After going through the Experiencing God Bible study, written by Henry, Michael and Richard Blackaby, a senior adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Church at Eaglepoint in Jacksonville realized the opportunity the Lord was putting before the members to bridge the generation gap between seniors and college students.
“My husband is the Sunday School teacher for the class that started this ministry,” Sandra Pettit explained. “Our Sunday School class felt God was calling us to some kind of ministry in our community, but we didn’t know what it was. The previous year members of the class randomly shared testimonies about what God had done or was doing in our lives. We felt these testimonies needed to be shared with the community [and] tried several outreaches with no interest.”
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However, everything seemed to change as the group found a way to connect with the community and truly “experience God.”
“One Sunday as we were studying our Experiencing God lesson for that week, Lamar [Pettit] stopped after reading an example about how God uses senior adults to minister to college students. He said, ‘Duh! We live in a college town. We could be ministering to college students.’”
Although it was initially met with resistance as many in the class doubted students would want to ‘hang out’ with senior adults, it was enough to spark further conversation and curiosity.
“We discussed [it] with our college pastor and he was excited about the possibility,” Pettit recalled. “He announced the idea at the college group’s Monday night service called Engage, which is open to all college students on the Jacksonville State University campus. He said, ‘If you are interested in a mentorship program with people your grandparents age then sign up tonight.’”
Beginning with 15 students, the group was called Titus 2 based on Titus 2:3–5.
“We were astonished,” she recalled. “We met monthly on a Sunday night in someone’s home, fed them a home-cooked meal, shared our personal testimonies and talked about topics that college students deal with. We love on them and take interest in their lives.”
Through the partnership, senior adult women and college girls have baked Christmas cookies together, made jelly and biscuits, had slumber parties, been on shopping trips and other activities.
The senior adult men have taught the guys to work on cars, taken them to the shooting range and other activities, desiring to model examples of godly men.
“We are now referred to as their Jacksonville grandparents and introduce them as such,” Pettit said.
“Is ministry easy? Maybe not, but it is absolutely rewarding. Living in a college town does make it easier to start a college ministry, and already having a college ministry in place at our church helps.”
‘Win, win’
Pettit believes other senior adult ministries can experience the power of God’s work — both spiritually and personally — as they bridge the generation gap with students in their communities.
“If you are wanting to start a ministry like Titus 2, ask your pastor, college pastor and college students if they would be interested in a group where they are loved on, fed and encouraged like their grandparents do,” Pettit said. “Make yourself known, help out on moving days and have a booth on ministry days. Know, like it says in Experiencing God, to find where God is working and join Him.
“Pray about what God wants you to do. Let Him know you are available, and know that you will have to make adjustments in your life to follow God in His work — late night talks, boyfriend breakup consoling, future life counseling, opening your home to meals, parties, sleepovers and spiritual advice. We tell students that we can’t believe they want to hang out with old people. They tell us they can’t believe we want to keep up with them. One student told us she had prayed for something like this when she started school.
“It’s a win, win situation from God for all of us.”
Growing ministry
In 2023 Titus 2 started with 15 students and now there are 140 involved in the effort.
“There are people who quietly change the course of life without ever asking for recognition,” college student Grayson James said. “The Titus 2 group is made up of those people.
“What began as a Sunday School class became a place where college students found not only a seat at the table, but a family. They opened their homes, shared meals, prayed over us and faithfully pointed us to Christ.
“When I surrendered my life to Jesus in college, I needed wisdom, courage to leave my life behind and people to remind me to keep my eyes fixed on Him. In His kindness, God placed the Titus 2 group in my path. Through their discipleship, encouragement and faithful prayers, they became His hands and feet to me. I thank Jesus for the Kingdom work they continue to do. Their faithfulness has become a part of my testimony, and I truly believe God used them to help save my life.”
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