Celebrity Media Commentator: On the first day of the New Year, we are specially publishing an article sent to us by the son of a pastor who grew up in the church. This article has provoked deep reflection, and it is necessary to comment on it here.

The New Life Congregational Church recently announced plans to establish a retirement community for the elderly, which is not only a significant expansion of community service but also a deep level of care for the middle-income elderly population. Every young person who has grown up in the Christian church should feel proud of this and consider how to participate in it.

Firstly, this plan reflects the church's deep concern and precise understanding of marginalized social groups. In a metropolis like New York, middle-income elderly people often find themselves in an awkward situation: they cannot enjoy the various benefits provided by the government for low-income elderly people, nor can they afford the high cost of private nursing care. Their plight is often overlooked, and this is precisely where the church intervenes and plays a role.

Secondly, the New Life Congregational Church's choice of location and design concept for the establishment of the retirement community for the elderly reflects the church's meticulous and in-depth consideration of the needs of the elderly. Choosing to build the community in a location with a beautiful natural environment, close to medical and commercial facilities, not only meets the elderly's desire for a peaceful living environment but also facilitates their daily life and medical needs. This detailed care demonstrates the wisdom and love of the church.

However, this plan also faces challenges, the first being the issue of funding. Building and maintaining a retirement community requires substantial financial support. The church needs to find a sustainable source of funding to ensure the long-term operation of the project. The second challenge is management. How to effectively manage such a community, ensuring that it meets the living needs of the elderly and conveys the love and care of the church, is a matter that requires deep thought and meticulous planning and arrangement.

In summary, the New Life Congregational  Church's plan to build a retirement community for the elderly is an important care and support for the middle-income elderly population, undoubtedly an innovation in the elderly care industry. We understand that this is not just about building a place to live, but also about practicing the Christian doctrines of love and service. As members of the community, we look forward to the implementation of this plan and hope that it can become a successful model, inspiring more communities and organizations to pay attention to and help those on the margins of society, especially the middle-income elderly who are in an awkward position. (The following text and images are the article published by the pastor's son.)

My name is Joshua Sun, and I grew up in a Christian church. My dad is a pastor at the church, and my mom sings soprano in the church choir.

The day before I was born was Easter Sunday in 2006. On Easter, my mom was singing in the church choir, and the next day, I was born. On the day I was born, many grandpas and grandmas from the church came to the hospital to visit me.

Now that I've grown up, those grandpas and grandmas are in their eighties or nineties. Dad says most of them are over eighty, and some are even in their nineties. Being middle-income earners, they don't qualify for the elderly care benefits provided by the New York state government for low-income seniors, and they can't afford private care. The lonely elderly have to take care of themselves. There are also a few elderly couples where one spouse takes care of the other who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

So our church plans to build a retirement community to take care of these elderly people. The church has purchased a 65-acre piece of land in Bethel Town, Sullivan County, New York. This land features dense forests, a serene and beautiful lake, and a clear river winding from south to north, creating a breathtakingly scenic view. The location is also close to a hospital and commercial area. Once the retirement community is established, with caring support from church volunteers, the elderly will no longer feel lonely or helpless; they can enjoy their golden years peacefully.

Retirement community attractions in the vicinity can be searched through a mobile app, or you can browse reports about them here

1. 2.9 miles from White Lake Scenic Area, a 5-minute drive.

2. 6.8 miles from Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a 9-minute drive.

3. 18 miles from Garnet Health Medical Center, a 23-minute drive.

4. 4.6 miles from Monticello Raceway, a 6-minute drive.

5. 6.8 miles from Monticello Shopping Center (Walmart, Home Depot, etc.), a 10-minute drive.

6. 8.6 miles from Resorts World Dr, Thompson, NY, a 15-minute drive.

7. 9.1 miles from Monticello Motor Club, a 14-minute drive.

I grew up in the church's children's Sunday school, where teachers and the elders in the church always showed great care and concern for children and teenagers.

After I entered high school, I began assisting the Sunday school teachers in teaching children and serving the church as well.

During the initial planning of the church's retirement community, I assisted my dad by conducting extensive research, including New York state's policies and regulations concerning elderly care, the development policies and regulations for the Bethel land, and the flood zone maps for the area. While doing this work, I realized that the elderly need care even more than children and teenagers.

I'm about to graduate from high school and go to college soon. I will keep in my prayers the grandparents in the church and my aging parents. I hope that the church's retirement community will be built soon, allowing them to spend their later years in peace and comfort.