Our stories, His story: Unveiling the sociocultural barriers of Singapore Chinese elderly when they follow Jesus

The elderly are becoming the fastest growing population segment in the world. In 2000, their number was about 605 million; it is projected to grow to two billion by 2050, when, for the first time in history, older persons will outnumber children. According to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, by the end of the century, 27 percent of the world's population will consist of older persons.;In Singapore, the context for this dissertation, life expectancy grew from 66 in 1960 to 80.9 in 2008. To address such population shifts and the needs they engender, government authorities have periodically revised public policies to address emerging needs. The church, however, has seemed largely oblivious, and studies of the elderly and their needs are scarce---this, in spite of the fact that, in Singapore, for example, the Chinese elderly Christian population has also been increasing. What accounts for this? Are they enjoying the abundance of life in Christ? What unique barriers do Chinese elderly persons face when they become followers of Jesus? How might they be addressed?;This dissertation aimed to look into those questions. It used a qualitative approach based on the life stories of 24 Chinese persons who were baptized at age 60 or older. The stories, the result of extensive interviews, revealed several socio-cultural barriers of significance. Behind the barriers lay two fundamental factors: (1) not hearing any serious witness to the gospel in their younger years; and (2) the dominance of their traditional Chinese and religious milieu. But, as the interviews showed, that was not all, for life was harsh and family needs were immediate and pressing. The consistent testimony of the interviewees was that they unconditionally committed themselves to work and family as their ultimate priorities. Therefore, those, too, would become stumbling blocks to finding and following Jesus daily in life.;Many Chinese who decided to follow the religion of their Christian loved ones did so because of crises after retirement and the insecurity of aging. Almost inevitably, though, their initial intention to follow Jesus was superficial, not transformative. After baptism, many older Chinese persons took their new faith seriously only in terms of worship and tithing. Impediments from their past lives kept them from enjoying the abundance of life in Christ.;The findings of this study point to the importance for elderly Chinese Christians of being guided into a process of transforming identity as the children of God, if they are to enjoy the joyful abundance of the Christian life. For this to happen, and for their new identity to deepen, the church must become a new family. By taking this responsibility seriously, the church can also help the elderly embrace a transformed worldview of work, family, and their past and tradition. As the church better understands God's intention of blessing and transforming the elderly for his glory, it, too, will see change and grasp its responsibility to unleash them from the negative stereotypes in an ageist culture. Hence, positive changes are possible in the aging process for Chinese Christian older persons, helping them to enjoy the abundance of life in Christ with hope.