「楓盛新中年」事工
這個這裡的「新中年」一詞是指55-75歲或簡稱55+臨近或已經退休的弟兄姊妹。
2016年，上帝帶領一群粵語基督徒和牧師，看到教會粵語會眾中退休人仕和準備退休人仕人數不斷增加。他們有一個負擔，希望鼓勵大家考慮從一個典型的「北美退休夢」轉移到一個更大、更美、永恆的“上帝國度的退休夢”。換句話說，在我們新中年的「黃金」時段，積極投入及參與上帝國度的事奉，過著健康、活躍、具永恆意義的生活。因此，「楓盛新中年事工」的成立是為了倡導和推動這個負擔。
同時，新中年事工的願景也得到不同牧長的確認：如陳建安牧師的教牧愽士論文— 「金齡事奉新領域：迦勒一族」、梁應安牧師在多倫多/蒙特利爾/溫哥華等地舉辦有關新中年的神學課程、及黎惠康牧師在前士嘉堡華人浸信會牧會時設立的金齡事工等。
新中年基督徒的獨特處
• 不少人在穩定的政府、高科技或私營公司就業，並有一個健康的可持續的退休收入
• 積累了豐富的資源（知識、技能、經驗、經濟、人氣網絡等）
• 在退休時段，信徒期盼有明確的使命導向、刻意、有意義和有成效的生活和生命目的
• 退休或提前退休的弟兄姊妹若主許可，我們還有20多年的體力和活力
「楓盛新中年事工」的運作
如車輪的軸和四輻 (hub & spokes), 「楓盛新中年事工」涵蓋四個範疇 – 裝備與培訓、資源與信息、外展與關顧、服務與事奉。
「楓盛新中年事工」的目的
目的是盼望透過以上四方面的運作，來鼓勵和動員55+的新中年基督徒得到身、心、社、靈的更新，去承擔天國的使命 : 參與服侍基督的教會、社羣、並福音的普傳。
事工委員會成員: 甄榮達Eddie Yan (Chair, CCCO), 甄劉秀真Salina Yan (CCCO), 林錦華Charles Lam (CCCO), 陳淑儀Ivy Chan (EACO), 何光祥Andrew Ho (EACO),凌子威 Eric Ling (OACAC), 沈少霞 Sarah Sham (OCAC); Pastoral Adviser: 陳建安牧師 Rev. Gerald Chan (OCAC)
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Abundant New Middle Age (ANMA) Ministry
This term “New Middle Age” here refers to brothers and sisters ages 55-75 or simply 55+ who are nearing or have retired.
In 2016, God led a group of Chinese Christians and pastors to see the growing number of retirees and pre-retirees among the churches’ Cantonese-speaking congregations. They have a burden to engage them to rethink retirement from a typical “North America Retirement Dream” of golf and cruises to a much bigger, better, everlasting “God’s Kingdom Retirement Dream”, that is, actively investing our lives in God’s Kingdom work in their “Golden Years” life and also living a healthy, active, and significant life. Hence, the ANMA ministry was formed to champion and promote this initiative
Concurrently, the ANMA vision is also echoed by: e.g., Rev. Gerald Chan in his DMin. Thesis ‘The Tribe of Caleb’ re: the Cantonese Christians retirees, by Rev. James Leung in his workshops given in Toronto/Montreal/Van, and also Rev. Warren Lai in his former Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church among the retirees/senior groups etc.
Unique characteristics of the 55+ brothers and sisters
• This group has obtained more education, stable/better employment in government, hi-tech, or private sector and have a healthy sustainable retirement income
• Accumulated a wealth of life’s resources (knowledge, skills, experience, finance, network, spiritual journey)
• Need a clear focus in retirement that is God’s mission-oriented, intentional, meaningful, and productive
• Those transitioning to retirement or early retirement, if God permits, we still have 20+ years of healthy and productive life
Abundant New Middle Age ministry areas
Goal of the Abundant New Middle Age ministry
The goal of the Abundant New Middle Age ministry is to encourage and mobilize 55+ new middle-aged brothers and sisters to be renewed physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually through the ANMA’s four areas of ministries, so as to equip and motivate 55+ Christian retirees and pre-retirees to have a mission-minded focus in God’s Kingdom work: to serve Christ’s church, the community, and God’s global missions.
ANMA Ministry Co-workers: Eddie Yan (Chair, CCCO), Salina Yan (CCCO), Charles Lam (CCCO), Ivy Chan (EACO), Andrew Ho (EACO), Eric Ling (OACAC), Sarah Sham (OCAC); Pastoral Adviser: Rev. Gerald Chan (OCAC)
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