Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I was expected to serve in the church—whether I wanted to or not. And one ministry was my least favorite. Every month, my dad would take our family to visit the local nursing home where he’d lead singing, pray, and preach. Alongside him, we’d visit residents and help shuffle them to and from worship.

As a teenager, I would’ve rather been anywhere else in the world. Nursing home ministry was unpleasant and inconvenient. Every time we entered the building, I felt an internal revulsion. I didn’t like being confronted by the harsh realities of physical and cognitive decline.

Now, as an adult, I’m thankful for those Sunday afternoons at the nursing home. They were perhaps the most tangible and translatable ministry experiences I had as a kid. And they opened my eyes to a world many would rather forget.

But the unavoidable reality is that America is rapidly aging. The boomer generation is fading. In the coming years, issues of death and dying will be front and center.

The church should be prepared. As Christ’s followers, we’re called to love, honor, and care well for the aging. Which is why Andrew Spencer’s recent round-up of books on end-of-life issues is so valuable. Church leaders will find this a helpful reference, and they’ll want to point others to these resources.