Episode: The Intentional Path to Elderhood

Guest: Chris Bruno — author of “Sage,” founder of Restoration Project

Episode Summary

In this powerful conversation, Mark sits down with Chris Bruno to explore what it truly means to age with intention. Chris draws a crucial distinction between simply becoming elderly and intentionally becoming an elder—a person of wisdom, presence, and spiritual weight within their community.

Rooted in scripture, history, and the stories of cultures that honor the aged, Chris unpacks how elderhood is not guaranteed by time. It is a choice. A formation. A path we step onto with courage, curiosity, and surrender.

If you’ve ever asked, “What does God expect of me in this season?” or “Is there more for me as I grow older?”—this episode offers depth, guidance, and hope.

Key Takeaways

• As we age, we face a profound choice about who we’re becoming.
• Growing elderly is passive. Growing into an elder is intentional.
• Elders carry spiritual authority, relational weight, and generational influence.
• Wisdom is formed through reflection, surrender, and lived experience.
• Scripture offers a vision for elderhood that is active, not passive.
• Many cultures honor elders as the memory-keepers and wisdom-bearers.
• Intention shapes the quality of our aging.
• Communities are strengthened where intentional elders are present.
• The journey of aging can—and should—be deeply meaningful.

Resources / Links

https://www.chrisbruno.org/

https://www.restorationproject.net/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00UU5E1S2/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=74352286-5305-4332-a14d-572bca4948b6&store_ref=ap_rdr&linkCode=sl2&tag=restoratio04e-20&linkId=23ed88c0c4e5887e420004b1e2b94e84&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&ccs_id=a2eda9a8-b51b-46b6-bff9-10f640347fef

For nearly two decades, Ken Schafer used his entrepreneurial leanings to minister bi-vocationally in a multicultural context. A mid-life transition to full-time ministry gave him an even bigger vision for serving people and churches.

Before joining Ramsey Solutions to work with the country’s largest churches, he was the stewardship pastor at Christ Fellowship in Miami, Florida.

Ken fervently believes in the power of stewardship initiatives to build community and fast-track spiritual growth. And as the stewardship minister at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, he is part of the team creating a powerful '4th quarter' strategy to help those 50+ thrive in their calling and purpose.

Ken is an obsessive long-distance runner, a proud father of two adopted children. Ken has been married to Julie for 24 years.. But as soon as you hear him talk, you realize he's the real deal, incredibly smart and strategic with an amazing heart for people. And in this episode we get the benefit of those myriad experiences and life-lessons. Lean in and get ready to laugh and to learn.

So excited to have my good friends Rhett Barden and Justin Bradshaw as our special guests this week on The Age of Lions. Rhett and Justin are the hosts of the Armchair Authentic podcast, and have over 50 years of pastoral experience between them. We have an incredible conversation about the impact of our beliefs, and the power of our stories, a perfect follow-up to episode 017 with Jinda Clement.

Show Notes
https://www.armchairauthentic.com/