Expanding Your Ministry in Retirement

OK, so you are supposed to lay back, relax and do whatever comes to mind when you retire! Nothing wrong with that! However, for many retired ministers it is hard to sit back and no longer engage in some form of ministry and outreach. Actually, retirement is a great time to expand your ministry to include activities or missions that, up until now, you have not been able to involve yourself in. Perhaps this is a good time to 'hit the road' and do some traveling while, at the same time, preaching along the way. Making yourself available to your denomination and other traditions to fill a pulpit, conduct a workshop series, become a hospital Chaplain, or even a missionary is a wonderful way to continue you work in meaningful ways and to do it at your own pace. If you live in a retirement community, ask management if there could be a role for you to play ministering to area residents. It may be useful for you to help in the local church as a Minister of Visitation, music ministry or youth ministry. Well, perhaps you have thought of all of these things already. This list is certainly not exhaustive. You will have ideas of your own. Whatever they may be, there is still much for you to do. Take time for yourself, your family, children and grandchildren, for sure! Whatever you do, don't miss the many opportunities that God will still send your way. You will be blessed!