About

Pursue Life Adult Ministry (PLM) provides hope and care to aging adults by guiding them to live in the fullness of God’s promises in every season of life through support, community, purpose and personal legacy.

Working in partnership with Arizona’s faith based community and social agencies, PLM serves Arizona’s increasing adult population and their families through practical ministry.

Pursue Life Adult Ministry is a ministry of Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries (ABCS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Core Values

  • Honor God in all we do.
  • Build relationships through trust and respect.
  • Be good stewards with what we have been given.
  • Do everything with excellence.

Support

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ … ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” -Matthew 25:35-36,40

Many adults over 50 experience a minimum of two major life events every year. Do you relate to any of the following transitions?

  • The world says it’s time to slow down and retire but you really feel you’re just getting started, or you’ve been retired for years and are beginning to feel restless
  • Caring for grandchildren and parents is challenging
  • Being alone so soon or for so long was not part of the dream

Change can be scary and difficult, but you are not alone. One of the main goals of Pursue Life Adult Ministry is to support adults in the midst of these and other transitions by providing helpful articles, resources and local support. We would also like to work alongside those who already provide support to Arizona’s 50+ population. Visit the caregivers and pastors pages for tailored articles, information and resources or contact mona@abcs.org for personal assistance.

Community

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” -Hebrews 10:24-25

Community is about doing life together – not alone. We are created by God’s design to live in community and to love others. Developing intentional relationships is a priority to us as we age. We retire from jobs, lose friends and spouses to death and illness and see family members move out of the area – all of which can sharply reduce daily social contacts and stimulation, which in turn has a direct impact on mental and physical health. A goal of Pursue Life is to offer a plethora of ideas and opportunities for “doing life together”. Doing life alone is an epidemic in Arizona, let’s change that! Watch for new postings on the Calendar page as opportunities to gather open in your community.

Purpose

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”                      –Ephesians 2:10

Sometimes we can be so busy driven by the demands of life we forget God’s greater purpose. His purposes not only encompass our lives but the lives of those around us—at home, school, work and community. The purpose for your life—the deepest place where you find meaning and satisfaction—transcends any role, job or circumstance you are facing. Wherever you are, whatever you do—God wants you to live out His mission. Make that mission an adventure, discovering God’s unique purpose for your life no matter what season you’re in.

So far 2021 has been filled with new challenges and uncertainty. The loss of a loved one, a needed job or even the independence to come and go may have disrupted your every day activities that bring you joy and purpose. Not only do the acts of serving others bring healing for them but may also provide healing and purpose to our own lives. Proverbs 11:25 encourages us, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” We hope to help you discover your purpose through workshops, articles, mentoring and ministry, as well as provide opportunities for you to live out that purpose. Contact us today and begin your new journey providing hope and care through one of our ministry opportunities.

Legacy

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” –Psalm 78:4

What kind of legacy will you leave? Will it be imperishable and eternal, or will you leave behind only tangible items like buildings, money and possessions?

Leaving a legacy begins now, while you are able to invest in others: your children and grandchildren, friends and neighbors, people you meet along the way.

The apostle Paul instructed Timothy to invest his life in faithful men who would pass God’s truth on to the next generation. Where does God want you to invest the time you have been given? The challenge is the same for all of us: to follow Christ and fulfill His call and vision for our lives. Let us help you write and tell your faith story, find needed resources for new life-transitions and prepare important documents for life’s natural end.

History

Pursue Life Adult Ministry is a ministry of Arizona Baptist Children’s Services & Family Ministries (ABCS). ABCS started as a home for displaced children in 1960. Over the years ABCS has evolved to encompass seven ministries with one mission: to provide hope and care to hurting children and families through Christ-centered ministries. We now serve the full spectrum of Arizona families, from unborn babies to senior adults.

The addition of Pursue Life Adult Ministry enables ABCS to have a special focus on adults aged 50+. While we serve this population through our resource centers, counseling ministry and other ABCS ministries, having a designated adult ministry allows us to better connect with aging adults and equip our church partners to support this growing population. We know that older adults play a critical role within the family as parents of adult children and grandparents, as well as within the broader community. It is a blessing to serve Arizonans of all ages from our regional offices spanning the state.

A clear vision for Pursue Life Adult Ministry continues to develop. As we discover more about God’s plan for His people as we age, Psalm 92:14 comes to mind: They will still bear fruit in old age: they will stay fresh and green. This is not what the world communicates to us, though. We can and must do something about the mindset that aging is something to fight or surrender to. Instead, God provides a life full of His goodness, and a personal calling to serve Him in ministry uniquely crafted for each individual.

With this inspiration in mind, Pursue Life embraces the infinite possibilities of being fruitful during every season of life. We seek to bridge the gap between adults in need and those willing to be used by God to help.

Leadership

Mona McDonald

Vice President