Check out the latest recommendations for finances for senior adults by going to: http://sam.ag.org/finances/index.cfm or

http://sam.ag.org/education/bookshelf/bookshelf_finances.cfm

Most of these products can be purchased through amazon.com; or contact us for additional information.

“Who Else…But God!” HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! 

Fred Smolchuck, USA-born son of Ukrainian immigrants, just finished and published his 360 page autobiography. This book is full of interesting experiences and photos. Fred’s writing style is interesting, humorous, and pointed drawing the reader into his life, wit and spiritual wisdom. To purchase your copy of Who Else ~ But God! call Fred at 417-833-6072 or contact Carole (Smolchuck) Maker at 6901 Marie Lane, Guthrie, OK 73044.

65 plus, Is My Ministry Over? By Dr. Harris E. Lidstrand

This book was written primarily to ministers and Christian workers who have reached their golden years of service to the Lord. Dr. Lidstrand enumerates the ways to be effective, happy, useful and successful in his charge to be “re-fired”, though retired... Dr. Lidstrand is president of Community Christian College in Redlands, California. He is an author, composer, musician, pastor, director of youth ministries, counselor, travel and teacher to forty countries of the world, producer of two motion pictures and founder of an English-speaking church in the Canary Islands. To purchase this book please contact Dr. Lidstrand at: Lid475@aol.com or fax: 909.883.7057. The cost is $10 including postage.

How to Retire without Retreating by Johnnie Godwin is a great book to help adults of all ages begin planning now for a productive retirement. Some of the chapter titles will give you insight to the contents of the book: Writing Life’s Next Chapter, Why Retired Men Are Hard to Live With, When Women Retire, Retirement with Attitude, etc. are just some of the subjects that the author uses to stimulate readers to think for themselves and how personhood and experiences blend together to make each person unique. Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683 www.barbourbooks.com

Extending Your Heritage by J. Otis Ledbetter and Randy Scott, is an encouragement to extend ones heritage to children, youth and others who will benefit from good role models for Christian living. Many need to connect with family and community yet have no close parents or grandparents to look to for guidance and leadership. As Christians who extend our heritage to those besides our own family we can influence a lot of people and this book gives inspirations and guidelines to help in this endeavor. Published by Cook Communications, this book can be obtained through your local Christian bookstore.

How to Minister Among Older Adults by Charles T. Knippel, explores the many options for ministry with and to the older adult age group. This book addresses demographics and the unique needs of older adults, as well as providing programmatic options. Concordia Publishing House www.cph.org

A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to Old Age by Stanley C. Baldwin is an opportunity to relive and laugh about some of your own life experiences through the author. To embrace the grace of life with Christ, these messages will give you a chance to reflect on how life changes related to your Christian life. To purchase this book: www.intervarsity.org

Five Things I Did Right and Five Things I Did Wrong in Raising Our Children by Sarah O. Maddox specifically targets ten areas of child rearing to reflect upon with the hindsight of wisdom regarding what could have been done differently. Parents will benefit from the lessons learned by experience. Broadman and Holman Publishers, Nashville. www.BroadmanHolman.com

Living the Lois Legacy: Passing on a Lasting Faith to Your Grandchildren by Helen Kooiman Hosier is a book of recollections of those who were shaped by their grandparents; Christian example, as well as advice form grandparents in the midst of life. It is about protecting and preserving the faith that binds grandparents and grandchildren together. Published by Tyndale House Publishers for Focus on the Family .www.family.org

The Intimate Journey – God in the Daily Adventure by Joel Warne explores restlessness and longing for God and a myriad of topics to bring the reader closer to God by involving Him in all areas of life. There is an accompanying Scripture Devotional of the same title. Published by Wellspring Life Resources www.wellspringliferesources.com

The Enduring Human Spirit by Charles Tindell is for people who care for and care about the elderly – teaching us how to keep the spirits of the elderly alive even under the most difficult circumstances. Tindell writes about real people and provides provoking questions about the meaning of the lives of others and the meaning of our own lives in relationship to those around us. Published by Idyll Arbor, Inc.. Ravensdale, WA 425-432-3231
http://www.idyllarbor.com

Help, Lord! I’m Having a Senior Moment by Karen O’Connor offers encouragement, comfort, sympathy and humor to situations that befall everyone in the aging process. It gives honor to seniors and others who experience those moments of forgetfulness. Regal Books from Gospel Light, Ventura, CA www.gospellightworldwide.org

How to Say It to Seniors – Closing the Communication Gap with Our Elders by David Solie is a practical guide to help bridge the generation gap between everyone and senior adults. Solie offers help in removing the typical communication blocks by instructing how to gain trust and cooperation and understanding their need for legacy. Published by Prentice Hall Press New York, NY www.penguin.com

Cherish the Days, Inspiration and Insight for Long-Distance Caregivers by Martha Evans Sparks applies God’s grace to the daunting chore of providing care for loved ones who live either across town or across the country. This book provides both biblical inspiration and practical advice on the pressing concerns of long-distance caregivers, including:

• Managing the stress of long-distance care
• Coping with manipulative family members
• Selecting a nursing home
• Dealing with care receivers who are unsafe drivers.

Martha Evans Sparks has been called the voice of the caregiver because of her experience, compassion and understanding of the issues.

65 plus, Is My Ministry Over? By Dr. Harris E. Lidstrand

This book was written primarily to ministers and Christian workers who have reached their golden years of service to the Lord. Dr. Lidstrand enumerates the ways to be effective, happy, useful and successful in his charge to be “re-fired”, though retired... Dr. Lidstrand is president of Community Christian College in Redlands, California. He is an author, composer, musician, pastor, director of youth ministries, counselor, travel and teacher to forty countries of the world, producer of two motion pictures and founder of an English-speaking church in the Canary Islands. To purchase this book please contact Dr. Lidstrand at: Lid475@aol.com or fax: 909.883.7057. The cost is $10 including postage.

White Unto Harvest
by Charles Arn
In this timely book, Dr. Arn reports on a national research study of senior adult conversions. There are new perspectives to be considered by any church concerned with evangelizing this unreached segment of the American population. The book is a summary of the research plus seven strategic recommendations for effectively reaching older adults in today's world.   This is a must-read for any church truly considering outreach to the growing number of senior adults in their communities.

White Unto Harvest can be purchased directly from our office at SAM, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802.   With your request, please include your check written to Senior Adult Ministries for $14.95 + $2.00 shipping and handling   = $16.95.   Be sure to include your mailing address.

How to have a dynamic...Senior Adult Ministry in YOUR Church!  

Presented by Rev. John Heide with introduction by Rev. Stephen Sparks, National Director of the Senior Adult Ministries of the Assemblies of God

This 3 compact disk series will help pastors and leadership learn how to reach out to the senior adults in your church and community.   Learn how to:

• Start a new senior adult program and get everyone in your church involved.
• Select the best leaders for your group.
• Find and Win senior adults in your community to the Lord
• Develop programs to attract seniors to your church and keep them coming back.
• Network seniors with other ministries in the church.
• Tap into the time, talents and treasures of senior adults.
• Find out what's working for other senior adult programs around the country.

Presenter, John Heide, serves at the District Coordinator for SAM for the Southern Missouri District, which serves over 360 churches.   He assists in ministry to the Primetimers senior program at his home church, James River Assembly in Ozark, MO.

When ordering state that you saw it advertised on the Senior Adult Ministry website and you will receive a 10% discount.   Regular price - $20.00 ~ YOUR price - $18.00 including postage and handling.   To order:   jheide2002@yahoo.com or 417-838-0059.

Looking Forward to the Rest of Your Life? By Lorry Lutz, deals with finding purpose and fulfillment in the years of midlife and beyond. She explores reviving your dreams and how to discover new talents and opportunities that are there for the taking. Don’t waste what could be the best years of your life!

Experiencing Grief by H. Norman Wright is a practical, healing guide for anyone journeying through the experience of  loss.  It is a brief but powerful book that will help lead you out of your grief experience through five stages of grief.  Broadman & Holman Publishers, broadmanholman.com .  This book can be ordered from Christian Marriage Enrichment, 800-875-7560.

Where is God? – A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and Suffering by John S. Feinberg tells of John’s struggle to find peace and God in the midst of a life-rocking storm.  The journey to truth has been long and hard, but Feinberg’s painful experience incurred due to the diagnosis of his wife’s incurable, genetically transmitted disease. Has affirmed God’s faithfulness.  Broadman & Holman Publishers, broadmanholmam.com.

The New Senior – Preparing Your Church for the Age Wave by Charles Arn & Win Arn is a collection of insightful essays on:

• The State of Mature Adult Ministry in America
• Emerging Trends in the Age Wave
• Ageism:  Is It Real in Your Church?
• Why Aren’t More Seniors Being Evangelized ?
• A New Paradigm for Ministry:  Middle Adults
• How Small Groups Can Strengthen Your Older Adult Ministry
• Bye Bye Rocking Chair

These essays will be helpful to anyone who is seeking to minister effectively in the “age wave” with a fresh new approach.  Published by the Institute for American Church Growth in Monrovia, CA  1-800.844.9286

The Power of Presence – Helping People Help People by Doug Manning is a book/workbook to help us all learn to listen to what people say.  Through listening we can better help them and they can help others.  Manning writes in a warm conversational style sharing insights from his life experiences.  Sitting down to read a book from Doug is like having a long conversation with a good friend.

To purchase this book call 1-800-658-9262 or go to www.insightbooks.com

Three booklets also by Doug Manning are part of several writings called “The Gifts You Bring”, are:  Your Gift of Peace and Your Gift of Participation and Your Gift of Presence.

All of Mannings books can be purchased by contacting In-Sight Books, Inc. P.O. Box 42467, Oklahoma City, OK  73123 – 800.658.9262 or 405.810.9501 – www.insightbooks.com

The following  3 books are offered by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Joyfully Sharing the Good News by Rev. Dr. S. Miriam Dunson is a publication of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that provides Worship Materials and resources for planning Older Adult programming in congregations and communities.

Older Adult Ministry – A Guide for the Presbytery Committee is a resource designed to assist the presbytery committee in finding ways to address ministry with, by and for older members of congregations.  Learning translate concern into action by starting or enhancing intentional ministry with older adults.

Older Adult Ministry – A Guide for the Session and Congregation focuses on the congregation and offers suggestions for beginning an Older Adult Ministry Committee, educating the committee, then educating the congregation.  It provides guidelines and ideas that can help develop a ministry tailored to fit the needs and issues of older adults.

These books can be purchased by contacting:  Christian Education and leader Development Congregational Ministries Division Presbyterian Church, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY  40202-1396 or www.pcusa.org/olderadults . 

Give Us This Day
by Martha Evans Sparks

Daily Hope for Caregivers by Martha Evans sparks is an instructional, devotional, inspirational collection of words of wisdom from experience. She expresses her daily feelings as a caregiver as well as the prayers of the care recipient to give readers the whole picture, enabling them to remain faithful, hopeful and strong during a difficult time. This book is highly recommended to all caregivers and those needing the care because not only can it bring peace and comfort to each individual, but it could also be used as a way to open the doors of honest communication between the two. Published by Wesleyan Publishing House of Indianapolis, IN, you may purchase this book by calling 800.493.7539. For more information visit www.wesleyan.org/wph.

You Only Die Once
by Margie Jenkins

Written to help you prepare for the end of life with grace and gusto. Whether planning for yourself or a loved one wrestling with the inevitable this book will help with updating andorganizing your vital papers for easy access, planning to pass on your cherished memories and possessions, anticipating your long-term care options, design a memorial service that honors your beliefs and wishes, and live your final days to the fullest, without anxiety or guild. Integrity Publishers 2002. For more information visit www.margiejenkins.com.

Curriculum for Senior Adult classes are now available in a series called Design for the Second Half of Life by Edgar J. Bender and Charles R. Ellis. It is provided by Preferred Senior Services, Inc. Plymouth, Minnesota, a subsidiary of Elim Care, Inc. At this time there are two that we would recommend:

Our Lives, God’s Masterpiece
This guide is applicable to those in their 50s or 60s who are still employed. The book addresses the aging of America and helps the reader understand his positive position on the age scale. Seniors are encouraged to stay active, if they are, or to get active if they are not. The lesson activities work well in small groups or as self-study. The lessons draw the reader to recognize his dependence on God. The additional resources, web sites and books, listed in the back of the book are helpful if further study is desired.

Keeping Our Eyes On the Son
This book helps the reader to stay on the right path by re-examining values, and perhaps reversing the mentality of ageism. The reader is encouraged to build on his relationship with God and hold quality values that will add appositive dimension to life. The book is easy to read, understand and use in a classroom setting. The lesson activities work well in small groups or as independent study.

To order these books contact Preferred Senior Services at 925-259-4463 or ebender@elimcare.org

Additional books by topic:

• Dealing with Aging
• Dealing with Grief
• Family
• Finances
• Religion
• Health

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