Reaching out with community exercise sessions.
Did you know that if seniors exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, six times in a week, they can increase their chances of longevity by more than 40 per cent?[1] Beyond improving one’s physical health, having regular light exercise “reduces risk of disease outcomes, and triggers important psychological gains,” thereby bringing about a higher quality of life for the individual.[2]
That is why, for over a year now, Ps Andy Lau and his dedicated team of volunteers from New Life Church (NLC) have been conducting weekly exercise sessions for elderly residents living in the Eunos estate. Twice a week, Ps Andy and his team would spend their mornings with large groups of seniors at public spaces like the basketball court next to Block 415 Eunos Road 5 sweating it out.
It wasn’t always like this. When it was launched sometime in early July last year, this initiative was met with much hesitance from members of the public as people were still afraid of being exposed to the COVID-19 virus. It did not help that, not long after, Singapore reverted to tightened safe management measures due to new “clusters detected at… nightclubs”.[3]
Undeterred, Ps Andy rallied members of NLC to pray over and sow into this work faithfully. Eventually, by God’s grace, the group grew from just a handful of people to about an average of 57 participants each week.
One of the regulars, Mdm Irene Tan, shared proudly that she has never missed a session since she joined in June 2021. “Before this, I never exercised. After I join, I feel that my health and mood has improved… I really like this exercise because health is very important to me,” she elaborated. Another elderly lady in her 70s Mdm Fatini Tan added, “I also like this exercise because now, when I walk, I don’t feel so out-of-breath. Last time, when I walk here from the MRT, I will have to stop mid-way and take a break. Now, I don’t need to stop anymore, and I get to make friends here.”
After befriending these seniors, the NLC team would invite them to attend a monthly outreach event, the “Seniors’ FunLand”, held at the church every first Saturday of the month. At these events, Ps Andy and his team focused on developing the elderly participants’ cognitive and social skills while also sharing with them the gospel message through interactive games and activities. Sometimes, they would even take the elderly to outdoor spaces like Chinatown or Jewel Changi Airport so that volunteers can have extended time to interact with and get to know the elderly members.
“Ultimately, we want our elderly to understand 3 ‘H’s – healthy, happy and hearty. Whilst it is important to have good health, physically and mentally, we also want to convey to our seniors that it is also essential that we learn to give of ourselves to others, just as how our volunteers gave of their time for them, and just as how God gave Himself to us,” commented Ps Andy.
There is no surprise, then, that some of the regular seniors whom Ps Andy’s team had followed up with have been coming alongside them on trips to community homes and other charitable organizations to bring cheer and support to other less fortunate or needy elderly members.
As one sister on the team Mdm Lim Su Cheng puts it, “It feels really good when we do these [blessing projects] together because there is more motivation when we come together as a group. This kind of witnessing is something that cannot be rushed, but it feels good to get to know and understand them, and very encouraging to also co-labor with them in contributing back to the community. Hopefully, they will come to experience God’s love with time.”
While we clock in that bit of exercise every day to have a longer life on earth, let us also strive to share a holistic gospel, influencing and involving the people we meet every day for the life beyond too.
Photo credit: New Life Church
[1] “Never Too Late for Elderly to Start Exercising,” Live Healthy, Home, HealthHub.sg, last modified December 21, 2021, https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/883/never-too-late-to-start.
[2] Jacob R. Sattelmair, Jeremy H Pertman, and Daniel E. Forman, “Effects of physical activity on cardiovascular and noncardiovascular outcomes in older adults,” Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 25, no. 4 (November 2009): 677-702, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2009.07.004.
[3] “Going Back To Phase 2 Heightened Alert,” News Highlight, Ministry of Health, last modified July 20, 2021, https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/going-back-to-phase-2-heightened-alert.
