My dad was bequeathed a cabin in Wimauma by the daughter of Fiddlin' Jim Lewis, a Church of God preacher from way back. They go to Wimauma for any number of reasons: Camp Meeting, a preaching engagement, to visit folks/friends that were church members from way back, or just to escape a cold streak.I have long had an idea that I was unable to bring to fruition because (for one thing among many) I am not gifted to get people with big bucks to contribute to a worthy cause. That's why people like Dr. Paul Conn are so invaluable to a university: they can motivate people with deep pockets to give liberally. Think of all those abandoned malls throughout Florida. I thought it would be just wonderful if those empty stores could be transformed into apartments of some sort. The big box stores in the mall (e.g., an empty J.C. Penney, etc.) could be utilized for gathering areas, a cafeteria, a chapel/church, recreation, etc.People could exercise by walking the mall in complete safety.Now, here's where it gets interesting....We could have a full-time pastor to these retired Church of God members. That pastor would live on-site (in a parsonage/apartment) and would hold services for the residents, would visit them, etc. OR a local church that had the firepower to bring in quality music, programs, and preaching might serve the residents (and it might motivate the church if they get to count them in their reports, just as it would count for a nursing home, etc.).Also, in lieu of full salary, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and caregivers could be given an apartment to live in so long as they were employed by the facility (ideally, these would come vetted by Church of God pastors). A doctor could perhaps visit once a week--or people could be taken to the doctor, etc.The massive parking lots could be converted into a park or a golf course, of sorts.An Activities Director (think of someone like a James Cossey or the now deceased Arnold Godwin, etc.) who would put together trips, outings, schedule concerts, host talent shows, host game nights, etc.--all the stuff that can make life sweeter.As for security, there are likely plenty of retired police officers who could serve as security (perhaps also living on-site). Further, instead of multiple entrances, there might be only a couple, with all the other doors used only in emergencies.You see how big and convoluted this idea is. It's little wonder that I couldn't do anything with it except share it. (Arnold Godwin liked the idea, by the way.) ONE MORE BIG THING....What if those retired ministers, which centuries of collective experience and wisdom, manned a call center that allowed pastors to call in for advice or direction or prayer (anonymously, if they desired), or a prayer request line where someone could receive prayer, or get back to God, etc.? That is, instead of just HOUSING our retired ministers, we could allow them to remain active to a significant degree. The pastor of the facility might have a regular rotation of ministers to teach Sunday School (broken up into all sorts of groups, perhaps), or to preach on occasion, and certainly to assist with visits, etc.If anyone ever wins the lottery, do this. You will recall the woman that built a little room on this side of her house for Elisha? Not only did she RECEIVE a son, but she had the same son raised to life again. Not only was she warned by Elisha of a coming famine, but when she returned God gave her immediate favor with the king in reclaiming her lands.We will never be able to suitably repay all the good that this ministers of the gospel, now old, have done for the Kingdom at large and the Church of God. But it would be nice if for a percentage of their Social Security (or not) they had a place to stay, utilities taken care of, and three meals a day, etc.
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