July 2008 newsletter.qxp - Magnolia Manor

Magnolia Manor
A Resource for Your Local Church
by: Wade Barr, Assistant Vice President for Church Relations
The South Georgia Conference comprises
one of the fastest growing areas in the country
for older adults. Not only are Georgia's baby
boomers growing older but South Georgia is
becoming a Mecca for older adults moving into
our Conference. Is your Church ready for this
growth? Is your church accessible to its older
members? Is your sanctuary a "friendly" place
for your senior members and guests? Does
your church reach out to the older adults who
can no longer come to your sanctuary?
With older adults comprising 50% of the
membership in The United Methodist Church,
we must diligently seek to be even more effective
in our efforts to help the church be aware
of and take advantage of the valuable potential
within its elderly members - a long life of rich
experiences that can produce greater wisdom,
stronger faith, and deeper commitment to God
and the mission of God's church on earth.
Magnolia Manor can help you with these
issues and will be an advocate for you with
your older adult program. For over 40 years
Magnolia Manor has been a leader in caring
for older adults in The South Georgia
Conference through their centers across the
conference.
Wade Barr, Assistant Vice-President for
Church Relations, is completing his certification
in Older Adult Ministries through the
General Conference Council on Higher
Education. He has spent the past 30 years
working with older adults; He has served as
the administrator of Magnolia Manor nursing
and retirement centers and in the Ombudsman
program (OBRA) with the state of Georgia. He
is available to come to your church and help
you enhance your older adult ministry or just
Pictured to the left is Wade Barr, AVP for Church
Relations, Rev. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., Doctor of
Ministry, Director for Center on Aging & Older Adult
Ministries, General Board of Disciplineship - The United
Methodist Church.
serve as a resource for programs in your local
church.
A resource you may take advantage of now
is the older adult retreat for the South East
Jurisdiction. The Wisdom and Grace
Conference at Lake Junaluska will be held
August 11-14, 2008. The theme this year will
be Sing Unto the Lord a New Song: Crafting a
legacy for the next generation. There will be
many excellent workshops and a Professional
Track for those that work with Older Adults
titled Navigating the Transitions of Life. For
more information about the conference contact
Wade Barr at (229) 931-5920 or go to
www.lakejunaluska.com/olderadult.aspx
26 Magnolia Manor