I saw a film years ago where a couple felt called to work with tribes in a jungle. They applied with the organization but they were told that they were too old, would never learn the language and his wife’s health would not survive the jungle. They still felt lead to go and their church sent them out anyway. Within 2 years, I think it was, they translated the bible into the tribal language and presented the bible in drama every week. After hearing about the resurrection of Jesus, the whole tribe received Jesus. The tribe was so joyful that they threw the missionary up in the air much like football players do when a player won the game. The film ended with a quote of the organization saying, “You are too old, you will never learn the language and your wife’s health will not survive the jungle.”
I have gotten to know many different missionaries here and have noticed that many are retirement age. George Markey is 65 years old. He and his wife came to
Kiev 15 years ago with 8 children. The youngest was 8 months old. He never learned the language until recently but he always had translators. They started a church which has grown into a stable, solid church and he and his family are greatly loved by them. Last May he turned over the church to a Ukrainian pastor and the church has just sent them out as their missionaries to a closed country to start a church.
Marie is a lady in her 70’s who has been in Ukraine teaching several Precepts Bible studies. She has been in Ukraine for several years.
Alice and Al are retirees who have been in Ukraine since after the fall of communism and Co Mission started sending missionaries over. They work with another couple who have a ministry to the elderly. Earlier they helped with meals for the elderly. The group has grown so now they help to provide food monthly for 500 elderly people. Alice and Al have a dream to start a home for the elderly without family. They are in the process of trying to get a sanatorium or some land from the government for it. They are absolutely the sweetest people you could meet. BobToliver and his wife Joanne came to Ukraine several years ago and helped to start a church in Kiev. Their work at that church is finished and now they have started an international church for internationals, missionaries and English speaking Ukrainians. They also helped start a Spanish church. He believes in the importance of prayer and has established Prayer Kiev for people to pray-walk through major areas of Kiev to pray for Kiev and Ukraine. This year he is trying to start another group which are missionaries praying for other missionaries in Ukraine and their ministries. When you visit their church, you are presented with their hospitality. Their motto is “Come and stay awhile”. After church, they open their apartment up for people to talk further about the sermon, attend a Bible study and stay for lunch if you want.
These are only a few people who have come to Ukraine to minister during their “Golden Years” and God is greatly using them. You are never to old to be a missionaries…you may not learn the language well but you can have a translator and minister to others…God provides the health that you need.
