Reaching out to people given the ‘gift of years’

Just because an older person can no longer physically get to church it doesn’t mean they’ve left, says Elim’s original Anna Chaplain Karen Grimshaw. That’s why churches need to invest time in ministering to them.

“If I live long enough to reach my 90s I want to be like Jean,” says Karen Grimshaw.

Karen is an Anna Chaplain and regularly visits and prays with Plymouth Christian Centre member Jean, who lives in a local care home.

“There is something so special about people like Jean who’ve lived to their 80s and 90s,” she says. “They have striking characters and amazing life stories, and their faith in God and knowledge of the Bible is often gobsmacking. I always come away feeling blessed after visiting Jean.”

Karen is an enthusiastic advocate of ministry for older people. It’s something she began doing through home visits, but developed when she decided to train as an Anna Chaplain in 2021.

“I didn’t need to become an Anna Chaplain to do the work I do, but there is something about being part of a national network that really helps and gives a voice and a platform on which to base my ministry,” she explains.

“I hadn’t been at Plymouth Christian Centre very long when I started my training, but they were really keen for me to develop the role as an Anna Chaplain and the ‘Gift of Years’ ministry, which is their ministry to older people and part of the wider plan for the pastoral care of the church.”

… story continues