Aging Forward: A Methodist Legacy That’s Redefining What It Means to Grow Older

In 1972, United Methodist minister Rev. Dr. Elbert Cole sparked a quiet revolution. He believed retirement wasn’t an ending; it was a powerful new beginning. From that courage and vision came the first Shepherd’s Center in Kansas City, Missouri, grounded in a bold idea: older adults still had much to contribute and were eager for purpose, connection, and growth. Rooted in whole-person wellness—physical, mental, and spiritual—his model brought people of all backgrounds and beliefs together in community and service.

What began as one man’s calling quickly became a national movement.

Today, Cole’s legacy lives on through Aging Forward (formerly Shepherd’s Centers of America), a national alliance of more than fifty-five community-based organizations in seventeen states. These affiliates serve 165,000 older adults each year and have touched more than three million lives across five decades. The mission remains clear: to affirm the dignity, vitality, and value of every older adult.

Now celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, Aging Forward continues to honor its Methodist roots while boldly looking ahead. It reflects a growing movement that sees older adults not as a burden, but as a vital force. With their wisdom and compassion, older adults strengthen families, uplift congregations, and enrich entire communities. Aging Forward supports and amplifies that impact.

As Aging Forward evolves, its mission remains anchored in Cole’s teachings. “The greatest human need is the need to feel needed,” he said. That conviction guides the work today. By offering meaningful ways to serve, connect, and grow, Aging Forward helps older adults rediscover their place in the world and the joy of being part of something bigger than themselves.

At Aging Forward, aging is not something to endure. It’s a season to embrace. Programs focus on lifelong learning, wellness, volunteering, and social connection. Designed by, with, and for older adults, the programs reflect the unique needs of each community while staying grounded in shared values.

This approach is more than compassionate; it’s crucial. One in four adults over the age of sixty-five experiences social isolation, a public health crisis linked to depression, dementia, heart disease, and early death. But the antidote is clear: connection. Aging Forward builds community where it is needed most, creating spaces where older adults find friendship, belonging, and renewed purpose.

Looking to the future, Aging Forward aims to build a broad, inclusive alliance of nonprofits dedicated to reimagining aging in America. It is a recognizable force for good, rooted in community and powered by those it serves.

Its interfaith foundation aligns closely with United Methodist values of service, justice, and inclusion. Many Aging Forward affiliates were started by United Methodist churches and continue to thrive through their leadership and support. Today, about one-third of all affiliates are hosted in United Methodist churches, and in almost every affiliate, a Methodist congregation actively participates.

How Can United Methodist Congregations Get Involved?

• Explore: Visit aging-forward.org to learn about local programs.
• Volunteer: Invite your congregation to serve with joy and intention.
• Partner: Start a new affiliate or collaborate with one already making a difference in your community.

Cole’s vision is a powerful reminder of what faith in action can achieve. By embracing Aging Forward’s mission, United Methodist congregations can help ensure that growing older means living with purpose, dignity, and joy.

Aging Forward is more than a network. It’s a movement. Together, we can redefine what it means to grow older in America.

Sarah Cheney has worked with older adults since 1996 and with interfaith volunteer caregiving initiatives since 2000, including leadership roles in two nationally recognized Robert Wood Johnson Foundation programs. She joined Aging Forward in 2005, serving first as a board member and now as executive director. Sarah holds degrees in journalism and health education. She lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.