Crescendo
Aging is not optional. How we do it is.
Crescendo, an initiative of Make and Deepen Disciples, is focused on equipping pastors, staff, and church leaders to unleash the potential of boomers and beyond to engage in the work of God’s kingdom. The holistic approach of Crescendo is rooted in biblical models, historical evidence, and current studies of aging. These inform us that purposeful living and giving of oneself in serving others directly correlates to spiritual, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional well-being.
About Crescendo
An age wave of tsunami proportion is here. 10,000 people have turned 65 each day since 2011 and will continue to do so through 2029. It is estimated that by 2035, the US will have more people who are 65+ than under 18. We believe the church today is called to challenge boomers and beyond to engage in purposeful living as missional disciples. The later years of life can be a fulfilling and productive season for advancing Christ’s mission.
The name Crescendo comes to us from the world of music. It is defined as a gradual increase and building to a strong culmination. This concept is at the heart of the Crescendo initiative. God desires that all live fully into his purposes for the entirety of our lives. As the psalmist says,
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” -Psalm 92:12-14.
Featured Resource
Caregiving for Aging Parents and Family Members
This four-session study is designed to encourage and educate caregivers of all ages or prepare those anticipating caregiving in the future. Topics explored include overview and elements of caregiving, care for the caregiving, and caregiving as a transforming experience.
Download Our App
The Crescendo: Vital Living App will inspire, encourage, and equip you in your personal journey of vital living. With this app, you can access our downloadable resources, devotions, inspirations, reflections, and other resources.
Our Stories
5 Minutes with Debbie Griffith-Samuels
For Covenant pastor Debbie Griffith-Samuels, retirement has never been an excuse to sit on the sidelines.
Sent: The Ongoing, Adventurous, Circuitous Call
Following her retirement from a high-stress job, Sharon Davis finds herself serving at “the ends of the world.”
Cycling Senior Supports Biking for Congo
Annalee Boulton of Arlington United Church cycles 50 kilometers at 88 years old to support the 2022 Biking for Congo Challenge.
Percy Mueda Honored as Outstanding Layperson
Percy Mueda of Grace Covenant Church in South San Francisco, California, was awarded the Theodore W. Anderson Award for Outstanding Layperson at the 136th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Identity Development
Pastor Steve Wong, the first Asian American church planter in the Covenant, reflects on how we tell our stories as a multicultural mosaic.
Five Minutes with Russell Jeung
Jeung is professor and chair of the Asian American studies department at San Francisco State University and a member of New Hope Covenant Church in Oakland.
Leadership Team
The Crescendo team seeks to raise awareness of the issues surrounding aging and to provide a framework for holistic ministry. The vision is to help boomers and beyond to unleash their potential and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to live with purpose, vitality, and mission in the later stages of life.
Johnson and Forsman are authors of Crescendo: An Ascent to Vital Living, a resource for churches and individuals. Blue wrote the book’s foreword.
