Who for: People in the 'third phase' of life
Find out more: Contact Sue Wernham (Basingstoke) for help and advice

What is the Third Phase?

Someone has described life in terms of different phases. The first phase is all to do with learning & education: “potty training to degree” – you could say. The second phase has the emphasis on responsibility, maybe the training of children, career, mortgage. Life’s 3rd phase is characterised by a new flexibility and freedom in which the weighty responsibilities of phase 2 are beginning to recede. The career may have plateaued. You may be approaching retirement or actually retired. The children may have left home! the mortgage may not seem so huge. Entry into ‘Phase 3’ may be gradual or sudden. It may happen while you are quite young. You may be single or married, male or female, middle-aged or older – there are NO stereotypes. The phase you are entering is a period of release.

How do I get started with a Third Phase Ministry?

First things first!

• Talk it through with the elders & get their blessing.
• Give it a name – Phase 3 is how it’s identified both in S&L and networking together via the internet.
• Get an envisioned team of people – you can’t do this on your own. At least one of you should be comfortable promoting & inspiring from the front.
• Negotiate a small budget – BCC also gave us one for gifting speakers, photocopying, printing etc
• Have a ‘vision statement’ – feel free to pinch ours!

Next step

• Present the vision to the church using all possible channels.
• Organise the launch event – suggestion: have a ‘convivial’ evening out – a sit down meal with wine, live jazz & an engaging after dinner speaker who appreciates & wholeheartedly supports the vision.
• Sell tickets with a deadline to encourage commitment, make it easier for the caterers & so it covers its own costs (apart from ministry gifts).
• Vital - all of our events, right from the start, had ministry available for those seeking direction. Recruit those who move in the prophetic to be on hand to pray for people.

Misconceptions you will have to deal with – a selection!

• ‘Will you be organising days out?’ Answer – no, it’s not a social club, check out the vision statement.
• ‘I’m already busy in serving God so I don’t need this!’ Answer – Phase 3 needs people like you to encourage and inspire the others.
• ‘I don’t want people telling me what I should be doing!’ Answer – The purpose is encouragement and inspiration, not control.
• ‘I’m the wrong age.’ Answer – It’s not an age; it’s a stage of life.
• ‘I don’t tick all the boxes – career/mortgage/children – yet.’ Answer – You are moving in this direction, so get prepared.

Communication & networking

• Build up a database of interested people (preferably email).
• Use it to give them advance notice of events & developments.
• Create a Phase 3 page on your church’s website.
• Contact S&L to request a link on their central site to yours.
• Post local opportunities & testimonies on your webpage.
• Share national & international opportunities via the S&L phase 3 website.

What happens next?

• Don’t burden people with too many events!
• Check out our webpage for further ideas – www.bccnet.org.uk/phase3
• Keep plugging the vision – promoting events well beforehand & writing them up afterwards in church publications.
• Keep in touch with other Phase 3 groups across S&L.