My name is Charlene Elliott and I am the coordinator for the senior adults (Prime Timers Ministries of Discover Life Church). I am a native of Knoxville, Tennessee and attended theUniversity of Tennessee and graduated from East Tennessee State University. I retired from the medical profession after spending 50 years working as a nurse and x-ray technician.

I am married to a Carter County native, Charles Elliott, who retired from the transmission plant of General Motors in the Cleveland, Ohio area. We have 2 sons, 2 daughters, 5 grandsons and 3 granddaughters. I have spent over 50 years as a teacher in different children’s ministries and continue to teach Bible to the residents at Broadmore Assisted Living Center.

Discover Life Prime Timers ministers to the fastest growing age group in American, senior adults 50 years and older. Our mission is to help senior adults to adjust to the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that are inevitable as we age. Our activities help seniors accept and adjust to physical changes, plan for retirement, balance independence and dependence, giving and receiving, and maintain spiritual life and active Christian service.

With God, there is no retirement until the last breath on Earth is drawn and you have gone Home. Our activities include: socials with theme dinners; visitation and Bible studies in homes, nursing homes and assisted living centers; a senior Sunday School Class; educational seminars; and customized ministry to individuals. We strive to stay in the comfort zone of seniors and to be personable and reachable. Even though we are in our twilight years, these can truly be our Golden Years if we allow God to continue to work through us.

Calendar of Prime Timer Events:

Sundays: Bible Class at 9:30 a.m. This is taught by Loraine Sexton, a retired minister’s wife with many years of experience in teaching adults. We use the Radiant Life Curriculum with lessons based on outlines developed by the Pentecostal-Charismatic Curriculum Commission. The King James Version of the Holy Bible is used as our text.

Wednesdays: An illustrated Bible lesson at Broadmore Assisted Living Center at 5:45 p.m. Charlene Elliott teaches the lesson and sometimes there is live music.

Communications with prayer requests, intercession and written words of encouragement are done on a regular basis. We believe that the elders should discipline the young and we are involved in children and women’s support ministries.

Community Outreach Programs include the weekly Broadmore Ministry, ministry to veterans at Mountain Home led by John Morrison, an annual Christmas project and anything else that our church schedules.

Socials are scheduled on a regular basis. We like to dress up in our cowboy clothes, eat Bar B Q, pitch horse shoes, play checkers, BINGO, Corn Hole and the Holey Board. We also enjoy a homemade ice cream supper and a picnic during the Summer. Holidays and birthday dinners are also popular. Discover Life has a potluck dinner the first Sunday of every month and seniors have the honor of being first in line.

“Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.”  Psalm 71:18