On January 1, 2022, ENCORE Ministry became the combined organizational name for two entities of the legacy Tennessee Conference that united to support older adult ministry in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Conference.
 
The previous entities were the Golden Cross Foundation and the ENCORE Ministry Committee.
 
ENCORE Ministry provides older adult ministry resources, leader training, church consultations, and grants to equip TWK churches for ministry by, with, and for older adults. TWK churches receive ENCORE Ministry services at no cost.
 
Dr. Richard Gentzler, director of the former Tennessee Conference ENCORE Ministry Committee, oversees the committee's mission of providing older adult ministry resources, leader training, and consultations.
 
“The committee has served pastors and older adult ministry church leaders in the legacy Tennessee Conference since 2015,” said Gentzler. “I look forward to continuing those relationships while forming new ones with our brothers and sisters in the legacy Memphis Conference.”
 
For more information, contact Gentzler at rgentzler@encoreministry.org or at 615-400-0539.
 
ENCORE Ministry will also provide matching grants to TWK Conference churches, districts, and conference agencies. Those grants support the creation of older adult ministries benefitting senior adults in fellowship, food security, healthcare access, affordable housing, transportation, spiritual development, and church building accessibility.
 
The popular grant program began seven years ago in the legacy Tennessee Conference. Since 2014, the Golden Cross Foundation has given over $723,000 in matching grants to 69 Tennessee Conference churches and agencies.
 
For grants or funding information, contact ENCORE Ministry Executive Director Kent McNish at kmcnish@encoreministry.org or 615-479-6175.
 
ENCORE Ministry operates exclusively from gifts and grants from generous donors. It does not receive apportionment funding from the TWK Conference.