This has been a sad and bittersweet year for us. So far this year, we’ve bid farewell to eight of our long-time ministry friends and supporters, as they’ve gone home to be with the Lord. We don’t get invited to weddings anymore, but there have been far too many funerals. Most have passed away at a ripe, old age. Some have been taken from us too soon.
I’m reminded that tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, and even as many Christians are waiting, watching and praying for our Lord’s second coming and the “last days” on this earth, today is the “last day” for more than we can comprehend. On average, 174,000 people die every day. That’s 7,250 ever hour; 121 every minute. By the time you finish reading or listening to this message, more than 1500 souls will have passed into eternity. So, while a lot of Christians are observing the signs of the “last days,” today is the LAST day for many... and many are unprepared to stand before their Creator.
Thankfully, for our ministry friends, we know what eternity holds for them, as they’ve lived their lives in faithful service to our Lord. Some have served more faithfully than others. While a lot of people look forward to retirement when they can relax, rest, travel and enjoy their golden years at ease, those involved in Christian ministry never retire. They know that as long as they’re still breathing, God has good work for them to do, and they embrace that work with joy.
The fact that they no longer need to work full time at a job or career opens up tremendous opportunities to have the greatest impact for Christ they’ve ever had. Now, they can really start their ministries! Yet, as I speak with so many others who are older than me, I hear things like, “Oh, I’m 70 years old and retired.” Or, “I’m in my 80s...I can’t do that.” I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but these sound like excuses to me. I know you’re old. I know you’re tired. I’m old and tired too. But that’s no excuse.
Do you realize that Moses was 80 years old when he first appeared before Pharaoh, demanding “Let my people go?” Yes, he was 80 years old when God called him and made him a leader of his people, and used him mightily — not only leading his people out of Egypt, but God did many amazing miracles through him. He also wrote much of Scripture, writing down biblical history and great wisdom that we all benefit tremendously from today.
Psalm 92:14, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” Deuteronomy 34:7, “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated.” Psalm 71:18, “Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God. I must tell the next generation about Your power and greatness.”
Retirement is really a cultural thing, and in many ways, a particularly “American” thing, which came about as our government began engaging in social engineering, instituting such things as “social security” and “medicare.” In the old days, families stayed together, the younger people learned from their elders, and as the elderly eventually became too frail to work, the younger ones took care of them and saw to their needs. It was not uncommon for households to consist of not only young children but also Grandparents and even Great Grandparents. I can only imagine now, what great benefits the family unit derived from such relationships. The older people teaching the younger ones; the younger ones gleaning great wisdom from their elders, and learning to have great respect for them in the process.
So, if you’re getting up there in years, and like me, feeling the aches and pains that come with a long life of hard work, don’t sell yourself short. There’s still more God is calling you to, and even if you think you’re not up to it, you certainly can do it...if you want to. People have asked me when I’m going to retire. My answer is always the same: I plan to continue my work for the Lord until the day He calls me home. As it should be for all of us.
Every month, we distribute tens of thousands of copies of our newspaper, Wisconsin Christian News, for free pick-up at countless news racks in busy public places. We’re only able to accomplish this because we have volunteers who help by stocking those racks — and keeping them stocked throughout the month. They distribute the paper in their own communities. It’s a mission field in their own backyards. I still need to get bulk loads of newspapers to our volunteer distributors, and I still stock my fair share of news racks myself, personally. But without the help of these faithful volunteers, I wouldn’t be able to cover even 10% of the locations where people find God’s Word and truth in the pages of our paper — restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, truck stops and other spots.
For them, it’s a ministry they can do without extensive travel, because they’re covering their own local areas. They establish their own routes and distribution points. It’s like handing out thousands of giant Bible tracts in their own communities every month. And Wisconsin Christian News is effective because it’s a newspaper — with something that grabs people’s attention on the front page of every issue. So even “not-yet believers” pick the paper up because they want it.
What could be a more effective way of reaching the lost — outside the four walls of a church, out in the public square — than providing something that catches the attention of those lost souls and calls out to them so they pick it up and read it for themselves? They may have previously had no interest in the things of God. But now, even though it says “Wisconsin CHRISTIAN News” on the cover, these folks pick it up for themselves because they feel compelled to. They want it.
I share this with you because almost all of our volunteer distribution helpers are elderly or retired, and not only am I grateful for their help and service, but they’re all an inspiration to me. They don’t help me in this work begrudgingly — they see the fruit of their efforts and it’s deeply gratifying for them to help. Today, I’d like to tell you about two of them, who, to me, are real heroes of the faith.
Recently, we lost a dear friend who helped us for more years than he should have. Jim Burmeister has now heard the words, “well done, thy good and faithful servant. Enter in to the joy of thy Lord.” Jim passed away at the age of 90. Those of you’ve who’ve been long-time readers of Wisconsin Christian News might remember the articles he used to write for us. He was always encouraging professing Christians to get up and out and, as he liked to say, “get in the game!”
Jim was one of the most faithful and dedicated helpers we ever had. For years, he distributed over a thousand copies every month in far Northwest Wisconsin, and even into upper Michigan, and Duluth, Minnesota. He was unstoppable. He used to say, “You only get one chance in this life to do what you can for God. I’m just thankful that I understand that, because so many today don’t get it. It took me many years to ‘get it’ — so it’s a joy to work for my LORD!”
As the years went by, I became increasingly concerned about Jim, as he battled a lot of health issues, including several strokes. But he always got better and kept on working with a passion for Christ. And he didn’t just do ministry work with us. He also raised money for widows and orphans in Africa and worked with troubled men in jail ministry every week. When I started to voice my concerns about his health issues, indicating that maybe he should stop delivering newspapers, Jim refused to give me his list of distribution points, because he worried that I’d stop letting him help me. He steadfastly refused to quit. Right up to the day he ended up in a nursing home and he finally understood it was time to rest. His message to others was: “Now it’s YOUR turn! It’s time to get off the bench and get in the game!”
I’ve never met a more dedicated servant of Christ... except for our old friend, Zaida Thompson. We first met Zaida in 2011, when we did a feature story about her ministry, called “Aunt Zaida’s Circle.” Zaida opened her home to people in need and as a Retreat Center, and ladies would go there and make blankets for the homeless.
Zaida then personally delivered those blankets to homeless people in the inner city of Milwaukee and other areas, including people sleeping in dark alleyways and under bridges. Over the years, she personally delivered thousands of blankets to homeless people and others in need.
She also became our most enthusiastic and faithful distribution volunteer — taking over 1000 copies of the newspaper and distributing them in her area of the state every month... rain or shine, snow or sleet. She was a faithful servant of the Lord’s work, in everything she did.
And here’s what should inspire us all: not only was she elderly, but she did all her ministry work confined to a wheelchair! She also loved coming to our annual Conferences. They were the highlight of her year, ever year! She was a prayer warrior, she loved her family and was a true friend to all.
On my delivery days in her area, we would usually meet in a parking lot somewhere, and I would load a thousand copies or more from my van into hers. In every kind of weather. I remember one time that I told her I should really deliver her papers to her another day, because we were in the midst of a blizzard. But she wanted them that day! As I transferred bundles of newspapers to her van, I was walking in snow up to my knees. But she was determined to get her newspaper racks stocked no matter what. Another time, we ended up meeting after dark in a parking lot in a bad part of Milwaukee. I was a bit concerned because there was a street gang hanging around and things didn’t look too safe. But nothing deterred her.
Normally, we would meet up, I’d load her van with papers, we’d have a quick chat and she’d speed off to get busy with deliveries. Then one day, instead of a short conversation, we talked for about 45 minutes. I didn’t know that would be the last time we would talk. She finished delivering all those papers, and then two days later, was found unresponsive, lying on the floor of her home. She’d had a stroke.
When my wife and I went to visit her in a nursing home, she was asleep in her bed. I whispered to my wife that maybe we should just pray over her and let her rest. But upon hearing my voice, she immediately opened her eyes wide and alert — and tried her best to speak, to tell me she wanted more copies next month, because she had some new places to take the newspaper. Two days later, she passed into eternity, at age 82.
These are just two of my real-life heroes of the faith. Their stories of dedication and service to the Lord should inspire us all. Sometimes now, when I’m in horrible pain because of my back and leg problems, and I’m loading pallets of newspapers into my delivery van, I remind myself, “Stop whining! Zaida did this from a wheelchair!”
Friends, regardless of your age, we need you in this battle for the hearts and souls of our children and grandchildren...and those who are “not-yet believers.” Never give up. Ask the Lord and He will direct your path, so that YOU can be the minister He’s calling you to be. And for those of you who are older, let me close with Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you.” Thank You, Father, for all Your blessings, mercy and grace. It’s our greatest honor to serve You, all the days of our lives.
Rob is an ordained minister and the founder and publisher of Wisconsin Christian News, a national Christian newspaper based in Wisconsin. He writes a monthly commentary for WCN, and can also be heard twice weekly, (Tuesdays and Saturdays) nationwide on the VCY America Radio Network, (as well as several other independent stations), with his “From the Editor’s Desk” commentaries. 
