Planning for Service into Retirement
From the Fall 2021 Pension Fund Newsletter
by Len Hummel, Executive Director of the PAOC Pension Fund
Have you noticed in Scripture how God would often use people well into the later years of their lives?
Moses lived to approximately 120 years of age, but his ministry as leader of the Israelites didn’t start until he was about 80 years old. Caleb was 85 years old when he exclaimed: “So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” (Joshua 14: 10b, 11). Ana, the prophetess “was very old” when she spoke of the young Jesus “to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem”. She lived to at least the age of 84. (Luke 2:36-38). The Apostle John could have been in his 80s or 90s when he wrote the book of Revelation, since the majority of scholars think the book was written c. 95 A.D.1
God created us for good works. While we may ‘retire’ from full time paid work, the giftings God has given us don’t necessarily ‘retire’.
Many who have served faithfully in ministry roles in Canada and beyond will transition in ‘retirement’ to ongoing service, perhaps on a volunteer basis in the local church, or a parachurch organization, or to part-time or contract paid positions. This can be an opportunity to continue to joyfully sow into the lives of the generations that follow.
It only makes sense to plan for service beyond formal ‘retirement’. This includes planning to have resources available so that one can continue to serve. The consistent payment stream available upon retirement through the PAOC defined benefit Pension Plan can certainly help.
We all wish to use our resources in ways that honour our heavenly Father, so that we can joyfully hear “Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:21b).
1The NIV Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 1995), page 1922
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10