It is our desire at Countryside that our seniors live in obedience to the Lord during these important years of their life. Many seniors feel that they are no longer useful in serving the Lord as they age. Others view their retirement years as the time in their life when they “finally get to do what they want.� We believe that our senior adults have an important role to play in the body of Christ.

In Scripture we read that God has called and used older believers in mighty ways. Moses was 80 years old when he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Joshua and Caleb were likewise serving the Lord in the years that we often refer to as the “retirement years.� (Joshua 1:9; 14:12) In Luke we see that the prophetess widow Anna was serving God with fasting and prayer in the Temple “day and night� (2:37).

We at Countryside believe that we never “retire� from serving the Lord. God gives specific instructions to the older generations of the church (Titus 2:1-5). They are to be the model of Godliness to the younger generations and they are to be the teachers of the young.

We purpose to encourage our seniors to see that they play an important role in the church. They are to be mentors, prayer warriors, encouragers and devoted to living their whole life to the glory of God. Retirement provides many with the freedom to serve the Lord in ways that they had previously been unable. We encourage our retired saints to engage in ministry at a deeper level.

It is our desire that our church family would honor and respect our senior saints as they seek to live a life of righteousness (Proverbs 16:31 √¢‚Ǩ≈ìGray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.√¢‚ǨÔøΩ) Likewise, our prayer is that all or seniors would purpose to live out the prayer of Psalm 71:18 which says, √¢‚Ǩ≈ìSo even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”