Not a Program, It’s a Lifestyle

It is easier to start a program than to foster a lifestyle.

Pastor Chris Holck

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

The word “program” in a church can mean a lot of different things and evoke a lot of different responses.  Generally speaking, the Builder generation preferred programs, the Boomer generation offers mixed reviews and Busters and Millennials have an aversion to them.

Let me illustrate with a typical program, Women’s Ministries.  My mother who was born in 1919, which made her a pre-Builder, loved the Ladies Aid which was her church’s label for women’s ministry.  Her loyalty had her attending monthly meetings, holding offices, bringing treats, sharing devotions and feeling guilty when she missed a meeting or couldn’t do her part to keep the program plates spinning.  My wife, born in 1956, is all for women ministering, but monthly meetings with parliamentary procedure, officers, offerings, and structured gatherings that took votes were not to her liking.  She is not alone. Just take a poll of the average age at a traditional women’s program.  My wife like many Boomers and younger women are all for ministry designed specifically for women, but it is better defined as a missional priority, not a church program.

Many churches have older adult programs that meet monthly.  They typically go by names like: Young at Heart, Bereans, Forever Young, Prime Time, Ambassadors, JOY Club (Just Older Youth), Keenagers, and even the Pace Makers.  They may or may not have officers but they usually have a structure to their meetings.  Programs typically involve food, a speaker, and some devotions.

Many of these groups also plan “outings” ranging from trips to local destinations, dining out, or sightseeing. They may also plan some big trips to observe the Fall colors or attend special Christian concerts.  Do not cancel these groups! They are valuable to those who attend, but hear this prediction; they will die a natural death when their sustainability depends on the Boomers.

Boomers are not interested in potlucks or bus trips to Branson.  Boomers are not drawn to be part of an organized monthly meeting that is primarily a social gathering.  They may attend if they are asked to serve the “Seniors” but they won’t attend just because they are expected to be there.  Loyalty to institutions or programs is not the strong suit of the Baby Boomers.

Any church that plans to continue their Senior’s ministry with the same format and the same name will fail to reach the next generation of older adults.

Just as my wife was in favor of women’s ministry, Boomers are in favor of ministry in their second half of life, but let’s not call it a program.  Then, what is it?

I am reminded of a transition I went through in the early 80’s with respect to my views on evangelism methods.  I am grateful to Campus Crusade for Christ for some great ministry training and immersion during my college years but my involvement with their group pretty much obligated me to their program of evangelism.  I received training in sharing The Four Spiritual Laws and was discipled by someone who “showed me the ropes.”  Then I was sent to the Student Union to share with strangers about God’s plan for their life.  I was dropped at Daytona Beach for “Operation Sunshine” and there was the time we were hauled in busses to the Mall to share with Christmas shoppers.  There were more sharers than shoppers.  I pray there were eternal differences made by my forays but you can tell that my memories did not beckon me to go share with more strangers.

Then, I was required to read a book for a seminary evangelism class, Lifestyle Evangelism by Joe Aldrich.  What an incredible paradigm shift in my thinking.  The key was not proper training, tools and captive audiences.  The key was kindling a heart for the lost and then looking for opportunities in my daily life to share the hope that was within me inside the circle of friends and acquaintances God had given me.  It seemed more authentic to me that evangelism should be a natural part of my lifestyle rather than a program that I turn on and off.  I’m sure this was not everyone’s experience but it was mine and it taught me a principle which I believe applies to the issue at hand. Namely, how can we foster a healthy ministry lifestyle for the next generation of older adults, one they will be drawn to and unleashed from.

It is easier to start a program than to foster a lifestyle. When you start a program, you can order the curriculum, hold an organizational meeting, set a date and plan an agenda.  You can send invitations, establish a commitment covenant and apply guilt if necessary.  You can measure success by members’ attendance, dollars given and guests invited.  It is easier to describe and sell a program to a leadership decision-making team. Having a program makes it easier to justify paid or volunteer staff and to establish a budget.  Please consider before you resort to a program that you can put enough definition to creating a lifestyle of ministry for the next generation of older adults.  You can sell the Board and more importantly, you can excite Boomers about having a fantastic encore in their service to God through their church.

The following ideas can assist you in launching this kind of  Encore ministry.

1. Boomers are more interested in service than fellowship when it comes to time they spend in ministry.  Therefore, your future ministry is more of a ministry engagement opportunity where they assess their gifts and passions, learn of service opportunities near and far, and then choose from a menu of opportunities.
2. Ministry Engagement doesn’t usually happen on it’s own.  Some level of organization and staffing is necessary to guide this engagement process and help unleash older adults who have more discretionary time into significant Kingdom ministry.
3. This kind of ministry dovetails nicely with existing outreach, missions or externally focused ministries already existing in the church.  There is also an obvious connection between the gift assessment that is offered (S.H. A. P. E., Networking etc.) and subsequent “placement guides” that help people find their place in ministry.
4. It is necessary to do a census in the church so that you know who your Encore Generation is.  You can use 50+ as your criteria, or Boomers and beyond (everyone born before 1965) or you can use a common age break which sort between 50-65, 65-80 and 80+.
5. Avoid defining any activities or opportunities for older adults by an age category or label. Don’t say the mountain hike is for Boomers or the 65 and younger group.  If a 73 year old wants to hike, let them hike.  The same goes for quilting days, tennis ladders, short-term mission trips and square dances.  Let them decide!
6. 6. Your church must decide if you prefer a segment pastor to shepherd the Encore segment or if the staff as a whole (or as a solo in small churches) looks after them.  Regardless of your decision, the Encore Generation has many similarities to how we envision youth ministry.  The Encore Generation should be encouraged to get involved in Bible studies, small groups, discipling relationships, and mission and outreach activities.  Peer evangelism is a key component.  How can they be guided in effectively reaching their fellow Boomers and Builders who don’t know Christ?  There is a need for social activities and special mixers for those new to the area.  It feels about like moving into a new high school where everyone seems to have their friendships made and you are the outsider.  The church needs to foster opportunities for this age group to get better acquainted.  It is important to find a balance between offering age specific activities and shuffling the age deck.  The church is one of the few, if not the only place where four or five generations come together in our society.  This intergenerational dynamic is extremely healthy for our churches.  We must work toward creating small groups, mission trips, social events, evangelistic opportunities, worship teams and Bible studies where the generations mingle and learn and create respect for one another.  Creating a priority of intergenerational ministry is worthy of your attention.

Is staffing for this ministry necessary? Someone needs to give attention to this group.  Depending on the size of your church and Encore community, the size of your existing staff, and the capabilities of your lay leaders you should find someone or a team or both that will own this ministry initiative. Fostering a lifestyle of service is a big challenge.  It requires a shepherd’s heart, a discipler’s patience, an equipper’s toolbag and a recruiter’s tenacity.  Mobilizing this encore army into active service, not just the usual 20%, but the majority and then some will take leadership.  It won’t happen on it’s own, it won’t happen with your father’s senior adult program and it won’t happen by creating a new “program.”

Fostering a lifestyle of service to Christ and for His sake is the key to success for the next generation of older adults. Jay Kesler, former President of Youth for Christ and Taylor University prophetically states that just as we saw youth pastors move from a rarity to almost a necessity in American churches through the 60’s and 70’s, so it will be with pastors called to shepherd the next wave of older adults.  The really ironic thing is that the teenagers that got a youth pastor in 1968 now need an Encore pastor in 2008.