries.
To honor those who have dedicated a lifetime on the mission field, and to tap their wealth of wisdom and experience, Dan Schmidt offers six ideas:
1. Talk about ‘transition’ more than ‘retirement.’ Transitions imply a shift in activity, but not necessarily a diminishing in value.
2. Plan early for the later years. There must be a healthy balance between faith and planning.
3. Recognize and esteem missionary elders. [F]ormer missionaries could be routinely solicited for their opinions and viewpoints concern mission-related topics. Missionary elders could serve as mentors; they could form the nucleus of important prayer bands. Perhaps one of the best things we can do for aging missionaries is to throw them a party.
4. Capture memory. Remembering is the joy of the elderly.
5. Develop effective policies. (i.e. saving toward transition, planning ahead, etc.)
6. Stay involved. Might churches…commit to career missionaries for life?
Dan concludes by stating: “Following the lead of scripture which evinces respect for the elderly…individuals who support missionaries directly can encourage thinking and practice that makes the later years of missionaries significant, manageable and even worth anticipating.” His article is a good stimulus for such.
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