In January, Pursue Life Adult Ministry hosted Dessert in the Garden at the Desert Botanical Garden. An event to encourage attendees to live their legacy now. Through the generosity of grant funding, Vice President of Pursue Life Adult Ministry, Mona McDonald, brought to life an idea to gather aging adults together, glorify God and remind attendees that their legacies are important and worth sharing. “It’s not by accident that God has allowed you the life that you have,” she said.
Community for Aging Adults
Over 40 aging adults went to the event to learn more and be in fellowship together. They ate cake, drank coffee and got to know each other in one of the most beautiful places in the valley. A musician from Citypoint Church gave a lively performance featuring popular tunes from several decades. People clapped along, swayed in their seats and there was even a moment when people got up and danced! They celebrated milestones in their lives and sang “Happy Birthday” to everyone. When the musician played a popular Christian hymn, voices lifted together to praise the Lord.
After the music, the main speaker, Brad McDonald, shared an inspiring message on how the younger generations need the wisdom and stories of those who came before them. He spoke on Psalm 90:15-17 and talked about the importance of telling their story to their kids and grandkids’ generations. Psalm 90:16 says, “Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.” Each person’s story, purpose and values are a library God has given to spread His glory further.
Brad encouraged the attendees to pursue reconciliation in any relationships where it is needed, especially with their children. He emphasized even when children become adults, it is the responsibility of the parents to take the high road even when the child won’t. Finally, he concluded by encouraging each person that it’s never too late to share their legacy with their children and tell them about the love and salvation of Jesus. Everyone, regardless of age, needs to hear the gospel, and sharing it with family and loved ones is the most important legacy someone can leave.
Leaving Your Legacy
Each attendee was given a journal to start writing their story with a list of prompts that would help them begin. Every person has a legacy to pass down to their kids and grandkids, but sometimes it feels like the world is indifferent to their wisdom. However, the next generations need to hear the experiences of those who have gone before them. God can give a story new life when it is shared with others. The seeds planted in faithfulness by sharing one’s testimony could change someone else’s eternity.