Growing in Grace: How to Honor and Serve Elderly Saints

Our lives in the church are deeply intertwined with the generations of believers who have gone before us and whose faithful walks with the Lord and proclamation of his goodness have shaped our own testimonies. The elderly men and women in our congregations are often the most loving and foundational members of our churches, and yet they are also some of the most vulnerable and fragile. Particularly as these brothers and sisters in Christ begin to experience some of the natural effects of aging—including memory loss, declining health, and loneliness—our congregations should look to find ways to love and serve them. Here are some thoughtful ways that we may consider nurturing the elderly members of our congregations considering these challenges that they may face.

In the Face of Memory Loss

Nearly 55 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with dementia, a diagnosis that makes it very difficult to recall and think complexly. While not everyone will experience these changes with age, many of our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ will, which leaves us wondering how we can best encourage them in their spiritual walk despite these changes.

One thing that we can do is continue to hold those experiencing memory changes with high esteem as core members of our congregations. It can be difficult, when personality and functional abilities change, to view someone in the same way that we did before. And yet we should see these members of our churches as Christ does, cherishing them for their identities in Him rather than for what they can physically or mentally accomplish or contribute.

We should continue to disciple those with dementia and encourage their faith, even as it may become harder for them to comprehend texts and scripture. Encourage them to partake in the sacraments or to read the Word, even on days when they may not recall their meaning. Encourage them to join in worship and to attend times of fellowship as they can.

It is astounding, even as memories fade, what the heart recalls when clothed in years of faithful living. We as congregations can certainly encourage continued spiritual growth and help the faith of our elderly believers flourish even in the face of memory loss.

In the Face of Declining Health

Declining health is a natural part of aging in a sin-cursed world. The loss of function of our bodies is something that we should mourn, as we wait with hope for the day when we are raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:35-38, ESV). But until that time, our congregations should seek to love those in our congregations who are experiencing the brokenness of living in aging bodies.

Nurturing those with declining health can have many shapes. It can mean visiting those who are sick and homebound (Matthew 25:36, ESV). It can be an offer of a homecooked meal or help grocery shopping. This can mean a simple Saturday afternoon doing some much needed yard work or cleaning someone’s home when their body is too worn to do so themselves.

Yet nurturing in this way can also mean giving space for rest while still expressing love through a card in the mail, or a soft reminder on Sunday morning that you appreciate their presence there and the physical pain and struggle that they went through to simply be there.

One of Christ’s greatest ministries in the Gospels was going to be with and heal the sick and elderly (Matthew 4:23-24, ESV). We too should seek to nurture and love those members of our congregation and beyond, as a means of pointing towards Christ and bringing about the New Creation.

In the Face of Loneliness

As a part of my career, I spend a great amount of time sitting down with elderly patients to discuss their health. One of the most common concerns I hear from them, often of even more importance than their own health, is the great impact that loneliness has on them. It is common for the elderly of our congregation to have experienced the death of a beloved spouse, broken relationships with children, and the passing of many—if not most—of their close friends. For these individuals, it is very easy, even amid a loving congregation and with the sure knowledge that the Lord is with us (Isaiah 41:10, ESV), to feel alone.

In many congregations it is common for individuals to prioritize time with those who are in a similar season of life as them. It is natural for young adults to group together or for families with young children to spend time with one another. There is a God-glorifying beauty in these types of relationships. And yet it is important for us to seek the company of those outside our natural cliques—particularly the elderly in our congregations who may feel alone.

We should make it a natural practice within our congregations to create spaces for the elderly in our congregation at our tables and in our homes. We should encourage our children to do likewise. The natural rhythms of our lives as a church should pull in our fellow believers as the family in Christ that they are.

While loneliness, declining health, and memory changes are all challenges we may face, it is particularly important that we look out for the elderly members of our congregations and seek to nurture them in their faithful walk with the Lord despite these stumbling blocks they may encounter along the way. In this way, we will continue to carry on the long testimony of love set in place by generations of believers throughout the history of the church and for the generations to come.