Wheat Ridge Ministries has granted Concordia $35,000 towards the Generations Project, an initiative to establish new long-term senior ministry projects through an action-based gerontology curriculum. Concordia was one of seven recipients of recently awarded grant money from the charitable organization.
Under the direction of Dr. Renea Gernant, director of gerontology and aging ministries, Concordia will begin in 2008 to offer a gerontology specialization option and a certification in gerontology within its collection of Family Life Ministry courses.
"Our program will deepen the understating of lay leaders, pastors, DCEs, parish nurses, teachers and other volunteers as they seek to engage in deliberate ministry and service for older adults," said Dr. David Dolak, provost of the university. "The grant from Wheat Ridge Ministries is an essential component of our plan, allowing Concordia to reach out in this very meaningful way to underserved segments of our constituency with ministries of health and hope."
Through this interdisciplinary program, students will have the opportunity to evaluate their own vocational gifts and the needs of the older adult community around them. After exposure to a variety of already established programs and ministries for older adults, students will design their own project and complete it as a part of their certification. A key element of the program is the requirement to design the project in such a way that it is sustainable for the long-term.
"By 2011, individuals over age 65 will comprise some 20% of the American population, and government programs alone cannot adequately address this increase," said Gernant. "While churches and other faith-based groups are likely candidates to help serve this population, few Christian education programs offer accredited programs designed to equip ministers and laity to respond to the needs of elders as effectively as possible. We are working to reverse this trend.
"In speaking with area colleagues, they have expressed how very critical these types of ministries are going to be in just the next few years, especially in the more rural areas," she said. "We are hoping to serve ministry and lay leaders from across the country and establish more than 40 new, long-term projects in the next three years."
Wheat Ridge Ministries is recognized throughout the world as an independent Lutheran charitable organization that seeds new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ. Over 100 ministries are currently receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge funding. In addition to its granting ministries, Wheat Ridge also connects and equips people, congregations and organizations with health and hope ministries.
Photo credit: Photo illustration by Gonzalo Haro.