Leading in Faith Together (LiFT)

Application and Information 

Retired Licensed Minister of the UPCI

You have faithfully served Jesus’ church, and then comes the time when wisdom and your love for the continued progress of His work dictate that you step away from a ministry you love. It has been your life and that of your spouse. It may well have been your identity.

What now?

Sadly, some retired ministers struggle with this season of life. Often, it is because while still called, anointed, and inspired, there has not been a way for that minister to serve meaningfully. 

After retirement, some become bitter and angry, others disengage, and a few disappear. 

A Better Path

You have much to offer. If wisdom could be bottled, what you could share would become a best-selling elixir. Your stories bring God’s faithfulness to life. True, you and your spouse are older and may move a bit slower. Your treasure is not in your pace but in your experience and what exists within you.

Your stories of wins and losses, good decisions and bad, funny things that happened in church, and how a mean old deacon had you on the ropes until . . . well, the Lord moved the old deacon on to glory (or somewhere). The best influencers are genuine and don’t put on airs. There is no pretense of having figured it all out, but a desire to make a difference. 

A LiFT Minister

Those in reasonably good health, who have a good spirit and understand this Sage age of life, can make a difference. An opportunity to serve will come as this ministry connects retirees with church planters, young pastors, small congregations, and those in crisis situations. 

Few of these opportunities will be glamorous, but remember, you are real, so glamor doesn’t matter. You are beyond needing acclaim and outpourings of affirmation. You are needed.

How and Where is a LiFT Minister Needed?

• Church Planters, first time pastors, and pastors in crisis often need a trusted voice in their life - more than in their pulpit. Someone proven and experienced, again someone in their life. A person who can give them a LiFT.

• Church Planters and First Time pastors can benefit from a partnership with a retired minister who knows how to pray, teach Home Bible Studies, praise, worship, and be an example to new converts. It begins with a weekend provided at no cost to the church the LIFT ministers will serve. 

• The Lift minister may or may not preach that first weekend. Providing an occasional pulpit opportunity to older ministers is not the primary goal of LiFT. The elder pouring himself into the heart, mind, and life of the younger is the primary goal.

There are myriad ways to make a difference.

As an aspiring LiFT minister, you complete the application and gain your District Superintendent’s approval. Your information is entered into a database.

On the other side of the equation, the request for the LiFT minister comes from a church planter, a District Director of North American Missions (NAM), District Superintendent, a first time pastor, or a pastor in a crisis situation who could benefit from a LiFT minister. All assignments are approved by the District Superintendent, or the Superintendent’s designee - generally, this designee would be either the District Sages Director or the District NAM Director. 

Those administering the LiFT ministry endeavor to connect local church needs with the right person. All applications are submitted online.