No matter your age or stage in life, the Lord always desires our involvement in the things He is doing around us. How each of us serves might look different, but in Christ, there is always a reason to say YES!

Ron and Sally Roberts share heartfelt stories about their commitment to the local church and God’s continuous thread of faithfulness throughout their 62-year marriage. With 24 years of active duty in the Air Force, a successful civilian career, and over 20 relocations, they have also participated in 30 mission trips and pastored in several churches. Ron has also served as the National Men’s Director for the Assemblies of God. Despite these many transitions, God has consistently opened doors for them to serve and minister. Even now, in their early 80s, Ron and Sally serve as interim pastors in Spain. Throughout all the moves, finding and committing to the local church has always been their first priority and a key part of God’s continuous thread of faithfulness.

Founders Wes and Judy tell the story of YES! Young Enough to Serve, how we (Dan & Shani) got involved, and the process of ‘passing on the baton but continuing the race.'

Listen to what God can do through a couple passionate about serving Him AFTER stepping aside from ‘full-time ministry’ positions!

19 years ago Rick & Traci Harvey served a couple Cornish hens from a humble trailer and gave away their first bag of donated clothing, Since then God has multiplied the scope and impact of Soul Food Café Mission in Conway, Arkansas ... through an amazing volunteer workforce made up largely of adults over sixty.

While these adults often initially wonder if they still have something worthwhile to offer, many quickly discover incredible niches of service ... so much more gratifying than sitting at home watching TV! Most of these volunteers ... some in their sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties ... were raised with a tenacious work ethic. Hard work still suits them well, as they show Christ’s compassion to others.

Now operating out of a 14,400 square foot structure, hundreds are served each week with a hot meal, clothing, haircuts, counseling, and a message from God’s Word.

Rick:  [email protected]

Traci:  [email protected]

As executive director of Sarah’s Home in Colorado, Vicki Proffit (at the age of seventy) is another vivid example of someone saying ‘YES!” to God and being young enough to serve. Addressing the unimaginable horror of children being sex-trafficked right here in the United States, Sarah’s Home offers both healing and hope to young women.

While praying continually for God to change hearts, God has used older adults in dramatic ways to see the dream of Sarah’s Home realized. Many older volunteers have helped with needs such as construction, counseling, medical care, life skills and job training, language, general education, and Biblical discipleship.

Vicki explains that these are normal girls with extra layers of wounds, often from homes full of turmoil. The transforming power of God is amazing, as many of these women enter angry, scared and untouchable and graduate with a solid foundation in Christ.

Please listen to Vicki’s inspiring stories, flowing from a heart of love and compassion. Hear, too, how God is helping to establish Daniel’s Home as well.

Paul with his dear wife, Norma.

Paul serves as the director of Second Half Ministries for the Assemblies of God in Southern California.

We love how he has placed intercessory prayer at the forefront of this ministry. He is not overseeing a bunch of programs and sliding in prayer as an afterthought … he rightfully sees prayer as the hidden steel rebar that holds everything together.

Paul reminds us that God is preparing you today for what He will ask you to do tomorrow. And what better preparation than being part of the vanguard of prayer that moves the hand of God and makes demons tremble.

We love, too, how prayer connects us to younger generations, as we daily call out the names of our grandchildren and others. They want to accept a lit torch from us, not an inanimate baton.

One of the ‘Heritage Heroes’ Paul mentions in this podcast is Steve Asmuth, who happens to be the father-in-law of Perry Hamilton, one of our former YES! board members. You’re invited to join Steve for a sing-along on his Facebook page each Saturday at 10 AM.

Dodey and her husband Mike have been missionaries for nearly forty years, and they currently serve with Child Hope in Chile.

Dodey shares about the key role older adults can play, even in churches’ online COVID world, when it’s mostly younger people coming to the forefront with their innate tech skills.

She also shares a rich devotional, challenging us to consider and steward the “meantime” in our lives. In addition to being actively obedient and making the most of in-between moments, she underscores that meantimes have both a beginning and end. There is hope in knowing that our darker meantimes, such as the current pandemic, won’t last forever.

Marlene experienced the difficult life transition of becoming a widow, and over time God tapped her to help other widows.

Practical ways of reaching out to widows include phone calls, meals, gift bags, home and car repair, grocery and other shopping assistance, tech coaching, prayer, and even special outreach to them on Valentine’s Day. Women who have lost their spouse need special assurance that they are not falling between the cracks—they are loved by God, not forgotten, an integral part of the body of Christ.

But widows are not just needy; they’re also needed. Marlene reminds us that these women are often untapped treasure boxes of God’s love and mercy.

Be sure to check out resources on her website at widowslink.org . And here’s a helpful quick intro to starting a widow’s ministry in your church.

After seeking for love, belonging and approval in all the wrong places, Anh found herself in a California prison, serving 25 years to life. Fortunately, her story doesn’t end there. Through miraculous encounters with God, the prayers of others, Christian radio, and Prison Fellowship, Anh finally found love in the arms of Jesus.

Not only was her life transformed, Anh was able to help disciple many other women in prison. Now released, she continues to share the hope and love she has through the redemptive forgiveness of Christ.

Candace loves being a Nana to her and Art’s combined tribe of 23 grandchildren. And beyond that, she loves being a mom to an assortment of others.

Candace reflects on the combined influences of other godly women and the heritage of her own life challenges, equipping her to impact others during life’s later decades.

Among other truths from God’s word, she highlights from Titus 2 how older men and women still need to be taught:

Look at the heart of younger people.

Refuse to be a critic.

Give them a torch that is positive.

Wrinkles are not designed to be an obstacle to ministry.

We can all work daily on becoming more sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.