In recognition of Older American’s Month in May, we share the following adapted excerpt from an article by Milton Pierce published in the January 2016 “Caleb and Co.,” a newsletter for retired Alliance international workers.
Retirement means different things to different people. For missionaries who have had a fulfilling lifetime of being Christ’s ambassadors in a culture and language other than their own, it can be a daunting prospect. My wife, Nancy, and I put off retirement for as long as we could.
We had 40 wonderful ministry years (a good biblical number!) in Burkina Faso. When the time to leave approached in 1998, we had mixed emotions. The thought of being nearer to children and grandchildren in America was appealing, but leaving the life and the people we loved was not.
Much to our surprise, and pleasure, two more tours of duty in Africa still awaited us. It wasn’t until 2005 that we made Toccoa, Georgia, our home and discovered what God had brought us there to do.
We found needs in our local church and served on committees of all kinds. We also were challenged to become mentors in the public schools.
Our work in the schools brought us some meaningful, long lasting relationships with children that continued into their adulthood. Substitute teaching positions followed, and we got more deeply involved in our community.
We found lots of life after retirement as we engaged with hurting people in our increasingly desperate world. Yes, unless you believe God rescinds His call when we get older, there is work to do till Jesus comes or calls us home.
The Lord welcomed Milt’s wife, Nancy, home in October 2015.
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Esther Schaeffer, who serves with The Alliance in Burkina Faso, produced the video “Finishing the Race with the Pierces” (3:39) of villagers saying their final farewells to the couple in 2012.