“People are living longer and thereby have more opportunities for Kingdom service,” says U.S. Alliance President John Stumbo. Many Alliance seniors actively seek these opportunities, including Dr. Jun Vencer, pastor of The Alliance International Church in Pearland, Texas. We share his article here in recognition of Older American’s Month in May.
There was something different about the morning of February 11. It was early dawn. I was up for my routine of reading and praying when my wife, Ann, cheerfully exclaimed: “Happy Birthday!”
That’s when it hit me—I had turned 70!
“Cool,” my grandchildren would later say. As greetings from friends around the world poured in through social media, they inquired, “So what’s next—retirement?”
Christian author and speaker John Piper also turned 70 recently. In “Hillary, Bernie, Donald, and Me,” he describes how these three seniors, aspiring to the world’s hardest job, the U.S. presidency, have energized his passion for Kingdom work.
Piper also notes other active U.S. citizens, past and present, including:
- Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, serving in that capacity for eight years while in his 70s;
- John Glenn, the oldest man to walk in space at age 77;
- Renowned American folk artist Grandma Moses who began painting in her late 70s; and
- Current members of the U.S. Supreme Court—three of whom are older than 75.
Senior People of Faith
In the Bible there is no retirement. Abraham was 94 when he was called to bless the families of the earth. Moses was 80 when he was enlisted to lead the mighty Exodus.
Among more contemporary saints who have engaged in Kingdom work, I think of pastor and missionary statesman Dr. Oswald J. Smith, who wrote a book a year after turning 70—he was still lecturing at age 89. Billy Graham, in his late 90s, continues to wield tremendous spiritual influence in the world.
I also think of several Alliance senior missionaries. Joe and Kay Kong returned eight years ago to their homeland, Cambodia (when they were in their mid-60s), where they continue to serve as evangelists and church planters. Dr. Dave, and his wife, Becky, an RN, left Bongolo Hospital in Gabon after 30-plus years of service to pursue work in a creative-access country where they also are learning a new language.
Both of these couples chose to continue in these challenging ministries because of their passion—their dream—to reach the lost with the good news.
Ancient of Days, New Beginnings
I believe a person is as young as his or her God-given dreams. I draw inspiration from the apostle Paul. In his later years he was a busy itinerate preacher, who wrote profusely and focused on mentoring younger leaders. These are the ministries I look forward to and ask, “Why not?”
The Ancient of Days is a God of new beginnings. To me, 70 is a new beginning. My desire is that when I reach 90, I will still preach Christ from the pulpit, still enjoy life with my wife, still tell stories to our great grandchildren, and still enjoy golf with friends (should I dream of still breaking 90?).
But my life is in His hands. I pray that He will enable me to finish well in His calling and continue drawing me closer to Him in service—and that when I retire, it will be straight to my retirement home in heaven.
“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright, he is my Rock,’” said the Psalmist (92:14–16). I also stand with the Psalmist who exclaimed: “So 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 who come” (71:18, ESV).
May it be, with all my shortcomings, that by God’s grace it can also be said of me, “The Lord blessed the latter part of [Jun’s] life more than the former part” (Job 42:12). To God be the glory!
Dr. Jun Vencer, along with pastoring in Pearland, Texas, is president of Global Transformation Ministries; he also is an ordained minister and bishop of The Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP). Dr. Vencer is married to Annabella; they have four children and six grandchildren.