Charleston Southern University hosts senior adults

Rebekah Naylor

Gordon MacDonald

More than 500 senior adults representing 53 churches attended the South Carolina Baptist Senior Adult Convention March 31-April 2 at Charleston Southern University. Recovering from a knee injury and surgery, Gordon MacDonald, internationally known author, speaker, teacher and pastor, left icy New Hampshire to speak to convention participants. Rebekah Naylor, an IMB missionary for more than 30 years, and Rodney Stilwell, founder of The Potter’s Hand Program through the Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries, were also guest speakers during the three-day event.

Speaking to the convention theme “Run with Endurance,” MacDonald encouraged attendees to adjust and redefine their role in the church according to their life season. He challenged them to focus on mentoring, passing on the baton of faith and finishing well.

Naylor shared during the convention about legacy, passion and focus. She talked about the unfinished task of reaching people who do not know Christ and spoke specifically about how senior adults can spread the message.

Naylor also accepted the opportunity to speak with other groups while in the Charleston area. She spent time with the East Cooper Baptist Church Medical Community Outreach group and with CSU nursing students, sharing about her experiences as a surgeon at the Bangalore Baptist Hospital in India.

Rodney Stilwell

During the conference, Stilwell used his potter’s skill to craft a clay vessel while speaking on Romans 12. He spoke of the interdependence of the parts of the vessel: The spout described pouring out our gifts to serve; the handle represented passing on what we receive; the rim symbolized filling and emptying, accepting and letting go. He also addressed brokenness and the need for God’s grace during those times. “We are all broken and have lumps needing grace,” said Stilwell. “God’s grace gives birth to gifts. His grace also changes misery to ministry.”

Stilwell notes he was personally uplifted as he met participants and heard their stories of faith. He recalls one who shared that before the conference she felt cast away and forgotten, like one of the inmates with whom Stillwell works. She told him messages during the conference reminded her to continue serving and allowing God to use her gifts of age, wisdom and experience because God was not through with her yet.

Next year, the senior adult meeting will return to Charleston Southern March 16-18.

Editor’s note: Naylor’s biography, “Rebekah Ann Naylor, MD: Missionary Surgeon in Changing Times” by Camille Lee Hornbeck, will be released in June of this year.