My grandfather was an Anglican Minister. He had a profound effect on me. As a young boy I can remember going to his place and staying the weekend. He would get us up early in the morning and give us milk and jatz biscuits, which tasted like lemonade and mint slices. He would pray for all members of the family. At the time, I did not have much interest, and spent my time mostly fiddling with the china balls on the end of the lace tablecloth, while I had my head on the table. It was only until years later that I realized what the significance of this was.

My childhood memories are no different from anybody else's. There was the flannel graph, the sand tray where Old Testament stories were told, and the attendance trophy at the end of the year that looked like the Melbourne Cup. It would be no surprise to say that none of these had any real effect on me. After doing teacher training I taught primary school where I had an ethical problem which was that I was evangelising rather than teaching. I had always wanted to do Children's and Youth Ministry and that came along later. In the meantime, I got a few jobs working in industry where I basically could learn to relate to others outside the school context. I was also involved in Scripture Union Beach Missions where I met people from churches that saw their ministry more than handing out hymn books and looking respectable. Instead they were utilising their personalities and giftings, this inspired me to do likewise.

Switching from youth to seniors has been quite a change. In fact, it has been quite a lobotomy. Yet it is amazing to see that any age group has spiritual needs. I am often asked the difference between working with youth and now working with seniors. When I was a youth worker it was a matter of understanding youth. I often found that people used to say that teenagers would grunt in regards to conversation. But I found that when you simply asked them what their story was – where they were born, what were their interests, they would go on for hours. I think no one took time to listen due to the pace of life. Then I found myself caught in the vortex of these two age groups. I realized that I was in trouble when I was watching Rage on Saturday mornings and switched to ABC News and Songs of Praise on Sunday. For young people you are challenging them with how they are going to live their life and the adventure that God is going to give them. We all change as life progresses. At the other end of the spectrum, seniors have run their race and are coming to the final closure. They have had their adventure but they need to reflect and value the life that they have had whether it be good, bad or indifferent, and forge their relationship with God so they can have peace with Him and peace with others. They also need to have the strength to face the challenge of death. We can't avoid it. Yet it is easy to focus on that and forget about what legacies we leave behind - the fantastic opportunities, the friendships, and our own spiritual understanding about God. It is in these elderly years that we have time to be honest with ourselves and each other so that we are comforted, strengthened and assured of our faith in Jesus. It is in running Nostalgia Now that I have the privilege to hear the faith stories of remarkable, ordinary people who have been transformed by Christ. But also have an inner strength to face the challenges that lie ahead. Just as youth culture has to be understood in regard to how the world can confuse and weaken able bodies so can the process of ageing where people loose their mobility and independence and sense of value. We need to respond with dignity to these seniors who have lived life and have so much to offer. I look forward to the commitment to serve Seniors in this ministry and pray that it would be used by God to help them.