"A young man in an old man's body." That's how the Bible School students describe Pastor Reuwel Gathinji. If ever the "spirit of Caleb" was in man, then Pastor Reuwel has it. Caleb conquered the Giants in the Promised Land with vigor and valor well past the age of 85 (see Josh 14 & 15). Pastor Reuwel is doing the same. He started attending Bible School at the age of 75! Imagine beginning a Bible Studies Diploma program after being out of school for 60 years!
At an age when most would be retired, Pastor Reuwel is still a full-time worker, full time pastor, full-time father and grandfather. Reuwel left primary school at the age of 14 to support his parents and siblings. He makes his livelihood selling firewood. He lives alone, having been widowed since 2012. By God's grace, his body is healthy, his mind is as clear as ever and his spirit years to serve the Lord better every day. It's been a long journey with the Lord, but not always an easy one. This world doesn't take kindly to "mighty men of valor." In fact, it pushes back hard.
After building a vibrant church and ministry over several decades years, his church property was demolished 4 years ago. Some people decided they had better use of the property. That is not uncommon in the slums. at any moment, you can be thrust out of your own shack. if the local mafia decides they have bigger plans and better uses for the land, they'll "persuade" you to leave...or burn down your building. Whatever it takes, they'll get the land. And there's no legal or practical remedies in existence. This is what happened to Pastor Reuwel. Others decided his plot was valuable. They simply pushed him out (literally) and knocked down his church. He has yet to recover the ministry. It has left a deep wound in his heart. 34 years of ministry came to a sudden halt. The Giants seem to have prevailed. But Pastor Reuwel believes otherwise...
"I'm not done. I'm still believing God that He will give me a plot and building, and my church will blossom like never before! I know in my heart that this is simply a Test. And I am determined, bu God's grace, to pass it! My God is a Giant-slayer!"
For the past 4 years, Pastor Reuwel has been serving in another church. He is the Youth Pastor! And that should not strike you as odd. It is the way things should be. Youth have precious little to offer other youths. It is the elders who are called to disciple youth. All to often we see Youth Ministry leadership relegated to young adults. Young men who have not weathered the realities of career, marriage, parenting, serious illness, death of immediate family members, marital strife, betrayals, unrequited love, accusations, financial straits, etc. The list goes on and on. Those who have gone through the "real life" and come out with the other side still standing with the Lord...it is those whom we put in positions of discipling the next Generation. Grey hair should be a prerequisite for leading a Youth Ministry.
There are three sequential Phases in life. Each marked in 30 year increments. The First Phase, 0-30, is an Age of Development. From infancy to adulthood. In this phase we are largely dependent, inexperienced, excitable, unreliable and prone to run into the ditch frequently. We are not pillars of anything much more than energy, bravado and questionable intentions. We're still learning the purpose of making our bed, showing up for work on time, and moving out of chronic dependency. Serving the Lord should be an ever-increasing part of our life. But Ministry Leadership is simply out of the question.
The Second Phase approximates the age of 31-60. It is an Age of Enlightenment. Where Real Life Application meets Real Life Opposition. In the crucible of "Experience," maturity is either arrested or promoted. Life's greatest testing comes in this Phase: Marriage or Celibacy, Agility or Disability, Stagnation or Progression, Arrested Development or Fruitfulness. All of life's challenges are thrown at you: livelihood, housing, marriage, childbearing, parenting, caring for dependents and elderly parents, sickness, financial pressures, reputation, and ever increasing responsibility. We are quickly Enlightened as to what Life is really all about. Moral Character is tested and proven daily. Christ-like Maturity is molded. Experience is thrust into our hands, whether we are willing and able or not. We learn to organize, prioritize, recall, reboot and recover. It is only with the Lord's wisdom that we manage to survive. Prayerfully we even prosper...in all the right and righteous ways of the Lord. In this stage, serving in church or ministry is vital but limited. We have enormous spiritual and practical responsibilities, which constrains our availability for public ministry.
The most productive Phase in life is age 61-90. This is the Age of Engagement. Having passed through Development, having survived Enlightenment, we are now released into free and full Engagement with all generations. We are at the "top of our game." We have something to Give. Something to Pass on. Something to Say. Something to Minister with. It is from these elders that we should be appointing our Primary Church and Ministry Leaders. Especially Youth Pastors and Leaders. I don't want my children learning spiritual truths from someone still growing into Independence. I want someone who has been Independent, Resilient, Responsible and Accountable for 30+ years. Someone who has passed through the fire...multiple times. Until they came in and out of fires not even smelling of smoke. Someone with grey hair...and seasoned Character.
The Africans have a unique name for such a person: "Mzee." (Kiswahili, pronounced em'zae). The Respected Elder. Both are essential qualification: "Elder"...not anyone young or middle aged. And then "Respected." That is, not just any elderly person, but a respectable honorable, mature and wise elder. Pastor Reuwel is the consummate "Mzee." He has fixed his foundation in Christ, weathered the storm of opposition, produced much spiritual fruit and kept his eyes fixed on the upward goal in Christ. This is not a man to be set aside at the church and viewed as "past his prime." Much the opposite! He's just entering his prime!!
The hope of our generation is not in the Millennials. Is is not in the Mid-Lifers. It is in the Mzee Generation. And those in it are obliged to be Engaged to the fullest. No time for this nonsense called "retirement." It is simply not biblical for the able bodied and able minded. Living an indulgent life of leisure, pleasure consumption and idleness is scandalous. It's time to take the highest hill and conquer the remaining Giants. The Mzee Generation is the one most accountable for the final Command of Christ: Discipleship. Exploit those few remaining years of being able-bodied, able-minded and largely free of responsibilities for dependents. It should be our Season of Utmost Engagement...without hesitation, with urgency, inspiring others to follow, and eventually passing the baton of Godly Living, Wisdom and Experience.
Pastor Reuwel spoke at the graduation ceremonies this past year. He is determined to open a new church in the year 2022 at the age of 76! Determined because "time is short/" Here is a portion of Mzee Reuwel's profound proclamation...
"For years I have been held back by my Bishop. He put me aside once my church was demolished. He thinks I'm not worth reinvesting in. May God have mercy upon him for his ignorance. His church may not need me. But God's church does. I'm going out like Moses. Like Joshua. Like Caleb. God is not done with me yet. I'm going to finish the race God has set before me."
The crowd roared. And the Giants are trembling!
