Keeping Evangelism First in the Final Chapter

I’ve traveled all over the world, and lately my world has become somewhat smaller. But it’s no less important to the Lord. I live in a lovely retirement community! But let’s be honest—this is the last stop before facing eternity for most of us. Ambulances come and go, and quietly, people leave this world. I used to joke that I didn’t belong here—but I do. And while I might not love the reality that these are my final years on earth, the comforting thing is, I know what I’m here for.

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Acts 13, where it says, “David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep.” What a phrase: served his own generation. That line gripped me in my younger years, and it grips me still. If I’m not off the scene yet, then I still have a part to play. You do, too.

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Looking Back

For Luis and me, it was always about the Gospel. Good news. Peace with God. We didn’t start with big stages or stadiums. We started small—often unappreciated, often unnoticed—but we were convinced that the most loving thing we could ever do was to share Christ.

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Now I spend most of my days surrounded by people in the final chapters of their lives. I attend a Bible study here, with a wonderfully eclectic group. I remember when we were in the first seven chapters of Romans—it’s all bad news, or so it seems to them. It’s all about God’s wrath, our sin, and our need for a savior. But then we got to Romans 8: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

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Forgiveness? Acceptance? It’s all found in Him. And it’s never too late.And that’s it, isn’t it? That’s the message. Still the first and best thing. Still, the only thing that gives hope when the ambulances come, and the rooms go empty.

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Reinventing Myself

You might think that after decades of ministry, I would’ve “arrived”—that sharing Jesus would come naturally by now. But I’ll tell you the truth: I never thought of myself as an evangelist. For years, I just walked two steps behind Luis, agreeing with everything he said, happy to be there. I loved that role.

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But when Luis passed away, I had to reinvent myself. Not just emotionally, but spiritually. I had to figure out how to do evangelism on my own two feet. And I’ll be honest—it hasn’t been easy. The world has changed so much since what I think of as “the good old days.”

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But the mission hasn’t changed. It’s still about the Gospel. And while the tools may be different, the message is the same and it’s as powerful as ever. The people are still lost. The need is still great.

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So I show up. I pray. I write notes. I invite friends & neighbors to outreach events (no one brings more guests than me!). I stir things up a little bit around here. And every now and then, I get to see someone lean in to Jesus, open up their heart, and find hope.

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Looking Forward

There’s a strange clarity that comes with age. I’m not great with the modern stuff—social media, passwords, anything that updates itself without permission. But I remember the past clearly. Every detail. Names, places, the faces of those whose lives were transformed by Jesus right before my eyes. I see God’s hand in the small beginnings. The open doors. The late nights. The times we felt alone or exhausted or discouraged.

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Looking back, it’s obvious: it was never about our strength or strategy. It was about our obedience. We kept saying yes. That’s it.

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And now? I get to witness God using my sons and my daughter-in-law to carry the mission forward in ways I never even imagined. I couldn’t have hoped for a better legacy…that the next generation of Palaus are exponentially spreading the Gospel…what a wonderful blessing.

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And for my part—I want to finish well. I want the last chapter to still be about Jesus—the first thing. I don’t want to spend these years just being “comfortable” as some consider it to be the purpose of retirement. I’d rather be faithful. To serve my generation. To carry on as long as possible with joy!

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A Word for You

I want to leave you with this final nudge.

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You don’t have to have an evangelistic gift. You don’t need a microphone or a platform. You just need a willing heart. There are people around you right now who need to know Jesus. You don’t have to be polished—you just have to be present (and maybe persistent).

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Let’s not let the final chapters be about ease. Let’s make them count.

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It’s still the first thing.

It’s still the best thing.

It’s still the most loving thing we can do.

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And there’s still time.