Many studies have been conducted on the positive impact music has on the elderly. It has been found that for older adults, music provides an outlet for creativity, socialisation and mental stimulation. Seniors who have Alzheimer’s Disease also benefit from music therapy.

Singapore will be a super-aged society by 2026 – more than 1 in 5 people will be aged 65 and above. The government’s national population and talent division has projected that by 2030, that number will increase to 1 in 4, compared to 1 in 10 in 2010.

It has been reported that the PCF (PAP Community Foundation), known for opening kindergartens, is now involved in opening eldercare centres to take care of seniors.

The Ministry of Health’s 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing sets the goal of having 220 eldercare centres by 2025, aiming to serve 80% of the total senior population or about 800,000 people. Back in 2021, there were only 60 such centres, but by April 2024, this number had grown to 208. 

Understanding the new landscape for evangelism

Last October, the One for Jesus (OFJ) team organised an OFJ Pastors/leaders Learn and Share gathering where over 80 leaders from local churches gathered to discuss the evangelism landscape in Singapore.

Leaders in the eldercare sector and church music ministries gathered to share and learn last October in the event held by One for Jesus.

Founder Jason Wong highlighted the ageing population as a key challenge and area of ministry. 

“Is the Church ready?” is the big question. As the population ages, so do congregations.

One big opportunity for outreach lies with Senior Activity Centres (SACs). These centres provide resources and training that many elderly church members need. They also offer services that support seniors outside the church.

Churches have the opportunity to send befrienders and volunteers to help out with activities like ukulele performances or Christmas parties. Religious bodies like local churches are, in fact, encouraged to get involved.

There is much synergy between the centres and the churches. SACs offer the necessary services, expertise and equipping to churches that need to take care of their elderly congregants, and the churches have volunteers and programmes to offer to the seniors in the neighbourhood in partnership with the SACs. 

One important point to consider is that churches can also partner with one another. How many churches today already have ministries to the elderly? And for those that don’t, the need will eventually arise. Churches can learn from each other’s experiences in this area, and SACs can do the same.

A National Day celebration, bringing music to the seniors of St Luke’s ElderCare.

The One for Jesus team has embraced this opportunity.

On August 30, 2024, over 30 Christian leaders serving seniors from various SACs, NGOs, and churches with seniors ministries gathered at The Father’s House for a collaborative dialogue and networking session.

The goal was to discuss how the Church can better serve and reach the elderly, with a vision to create an ecosystem where churches and SACs collaborate in serving the social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the elderly. Through this, experiences can be shared and outreach strategies can be strengthened across various ministries.

Reaching Seniors through Music and Community

The Bible says that we are to be “all things to all men,”and this includes using music to reach seniors. Music has a hugely positive impact on the elderly, alleviating mental health challenges and reducing depression, and the community created through these activities can help combat loneliness.

JOLLY JAMMERS: A church music ministry serving the elderly community through uplifting oldies sing-a-along sessions

Jolly Jammers is a music ministry started by church members of Emmanuel Assembly of God who love music from past eras and wanted to serve the elderly in their church by performing a medley of oldies hits and worship songs and getting them to sing along.

Jolly Jammers are members of Emmanuel AOG who love the oldies and enjoy performing them for seniors.

After a few years of serving their church, Jolly Jammers was presented the question, “Are we going to remain just a group singing within the church? Or should we take this beyond the four walls of our church?” 

Spurred by the growing desire to serve the community, Jolly Jammers ventured out into the public space, singing and ministering to the elderly at places such as Kampung Siglap Community of Hope, St Luke’s ElderCare centres and other places. 

At one such sing-along event, a staff member of the eldercare centre who had not been going to church for many years was deeply moved by Jolly Jammers’ love in serving the elderly.

As a result, he decided to join the band to serve alongside them, and began going to Emmanuel Assembly of God with the band members. Today, he is joyfully plugged into a loving cell group community and growing in the faith. 

HEARTDRIVE: An inter-church music ministry serving the elderly through energising performances 

Another music ministry serving the elderly community is HeartDrive. Founded by Benny Lee from Evangel Baptist Church, HeartDrive is an inter-church music ministry made up of musicians from various churches. Since their inception in 2019, they have performed at many places, such as St Luke’s ElderCare Centres and Sengkang General Hospital.

Benny Lee of Evangel Baptist Church shared how the ministry he founded, HeartDrive uses sing-along sessions to reach out to seniors.

Before every performance, HeartDrive is intentional about praying together as a band on stage. Their desire is to show the audience that they are not just any band, but one that is dedicated to glorifying God. 

When performing for the elderly community, they sing a medley of nostalgic oldies – in different dialects and languages. At the end of each performance, they conclude with a worship song like “10,000 Reasons”, “Amazing Grace” or “Hold My Hand” (Hokkien).

Following the performance, a speaker shares an uplifting Gospel message to encourage the elderly.

Benefits of Music to Seniors 

In engaging with seniors through their favourite tunes, both Jolly Jammers and HeartDrive have discovered that seniors visibly light up and feel young and energetic again as they reminisce about their good old days. The community is strengthened as they create memorable and fun times singing along to their favourite songs. 

Jolly Jammers, a music ministry from Emmanuel Assembly of God demonstrated a oldies sing-along session with the OFJ gathering.

Howard Wong, Manager, Pastoral Care, Counselling and Partnerships, at St Luke’s ElderCare explains, “Music is an impactful way to help seniors understand emotions of loneliness and anxiety, or the sense of loss of identity due to dementia – feelings that words alone may not fully describe.

“Christian songs or familiar songs can help the seniors, particularly in reaching their long-term memory that associates with familiar and happy memories. As a result, there is a decrease in their anxiety, loneliness and loss of identity.” 

How does serving the elderly benefit the church?

Rev Gabriel Liew from Living Hope Methodist Church shares one of his favourite quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The church is the church only when it exists for others.” 

“Our church’s partnership with St Luke’s ElderCare centres enables us to fulfil our mission to be a church for others: To minister to the lost, the least and the last.

St Luke’s ElderCare regularly collaborates with music ministries across different churches to entertain and engage their elderly clients, particularly during occasions such as Chinese New Year.

“Every Tuesday, our church volunteers engage in activities with seniors, such as singing, art and craft, fitness, and more. We are thankful to serve the nation and this ageing population with the love of God, for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14b) 

Have a desire to serve the seniors in your community?

Do you have a desire to move beyond the four walls of your church to serve the ageing community? If you have a desire to start a music ministry or join an existing music ministry (or any ministry efforts) in reaching out to the elderly and/or you need support or resources to do so, please contact the One for Jesus team at [email protected].

If you are leading a ministry to seniors in your church, or wish to find out how to start such a ministry, One for Jesus welcomes you to join their newly formed OFJ@Seniors group so that you can learn and share best practices with each other. Reach out to the OFJ team at [email protected].