Retirement is not the end of the show.
It’s the Encore.
Discover how Jesus is calling you into your next chapter.
Retirement may be the most overlooked life transition.
Most people spend decades preparing financially for retirement—but very little time preparing for the life they will actually live.
We help individuals and couples navigate from career to Encore.
What is Encore?
No one leaves a concert before the Encore. It is the part of the show everyone anticipates. It’s when the greatest hits are played. It ends with a standing ovation.
There is a false belief that people are walking off stage when they finish their career, and that their best work is behind them.
God desires that we live for His glory for all of life. We believe that the Encore of life is when we invite, commit, and recommit to God at work in us and through us.
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Encore Initiative is a ministry of The Center Memphis that exists to invite people into a proactive, gospel-centered approach to the Encore season of life.
We believe those making the retirement transition are as resourced as they have ever been to love and serve God and neighbor with their gifting, wisdom, and experience.
How do I answer, “What do you do?” now that I’m retired?
How will I invest my time day by day and week by week?
How do I define my purpose?
For decades, work shapes how we spend our time, how we relate to others, and how we understand our place in the world. Saying “I’m retired” often leads to conversations about our past. We want to know how we can participate in what God has for our future.
Encore Initiative helps people answer these questions by helping people articulate their most important relationships and commitments through an intentional, conversational process.
Retirement brings questions most people aren’t prepared for
The Encore Initiative Process
Orient your heart and mind around God’s purposes for retirement
Reflect on your strengths and experiences, the leveraging them for this next season
Take a fresh look at how you want to spend your time and what matters most
Develop a clear sense of direction for this season of life
Define your priorities for your relationships and commitments
Identify the kind of impact you want to have moving forward
Align your calendar with your priorities, relationships, and commitments
I know that this stage of my life is more than what the world thinks. It's more about my faith and doing what Jesus said in Matthew 28: Go and make disciples.
— John F.
How the Encore process works
Encore is a guided curriculum designed to help you align your retirement years to God’s.
Retirement is more than pursuing hobbies, travel, and seeing grandkids. The Encore process creates space to step back, reflect, and begin shaping this next season with intention. Together, we work through what is changing, what matters most, and how you want to move forward.
Conversations take place over time, allowing clarity to develop in a way that is thoughtful and lasting.
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Encore is designed for people who are approaching or entering retirement and sense that this transition is more significant than they expected.
It is especially helpful for those who want to be intentional about how they spend their time, invest in relationships, and continue living with purpose in this next season.
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One-on-one coaching takes place over eight sessions, each lasting about ninety minutes.
These conversations are designed to give you space to step back and think clearly about what is changing and how you want to move forward. For those who are married, it is strongly encouraged to go through the process together, since this transition affects both people.
Includes:
Session summaries emailed with takeaways and next steps
Assignments between sessions for reflection and planning
$2,250 suggested donation to The Center Memphis
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Yes. Many people begin by attending a weekly lunch gathering.
These gatherings are free and designed to introduce the core ideas behind Encore in a simple and accessible way. It is a good place to listen, reflect, and begin thinking more intentionally about this season.
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Encore can also be brought into group settings through seminars, workshops, or training experiences.
These are designed to help churches, financial advisors, and organizations better support the people they serve as they navigate this transition. The format can be adapted depending on the context and the needs of the group.
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Begin by reaching out for a quick conversation through the contact link at the top of the page.
Andrew can help you think through your situation and determine what the next step might look like, whether that is joining a weekly gathering or moving into one-on-one coaching.
Are you ready for retirement?
Take our 2-minute assessment and find out!
Meet Andrew
Director of Life Planning & Retirement Coaching
Andrew invested the first 20 years of his career on church staffs, most recently for 17 years at First Evangelical Church of Memphis. He has spent his career helping people navigate from where they are to where they want to be, pointing people toward the gospel of Jesus Christ. Andrew’s approach is rooted in thoughtful conversation and helping people move forward with clarity.
He has worked and lived in the Memphis community since 2005, partnering with individuals, non-profits, and businesses to see our city thrive. He has decades of experience walking with people through key life transitions in order to help people find purpose and meaning.
Encore Initiative is a curriculum Andrew has developed to establish alignment, confidence, and traction as people approach and enter the transition to retirement. His service helps people renew their focus toward The Great Commission in their next season of life.
Curious to learn more? The best way to begin is to join a weekly lunch gathering. Choose from Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at noon.
There is no pressure to commit to anything. These gatherings are a simple introduction to the ideas behind Encore. You will hear from others, reflect on this season, and begin to think more intentionally about what comes next.
Join us for lunch!
Let’s begin the conversation
Considering Encore coaching for yourself?
Have a church, business, or organization who would benefit from a seminar or workshop?
Have another question? We’d love to hear from you! Just fill out the form and Andrew will be in touch soon.