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September 29, 2008
Changing the Negative Stereotypes of Aging
Four ways the church can lead the change.
How many times have you heard someone say “no” to being a part of an older adult ministry because they just don’t consider themselves a senior?
People over 50 perceive the word senior as being descriptive of something that they are not. Old, senior, elderly, and retired are all words that have negative connotations attached to them. In this country, youth is often glorified while old age is something to be avoided. Just browsing through greeting cards at a store will shed light on the many negative themes that surround the context of aging.
These negative attitudes have crept into the church, and the majority of older adult ministries face the challenge of what name to use to describe the audience that their ministries seek to reach. Richard Bergstrom, executive pastor, who works with 2nd Half Ministries at Northshore Baptist Church of Bothell, WA, says, “It is a huge dilemma to try and have an identity and a name that won’t repel people. People in their 50s and early 60s have a real push back to anything that smells of ‘senioritis.’ This is one of our greatest challenges.”
Continue reading "Changing the Negative Stereotypes of Aging"…
September 2, 2008
First Steps for Encore
The first steps in carrying out an investigation into the world of older adult ministry in and through your church.
Sometimes the first step is the most paralyzing, but the fact that you are reading this means you have already taken that first step. The first step is launching an investigation into the world of older adult ministry. For one or more reasons you are finding that you and/or your church feel led to ask questions about how you can effectively reach older adults (which AARP has decided begins at age 50) and unleash them for the cause of Christ.
You are most likely a lead pastor, a staff pastor with the responsibility of adult ministries, or specifically an older adult ministries pastor. Perhaps you are a motivated lay leader or a layperson who just wants the next steps that will make something happen. Here are some “next steps.”
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.
July 14, 2008
Why Aren't More Seniors Being Reached?
Four reasons why evangelism of senior adults has been unsuccessful.
Both research and experience tell us that churches are essentially unsuccessful in evangelizing secular seniors adults. The graph below, from one recent study,* makes the point dramatically:
In our experience, there are at least four reasons why evangelism of senior adults has been unsuccessful. These areas must be readdressed before significant results will occur:
I am often asked the question, “If you were starting a senior adult ministry, how would you begin?” My answer includes five components:
1. Finding, selecting, training leadership. The success of your ministry will be directly related to the quality of your leaders. Someone(s) needs to own the goal of ministry/outreach to seniors. My experience is that the senior adult leaders who are most successful have a genuine love for people in this age group.
In research we conducted with 500 churches that had a full- or part time senior adult staff member, we found that the leaders who had received training in the area of older adult ministry were far more effective—and their senior adult ministries were more likely to be growing—than were those leaders who had received no training. We also found that retired pastors are generally ineffective as senior adult leaders … unless they have been re-trained in the unique issues and challenges of senior adult ministry in the present generation.
May 19, 2008
Generations of Faith
Where does the 30-something church live in community with the 60-, 70-, and 80- somethings?
“Thy faithfulness continues to all generations.” —Psalm 199:90
“(They) who have clean hands and pure hearts … such is the generation of those who seek Him.” —Psalm 24: 4, 6
“Let us be a generation of those who seek Him.” —Charlie Hill
“I have a prayer request,” said the white-haired woman sitting in her wheelchair toward the back of the room. “I want to be useful.” Those five words—“I want to be useful”—hung in the air for a moment, and then there was a chorus of affirmation coming from others in the room. “Me, too, I want to do something meaningful with the life I have left.” “There is nothing worse than feeling useless.” “I want to find work to do for Jesus.”
April 30, 2008
Antiquing Saved My Life
Don Hinkle, Senior Pastor at Yucaipa Christian Church in California shares a lesson in hidden values.
“Antiquing,” the lady said on TV, “saved my life!”
That’ll get your attention. At least it sure got mine. I was drifting through the stages of a lazy Memorial Day Monday afternoon when I heard the phrase.
My oldest daughter had turned on a PBS program that features experts telling collectors what they’ve brought in to be evaluated and appraised is either junk or an incredible treasure.
This lady, in her mid-to-late 70s, had brought in a Duncan Phyfe sewing table. The value—which she already somewhat knew—was good, but the appraisal, I think, surprised her.
It was valued at $100,000 plus. That’s what a collector would pay for the piece.
Amazing.
April 15, 2008
Are You Motivating or Manipulating?
Fred Smith speaks frankly about the decisions we make in motivating others.
I recently heard a pastor tell about a wealthy oil man who called and said, “Reverend, I’ve never had much time for religion, but I’m getting older, and maybe I ought to make my peace with the church. I’d like to start by giving you a $20,000 check.”
The preacher said, “I immediately extended to him the right hand of Christian fellowship.” I don’t think he was joking.
The exchange was an example of manipulation, which still finds its way into the Christian ministry. Why? Because it’s effective—it just plain works! In this case, the church got a $20,000 windfall. But manipulation comes with a price. The pastor manipulated the fellow into believing he was getting Christian fellowship, but the man also manipulated the preacher by buying his way in, which we all know is an impossible relationship.
March 31, 2008
A Kindness Returned—134 Years Later
Shortly after the tragedy of 9/11 a wonderful story of giving, was reported by Page Ivey of The Associated Press. It emerged from a school house in Columbia, South Carolina.
First you have to have some historical perspective. Two years after the Civil War, with much of Columbia still in ruins, some of the bitterness over the North-South conflict was put aside by a single gesture: New York firefighters set out to collect pennies to buy Columbia a firetruck.
You see, on February 17, 1865, a devastating blaze broke out that devoured over 36 blocks, or about one-third of the city. Columbia had lost most of its firefighting equipment during the Civil War and desperately used bucket brigades in their attempt to douse flames.
March 31, 2008
How Senior Friendly Are You?
We must consider the implications of the labels and terms we use.
Which would you rather be called? “Shut-in” or “home-centered”? The elderly or ill are not really shut-in. Because of their condition they just have to stay centered in their home.
When I was in college, I wanted to serve in the local church in some way. I chose to bring the weekly service tape to a local “shut-in.”
As I think back, I cringe at that term. I didn’t know if I wanted to go and visit a person who had been “shut away.” Overcoming my reservations, I quickly came to the conclusion that a statement was being made about Miss Johnson that I didn’t like.
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