What an 85-Year-Old Disciple Taught Me About Finishing Strong
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to interview my friend Al Baird on the podcast.
Al is 85 years old.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Most people his age have long since retired. Many have slowed down physically, mentally, and spiritually. Some have resigned themselves to simply waiting for the next chapter of life.
Not Al.
At 85 years old, he is driving an hour and a half each way every weekend to preach for a church in Bakersfield, California.
And honestly, after talking with him, I came away inspired.
🎙️ Listen to the Podcast Here
85 Years Old and Still Preaching: Why Al Baird Refuses to Retire
When I asked Al what motivated him to keep going at his age, his answer wasn’t complicated.
He has a dream.
That’s it.
A church in Bakersfield had been struggling. They hadn’t had a full-time minister for several years. The members were discouraged. Some had stopped giving. Many had stopped dreaming.
But Al saw something different.
He saw opportunity.
He saw potential.
He saw a church that could grow.
In fact, he told me he could envision a church of 500 disciples in Bakersfield someday.
At 85 years old, he’s still dreaming bigger than many people half his age.
That got me thinking.
The Danger of Losing Your Dream
One of the most powerful things Al said during our conversation was this:
“Everybody needs a dream.”
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how true that is.
Without a dream, we drift.
Without a vision, we slowly lose our sense of purpose.
Without a reason to get up in the morning, life becomes smaller and smaller.
I’ve seen it happen.
I’ve seen Christians who were once passionate about God slowly settle into maintenance mode. They still attend church. They still believe. But the fire is gone.
The dream is gone.
They’re no longer asking:
- How can God use me?
- Who can I help?
- Who can I encourage?
- What can I build?
- What can I contribute?
Instead, life becomes about comfort, convenience, and simply getting through the day.
That isn’t how God designed us to live.
Retirement Is Not the Finish Line
One of the things I’ve appreciated about Al over the years is his perspective on retirement.
Most people view retirement as an exit strategy.
Al views it as a ministry opportunity.
When your career ends, you suddenly gain something incredibly valuable:
Time.
The question becomes:
What will you do with it?
Will you simply consume more entertainment?
Take more vacations?
Play more golf?
There’s nothing wrong with rest. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying life.
But what if retirement became your most fruitful ministry season?
What if God gave you extra years not just for comfort, but for impact?
What if your greatest contribution to the Kingdom is still ahead of you?
Al believes that.
And frankly, so do I.
Life After Loss
One of the most touching parts of our conversation centered around Al’s wife, Gloria.
They were married for 56 years.
After she passed away eight years ago, life changed dramatically.
Al told me something I’ll never forget:
“You don’t get over that.”
He’s right.
Some losses leave permanent marks on our hearts.
And yet, even through grief, Al has continued serving.
Not because life is easy.
Not because he isn’t lonely.
But because he still believes God has a purpose for him.
That takes faith.
Real faith.
The kind of faith that keeps showing up even when life hurts.
The Example of Irene Gurganus
Our conversation eventually turned to one of my heroes: Irene Gurganus.
After her husband George passed away, Irene could have slowed down.
Instead, she started new ministries.
She shared her faith relentlessly.
Even when confined to a wheelchair, she had college students push her around campus so she could talk to people about God.
I love that story.
Because it reminds me that usefulness in God’s Kingdom isn’t determined by age.
It’s determined by heart.
As long as you’re breathing, God can use you.
So What’s Your Dream?
Maybe you’re 25.
Maybe you’re 45.
Maybe you’re 75.
The question remains the same:
What’s your dream?
What has God put on your heart?
Who are you trying to help?
What are you building?
Who are you praying for?
Where are you growing?
If you don’t have an answer right now, spend some time praying about it.
Ask God to give you a fresh vision.
A fresh purpose.
A fresh dream.
Because one thing became crystal clear after talking with Al Baird:
The people who stay spiritually alive are the people who keep dreaming.
They keep believing.
They keep serving.
They keep growing.
And they never stop asking:
“How can God use me now?”
That’s a question worth asking every single day.
Make this life count,
Rob Skinner
🎙️ Listen to This Episode
85 Years Old and Still Preaching: Why Al Baird Refuses to Retire
If this article encouraged you, share it with a friend, a retiree, a ministry leader, or someone who needs a fresh dream for the next season of life.
