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When we talk with leaders of older adult ministries in churches, we consistently hear a comment something like this: “How are we going to attract the younger people? Boomers just don’t seem to want to be a part of our seniors group.”
Our answer: Most likely you’re not going to bring the Boomers into anything that looks or acts like a “seniors” ministry. It’s going to have to be unique, compelling, and maybe even revolutionary!
The Baby Boomers, referring to those adults that were born sometime between 1946 and 1964, is a generation unlike any other. Defined by the historical, political, economic, and social events of its youth, this cadre of aging adults may be chronologically qualified for the Seniors Ministry, but it’s fairly safe to say that they aren’t rushing to join.
Many individuals within this generation are still searching for truth, meaning, and a reason for their existence. One need not look far to find books, articles, and websites written by Boomers who are struggling with transitions into a new phase of life. It is clear that opportunities for ministry are abundant and significant.
So how do we minister to Boomers? How do we begin to break through the walls of denial, indifference, arrogance, rebellion, and fear that seem to surround this generation? How do we share Christ with a people group that is known for spiritual exploration and tolerance? How do we meet the needs of Boomers who are facing unprecedented changes? How do we break the code?
As a result of working with Boomers in our own church and with leaders of 50’s+ ministries in other churches and denominations across the country, we have begun to identify some code-breakers.
Code Breaker #1: Recognition
The first thing leaders must do is to understand what makes Boomers so distinct. Simply put: Demographically, they are 78 million persons in the United States aged 46–62. Historically, they form the single largest generational cohort. Philosophically, they have redefined American culture. Sociologically, they connect through a unique generational identity bordered by dramatic historical events, music, and mass media. Economically, they are the wealthiest generation in American history. And spiritually, they are seeking authenticity, experience, and personal truth.
To effectively minister we will need to:-
• Recognize Boomers as members of a unique generational cohort, connected by shared experiences.
• Recognize that Boomers do not want to be referred to as “seniors” and don’t want to be associated with stereotypical seniors ministries. (Or as one Boomer told us, “I don’t want to be in the same group as my mother.”)
• Recognize that Boomers are transitioning into uncharted physical, emotional, and spiritual territory.
Code Breaker #2: Relationships
When we first began working with Boomers we surveyed a large sampling of them and discovered that individuals were longing for relationships and a sense of community. During the child-raising years it seemed relatively easy for relationships to develop around common interests such as soccer teams and ballet recitals. But with life morphing into something unrecognizable there seemed to be a deepening need for relationships. Also, those surveyed responded simply, “We just want to have some FUN.”
Yep, these adults who are working 60–80 hours a week, babysitting grandkids, caring for increasingly dependent parents, paying off mortgages and college tuition bills, and going to the doctor more frequently, well, they want to kick up their heels and have some fun “like the good old days.”
So a great deal of our ministry has been in developing opportunities through which Boomers can begin to make new friends, share life, and party! One success that has now become an annual event is our “Boomer Bash.” We started when the Boomers first started turning 60 so that we could celebrate such a milestone. We pulled out the tie-dye shirts, daisy chains, pizza, and Cokes—oh, and a real live Golden Oldies band—and we threw a party! What happened was that people laughed, tapped their toes, danced, remembered and sang every word to every song, and had fun. They also heard the stories of fellow Boomers who had found Christ and how their lives had been changed. The first Bash broke down some walls and smashed some stereotypes and incredibly, it wasn’t so bad to be in the 2nd ½ Ministries group!
We’ve worked at trying to create environments in which people can develop relationships. We do small group dinners, have large group gatherings around themes and interests, and hold classes and support groups around common issues and concerns. We’ve seen churched people begin to forge relationships with each other and reach out to other Boomers in their communities. Inviting one’s un-churched friend to hear a Beatles sound-alike band might be an easier entrée to church than morning worship.
Code Breaker #3: Re-Focus
The story is told of a rabbi in a Russian city at the turn of the century. He was disappointed by a lack of direction and purpose. As he aimlessly walked the empty streets he began to question his faith in God, the Scriptures, and his call to ministry. The only thing colder than the winter air was the chill in his own heart. In his despair he mistakenly wandered into a Russian military compound, which was off limits to any civilians. Out of the silence a loud voice barked, "Who are you and what are you doing here?" yelled a Russian guard. "Excuse me?" replied the rabbi. "I said, who are you and what are you doing here?" After a moment, the rabbi asked the guard, "How much do you get paid every day?" "What does that have to do with you?" the guard responded. The rabbi responded, "I will pay you the equal sum if you will ask me those same two questions every day: "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
These are pertinent questions for people in the second half of life. They have a unique opportunity to re-examine and re-assess their lives and determine a new direction for their remaining years.
This is probably the most critical code-breaker in ministry with Boomers. We can help create opportunities, whether in a retreat setting or in a series of classes or small groups, that help people make that exploration. Galatians 6:4–5 in The Message says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”
In our ministry we use a basic re-focus process:-
• Review Biblical passages that capture one’s unique purpose in life.
• Reflect on one’s own personal life and develop a timeline that reviews critical incidents, times of growth, significant people, decisions, and how God has worked in the past.
• Identify one’s core values, things about which one is passionate.
• Discover one’s gifts and strengths (using Meyers-Briggs, Strengths Finder, or other tools)
• Compose a personal mission statement that includes goals, action plans, and God-directed vision for the second half of life.
The transitions and changes at this season of life provide the stage upon which one can perform new drama—or, as some would call, an Encore!
We have found that refocusing is equally critical for women as well as men. Boomers are the “I am Woman, I am Exhausted” generation. They’ve tried to do it all—develop a career, parent, care for parents, exercise, and stay fit. This is an important time to slow down and refocus our lives and determine how to live out the bonus years.
Code Breaker #4: Find Significance
It has been said that significance is the new capital, meaning it is not enough for people to have arrived at financial security in midlife. What people really hunger for is to make a significant contribution to the world. Many Boomers are asking “Am I meant to do something more with my life?”
Bob Buford, author of HalfTime and Finishing Well, and CEO and president of Leadership Network states, “Success to me is using your knowledge and experience to build up your own portfolio. Significance is using your knowledge and experience to share with others. I really believe the church is going to be the logical gateway for increasing levels of significance in society—if the leaders in the church are willing to challenge people.”
It is important that as we plan ministry with Boomers that we don’t try to corral them into a “group” but rather train, equip, and deploy them into a world that needs their ideas and energy. We can create infrastructures that not only inspire Boomers to make a difference but provide opportunities to do so.
We have been thrilled to watch people in the second half of life tackle the challenges of our society. We’ve taken many on short-term mission trips to countries that needed their expertise and skills. We’ve seen Boomers transform schools, communities, government, businesses, and families. This may be the time that Boomers fulfill the dreams of that Beatles’ song, “They say we want a revolution, oh no, we just want to change the world … ”
Opportunities Ahead
These are four code breakers that we think will begin to break down the walls for ministry with and through Boomers. The old ways are not going to work with this generation. Ministry will need to be new, fresh, innovative—and be the Boomers’ ideas!
Our conclusion is that there is plenty of passion, plenty of energy, and plenty of need! The time is now for us to be creative and work together to reach Boomers for Christ and watch them bloom!
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Comments
This is an excellent article that provides very useful suggestions for working with Boomers. It is a nice compliment to my article, "The Power of A Generation", in that it takes the macro-level information I presented and provides an application at the local level. Additional examples of how local churches are connecting with Boomers and ministering to/with them should contine to be identified and shared.
Posted by: James L. Knapp on August 5, 2008 3:29 PM
This article was startling to me. You see, apparently it's about me and my friends. I guess we're Boomers, since we're all born in the late '50's. But I don't look at myself or my friends as "generational cohorts" or possessing a "code" that needs to be broken. I'm just simply Brenda, 52 year old female working part-time, applying to a Master's program, loving my husband, and cheering on my son and his bride-to-be. I have gray hair because I chose not to be bothered with covering it up (it's better than the alternative -- pattern female baldness), and I do wear a bra (you're welcome). Maybe instead of "code breaking" or looking for generational cohort patterns, you could just take the time to get to know us as individuals instead of program participants? Just an idea...
Posted by: Brenda on August 8, 2008 7:17 PM
Hard for me not to recall that the name of the over-fifty group at my church--which I refuse to join although I'm nearly 55--is the Centurions. I don't know WHAT they were thinking when they came up with that name, but it makes me shiver a little. It sounds so...decrepit. Like we're all teetering on the brink of 100.
I'll wait a while longer, I think. :)
Posted by: Katy McKenna on August 8, 2008 7:40 PM
Brenda - are we soulmates?
I'm 52, gray haired, have one son in the military, an engaged daughter and a youngest daughter starting sound production school. I care for my elderly mother. I work full time and will be starting courses to become a nurse practitioner.
I am also MYSELF. I have many experiences and things I've learned the hard way that I would love to share with anyone willing to listen, but I won't force myself on anyone.
My spiritual life has had its ups and down - a few dark nights as well as blinding revelations.
I resent being corralled with the most vocal and annoying boomers who wasted their young years and were wasted as well. Most of us just quietly went about your lives and did the best we knew how at the time.
Like Brenda said, why not just try to get to know us? I am not a demographic.
Posted by: Anastasia on August 8, 2008 9:21 PM
Brenda and others...your desire to not be "boxed in" by a demographic or social grouping is one that everyone has. The reality, however, is that all of us, whatever generation, are in a demographic...naturally the average characteristics of that demographic will apply to us sometimes and not others. Churches do tend to go about the process in a cold fashion--calculating and planning--like businesses, wanting new customers to buy their product and contribute to their bottom line. However, this type of information is helpful and is especially effective if paired with authentic relationships. I agree with you, but I think we still need these types of observations to be able to connect with increasingly different generations
Posted by: Matt on August 9, 2008 2:31 PM
I'm with some of the commenters. I am very skeptical of the segregationist approach to church life, with each generational cohort neatly put in their box. I'm a "boomer" and I think legions of boomers feel this way.
Church leaderships probably need diversity training - rooted in the experience of the early church which valued diversity. Our experiences are so much richer when we are in groups of people who aren't all like us - different ages, different classes, different ethnic backgrounds, different levels of education, etc., etc. Jesus was not about putting people into neat little boxes.
Posted by: Bill Samuel on August 9, 2008 4:42 PM
I can only agree with the previous comments. I am a 48 year old widow, mother of two grown daughters, and a full-time psychology student at NC State University. So, you want me in a SENIORS group? Huh, not likely. In the meantime, I'm working on the worship team, organizing our church's annual work with Operation Christmas Child, and helping with the landscaping.
From what I've seen in most churches, seniors groups are for retirees who have nothing else going on in their lives. Maybe when I hit eighty. Maybe.
Posted by: Darcy on August 9, 2008 5:23 PM
I bet others on the tail-end of the Boomer demographic grew up like me--looking at those on the leading edge with childlike fear and distance. There is a big difference between those Boomers who actually went to Woodstock and those who, as kindergartners and first-graders, watched it on the news. Putting us all in the same generation now is a little odd--Boomers born in 1946 are old enough to be the parents of those born in 1964 (and probaly are, in some cases).
Posted by: M Lane on August 11, 2008 5:56 PM
It also seems to me that all of these traits are important to any and all demographics. Have we really learnt something new here? The key, as the last paragraph seemed to assert, is that we need to be passionate and creative, regardless of whom we want to reach.
Posted by: Gerald on August 12, 2008 12:40 AM
I'm with M. Lane. My 62-yr. old boss, born at the end of WWII and I (born in 1959) have little in common. When he graduated college and got married I was still in elementary school. Yet those who put labels on so-called generations would call us both "Boomers." The key question for this group is reputed to be, "Do you remember what you were doing (or where you were) when you heard that JFK had been shot?" No, but my mom says I was taking a nap! And if you were a Boomer born in 1964? Exactly!
Ask the next generation coming up -- or the one after that (Gen X or Y) if they'll want to be lumped into some old folks group when they are in their late forties or early fifties!
Posted by: J. Clark on August 12, 2008 2:36 AM
Thank you for the article. It seems the comments all speak to the same thing... I am unique. I think the groups of senior's who do enjoy the things we have going on in churches are just as important to the Lord and to our congregations as those who are still working, going to school and pursuing a new degree. The people that are getting together for fellowship, encouragement and friendship no matter what their age are better off for it.
Posted by: Bill Hanlin on August 12, 2008 7:15 PM
What startles me most is that someone is going to do something for us, the Boomers? Why now? We did the church plants in the 70's and 80's, we blazed the way for worship teams, youth programs, children's church, short term missions, you name it. Now we are leading in the emerging church movement.
We have never had anyone doing for us since we left high school. We have always made our own way and made significant contributions. We don't need the patronizing packaging of us into a neat little demographic cohort just so your church can post a new ministry group on your video announcements! (Oh, yeah, it was a boomer who did those first here...though the kids run them now.)
And we don't need anyone's recognition - we know who we are! The main thing we are not is our parents. So anything that smacks of something like our parents isn't going to happen. So ix-nay on the enior-say roup-gay.
I'll concede a couple of things: we are exhausted and we would like some fun. But skip the 60's party - remember we've been there/done that. Book a good restaurant and order some wine.
Posted by: Anonymous on August 13, 2008 6:25 AM
I think all of these comments are great. They fit right into what the article is getting about, even though the article is using a more broad sense. There is this notion amongst Baby Boomers, and unfortunately we have generation gaps, usually based on qualities, and being labeled as unique and doing their own thing, is one of the qualities of the Baby Boomers. That is why it is so hard, boomers want to do their thing. This article was informative and the comments showed why...
Posted by: Will Coley on August 13, 2008 9:30 PM
Regarding the increasing number of boomers who have experienced divorce--many perceive the church as NOT having held true to Christ's Central Mission of Reconciliation
Far more church work needs to be about:
finding and living a Christ-like life where we are....and
finding and living a Christ-like life when we face transitions, such as retirement, the dramatic increase in automation (which has rendered many "man skills" redundant), and the increase in women's earnings (in a full third of couples now, the wife is earning more).
None of this is about labeling or some new method of service stratification--it's all about meeting life's challenges together.
And it's NEVER about communication only--either in a woman's style or a man's style. But it certainly is all about respect for the many essential differences--and a whole lot more of the Lord's work--together.
Posted by: Homebuilding on August 15, 2008 2:53 AM
Anastasia, I think we are soul-mates! How about we get together and get to know each other better? Oh, and let's invite Anonymous -- sounds like they know some good wines. And pity anyone who tries to turn relationship into a program!
Posted by: Brenda on August 18, 2008 9:41 PM
All these comment are great. I find myself as a young pastor in charge of a 50+ group in my church with Boomers that do have parents in the same group that refuse to be part of the group because their parents or other older relatives in the group. Other refuse to be apart of a group that puts an age limit on the group.
I avoid using the word SENIOR at all cost because the Boomers do not see themselves as one and will not think of themselves in that way for many more years. When one still has kids at home and has an active life style and is working, 50 does not seem like a Senior in their mind.
I know that God can join both the builder and the boomer that I have in my group to be one cohesive people.
Posted by: Patrice on August 22, 2008 5:38 AM
I'm a pastor of what we call Adult Ministries, not to be confused with "Senior Pastor" as he is called "Lead Pastor" in our church. Since Lead Pastor is in his early 60's we do not use the term Senior Adults anywhere. Our denomination uses the term Prime Time for it's older folks. We ended up calling ourselves P.T. Cruisers (cause we are crusin along very nicely) even though there only 2 PT Cruiser autos in our group of about 200. Our group has folks in it from early 50s to 90s & no one thinks of being old or young. We simply eat together, pray together, laugh together, and generally have fun, as we meet once a month. In the meantime most of our folks regularly attend one of our 50+ small groups geared for age & interest groups from A to Z. Our church has grown so rapidly over the past five years from 450-500 to over 2,000, that we have no room for much of anything. Our old Sanctuary building is used exclusively for children and other meetings, while the Family Life Center is in use by our church & community every day of the week. With a Saturday night service and 3 services on Sunday and no room, we don't worry much about who is, or is not young, or, who is a Boomer. We're just too busy trying to "get er done" for Christ and the community.
Posted by: Nate Gossett on August 22, 2008 10:16 PM
Whether we agree with the article or not, all the commentaries simply validate its description of our generation : )
Posted by: Jacque on August 23, 2008 2:09 PM