At First Baptist Mebane, growing older doesn’t mean growing distant from the church. The JOY Group —a senior ministry for those 55 years of age and up — offers monthly lunches, mountain trips, and a roomful of friends.
Key Takeaways:
- JOY is a year-round senior ministry. The group meets for a monthly luncheon with programs and speakers, takes monthly day trips within a few hours of Mebane, and gathers weekly for games.
- The group takes care of its members. When getting to church became too hard for one longtime member, they started visiting her at home instead.
- Anyone is welcome. No membership required. Seniors from a local nursing home join the group for lunch every month, and newcomers can simply show up on the third Wednesday of the month.
When a senior member started having to carry oxygen, the walk from the elevator to the game room became difficult. Getting to other events became harder, too. Rather than letting her sit at home alone on game day, a small group from the JOY Group started going to her instead. For the past several months, they’ve shown up at her door. She’s always ready with games in hand.
That’s the spirit of First Baptist Church-Mebane’s JOY group, the senior ministry that focuses on providing members who are 55+ fellowship and social connection. The group hosts a monthly luncheon, a monthly trip somewhere within a few hours’ drive, and a weekly gathering for games.
“The purpose of JOY is to offer social activities and Christian fellowship to elderly members of our church,” says Nita Parnell, who recently stepped down from leading the group but remains the treasurer.
What a Wednesday Lunch Looks Like for This Senior Ministry
The luncheons are thoughtful and engaging. There’s always a program. Sometimes a singing group will come in. Sometimes they have a speaker. They also enjoy BINGO several times a year.
Recently, Shirley O’Donnell came in to share about growing up in England during World War II. It was an excellent program in a packed room. A typical crowd is around 35, but 50 came to hear her personal story of historical significance.
Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheons typically draw closer to 50 people as well, but it’s not the numbers that are most important. The purpose of the senior ministry is to offer interaction.
Even those who live in a local residential facility participate. “We have about seven people that come from Mebane Ridge Nursing Home,” Nita says. “They come and share the meal with us.”
Where the Trips Go
In addition to monthly luncheons, the JOY seniors go on trips to interesting places such as plays, museums, apple orchards, food markets in Raleigh and Rural Hall, and yes, even to Hamricks for a fun day of shopping. In the fall, they sometimes travel to the mountains enjoying lunch at the Daniel Boone Inn. “We go west as far as the mountains and east to the ocean.” Nita says.
“We’ve gone to Wilkesboro to see all kinds of things,” she says. “We’ve gone to Wilson, North Carolina, to see the whirligigs, and we rode a train one time from here to Raleigh. Would you believe you can have your blue jeans made just for your specifications in Raleigh?”
One of the group’s favorite destinations is the Temple Theater in Sanford, an old movie house that a couple of former New York stage actors bought and turned into a working theater. Of course, they also eat at Mrs. Lacy’s Tea Room, just a few blocks away.
Their food is part of the draw as much as the plays. “They serve about 12 different salads, sandwiches, and 12 different desserts that are big enough for three people. Everything there is good.” Nita says. “It’s just a lovely place, and the plays are great.”
The point of taking these trips is just to get out together. For people who might otherwise stay home, it’s a full day of fun with friends.
Who Keeps JOY Running
None of this happens on its own. A small team makes sure nothing falls through the cracks. The JOY committee — about nine people — meets quarterly with John Wiltshire as chairman and Margaret Robertson as secretary overseeing the details and keeping everything flowing smoothly. Ray Robertson gives his time driving the bus.
John Wiltshire stepped into the role as chairman in 2025, taking over for Nita who’s stayed in the treasurer’s role. “He’s an excellent speaker and does an excellent job on the committee meetings,” Nita says. “He’s great at what he does. He’s really very organized and such an excellent spokesperson.”
Lunches are sometimes catered, sometimes potluck. JOY members pitch in to decorate, and Libby and Angie from SonShine Ministries step in and help clean up while the SonShine preschoolers are napping.
Why FBC-Mebane Started a Senior Ministry
The JOY group is an essential part of the church community. “The church has something for every age group,” Nita says, describing why JOY was created. “We wanted to provide a social time for the seniors, that they could get together and enjoy programs and meals together, and even trips.”
For people who don’t feel comfortable on longer trips, or no longer drive at all, the group means they don’t have to give up getting out and seeing new places. Some seniors simply don’t leave the house much anymore, and this gives them somewhere to go and a time to fellowship with friends.
“It’s an outreach to those 55+ ,” Nita says. “They can come together in Christian fellowship and enjoy some things in life that they may not be capable of doing on their own.”
Caring for Every Age
The Senior Adult Advisory Leadership Team (SAALT) makes the JOY events possible by planning and arranging the monthly lunches, trips, and programs.
Nita sees that commitment as proof of how much the church cares about its oldest members. “The church is as caring of their seniors as they are of everyone else,” Nita says. “From the time you’re born to the time you die, First Baptist Mebane not only loves you, but they want to take care of you and make sure you have a full Christian life.”
Their care is easy to feel the moment you walk in the door of a JOY group luncheon. “I feel like we’re such a very friendly group,” Nita says. “Nothing makes us happier than to see a new face.”
If you’re looking for a welcoming place to fellowship with other seniors, the JOY group meets for lunch on the third Wednesday of every month at 11:30. Newcomers are always welcome.
You don’t have to be a member of the church to come. For lunch and trips, just sign up on the JOY sheet located in the hall near the covered side entrance, or call the church office ahead of time at 919-563-3176.
