5 Easy steps for influencers – it’s the book of acts revisited!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: THINK OF AN IDEA THAT WILL CHANGE OUR WORLD. THEN PUT IT INTO ACTION!

1)       Invite four pastors or lay leaders responsible for 50+ age men and women out for coffee. Tell your stories. Share dreams. Pray for each other.

2)       Do the same with four Opinion Makers in your church.

3)       When you’ve become acquainted, ask the first group of four if they would do the same with some of their colleagues in ministry. In a few weeks time you can have a Village of respected and influential men and women who will think of a Great Idea that can change you, your church, your city and link you with the Idea Jesus left us with in Matthew 28:19 . . . one that will change our world. Then put it into action!

4)       Ask the same of the Opinion Makers. What are their Great Ideas? You will inspire others in your church and city to connect and change our world as only Christ-followers can. Remember, we are better together!

5)       Link colleagues and your churches or organizations to CASA Network.

This is our Moment to create Momentum leading to Movement.

“Listen well. Share life. Take action!”

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” —2 Thessalonians 1:11,12

Your assignment: Think of an idea to change our world. Then put it into action.

Imagine … seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus. He saw that it was broken. But he had an idea. He believed his idea could change the world. He told a few people about it. They put his idea into action and it did!

What would you do if Jesus told you to change the world?

The fact is, he already has.

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What are the two most important questions any Church must ask about ministry to people 50+?

Rev. John Thill

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

To pose such a question is hopefully to trigger some intentional thinking about ministry to people 50+.  The danger is that in the busyness of ministry, we just do what has to be done without reviewing the foundational reasons why we do them.   When the principal of a Christian School was asked by a grandparent, “What kind of student are you working to produce from this school?”  All he could offer was that he did not have an answer; no one had ever asked him that question before.  Preachers are taught that they must be able to summarize their sermon in a sentence if they truly are prepared.  Prominent in the business world is the theme of leading with the end in view.  So what about us?

What two questions, if asked, would prompt us to improve our leadership of ministry to and through people 50+?  The first is like the one asked of the principal.  “What kind of people are we producing from our ministry to and through maturing adults?” Matthew 10:24-25:  “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”  If someone in your congregation came and asked you what you want the people in your ministry to be known for, what would you say?  If the question was asked of the people in the ministry what would they say?  If the question were asked of the congregation as a whole what would they desire God to produce among your people?  This would also be a fun question to ask of the church staff.  What would be the traits they would like to see in the people you are ministering to?  What traits do they see now?

To answer this question a number of things need to happen.  We must realize how important the question is and not ignore it because it can be elusive to answer.  Could you, in a sentence, explain to someone what kind of person you would like to see coming from this ministry.  For example:  “I would like people to say of our group, when they come in here, it is like Jesus walked into the room.”  “I would like God to say of us what he said to Caleb – These people think differently and serve me wholeheartedly.”  “I would like to have my people live in the love of God so they are filled to the fullness of God, trust the ability of God, and worship the greatness of God (see Ephesians 3: 14-21).”  “I would like our group to be known for the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16-26.”  What are you and your people trusting God to produce from this ministry?

Secondly we need to apply the question to individual events, programs, and ministries as well as to the ministry as a whole.  When planning events, seminars, dinners, trips and etc., what would we like to see happen in the people who participate?  For example, we are going to go on a trip and want to see a renewed commitment in our people for “gratitude”.  What can I do that brings this trait in at every point?  What kind of trip would give opportunity to teach about and practice gratitude?  Give prizes for catching people expressing gratitude.  Watch for examples of ingratitude.  Have people share what the response was in someone they thanked who normally would never hear gratitude.  Plan a lunch where each person is first given a rock and nothing else and see what they say.  Read Matthew 7:7-12 and Psalm 88:12 “Righteousness cannot be done in a land of forgetfulness.”  You would want to have something beside the rock or you may have to teach on “thou shall not kill.” At the end of the day discuss ways that your group could take gratitude to the next level and report on the results at your next meeting.  How could your ministry become known as the most grateful group of people in the church?

Discuss ways the people in your group could act on the emphasis of the event or trip.  After a sermon on Barnabas, and the importance of encouragement, a high school student began “The Barnabas Committee” where Christian students anonymously sent notes of encouragement to the facility and staff of a large secular high school.  At the end of two years the principal said to the student, I know you were the head of the Barnabas committee; you will never know what an impact this had on our school.  What can we do to foster that kind of response in our ministry?

Thirdly, discuss with your leadership and ultimately with the group as a whole, what God needs to produce in and through our group at this time in our ministry.  What would we need to start doing and stop doing to see this happen?  Study Ephesians 4:17-5:21, Colossians 3:1-17, and Galatians 5:16-26 and make a list of what your group would like to “put off” (stop doing) and “put on” (start doing

Deuteronomy 32:2, 7 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.  Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past.  Ask you father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.”  God’s plan for “elders” is that they would declare his power to the next generation (Psalm 71:18); tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done (Psalm 78:4).  The best definition of a successful ministry to people 50+ is that we are producing people who have such an authentic relationship with the Lord that their desire is to build God confidence in others and others are drawn to them because of the radiance and reality they see in their walk with God.

The second question is “How do your people view the second half of life?” Of course the answer will vary with each person in your group, but what is the general understanding of aging?  How does your group see itself, those older, those younger?  What would you say the general view of aging is in your congregation?    What is this understanding based on?  One of the more interesting things you can do is get your people to define successful aging, what is “old”, why is our culture so fixated on being, thinking, looking young?  As ideas are shared, it will become apparent what the prevailing understanding of aging is.

One way to discover the commonly held beliefs about aging in your church is to conduct a confidential survey to poll people’s real attitudes and then present a report and contrast those beliefs with what Scripture teaches.  When do the people of our church want to stop growing older and why?  Is it forever 21, 29, 39, 49…?  Since, barring an early death, all of our congregation will grow old, what are we doing to give them God’s view rather than the worlds.  Billy Graham said in a Newsweek Magazine interview that all his life he had been taught how to die but no one taught him how to grow old.

There seems to be three typical responses to aging among churchgoers.  Denial, Dread or Determination.  The response is dependent on the age, life experience; Biblical understanding and life stage the person is going through.  The definition of successful aging in the mind of the individual plays a definitive role in the response.  If for example, the definition of successful aging is to stay young as long as you can and die quickly, denial and dread are most frequently the hallmarks of a person’s attitude toward the second half of life.   If on the other hand, successful aging is defined as recognizing the seasons of life and living through each of them with God’s purpose, power and promise based on a Biblical foundation, the attitude will be characterized by a determination to engage each season with all of God’s provision.

A great project for your group would be to write and post a Biblical definition of successful aging.  A good place to start is a study of Second Corinthians, especially the first four chapters.  Some churches have realized the importance of this and have begun a comprehensive means of building a Biblical view of aging in their congregation starting with teaching the children of the church about aging and how to relate to those who are older and working it through each of the generations and ministries of the church.

Two key questions:  What kind of adult are you trusting God to produce from your ministry? And what is the view of the second half of life among your people?  The asking and answering of these two questions will have an impact on everything else you do.

Rev. John Thill has been the senior pastor of three churches over 24 years and holds a BA in history and sociology from Westmont College, an M.Div from Fuller Seminar and ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church.  He has been in the field of elder care since 1995 serving in retirement housing, as President and CEO of a not for profit elder care company, and with CASA and Significant Living as Director of Ministry from 2005 to 2009.  He is currently Pastor to mature adults at Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estates California.   He can be reached at 310-521-2524 or jthill@rhcc.net.

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

(In Pinnacle Forum, groups are referred to as ‘Forums.’ These 10 Keys will be helpful to any small group leader.)

Key 1: Three Kinds of Questions:

• Factual Questions make sure people understand the material. Plus, it’s always helpful to ask a question that people answer correctly right away.

• Opinion Questions. “What do you think of . . .” Participants need to know that you are asking for their opinion. There is no “right” answer, just an opinion.

• Insight questions. “How does this speak to you personally?” “How can this be applied?” Now you are asking for the Participant to risk authenticity and say something personal. Insight questions are open ended. You are not directing to any particular answer.

Key 2: Encourage Direct Communication

Participants need to talk to each other, not to you. Your goal is not to be the hub of a communication wheel. Your goal is to facilitate Participants to talk to each other. Throughout the course of your forum, try to speak less and less. The best forums are

when you ask only three or four questions during the entire discussion part of your forum.  One useful technique is to shift your eye contact away from the responder and

look at the other participants. This, in turn, usually shifts their eye contact and in so doing promotes interaction between the participants and lessens the likelihood of participants responding only to the facilitator.

Key 3:  Equal Participation

Make sure participants are given an equal amount of time to share.  Keep track if necessary. Invite a shy or non-speaking participant into the discussion with a question or eye contact in order to include them in the forum.

Key 4:  Stay On Topic

Stay away from third-party issues or outside matters. Forum discussion can easily drift into those directions because they are safe topics. When the forum moves in that direction, one or more participants may be avoiding personal issues. Let everyone know that you will work to hold them accountable to staying on topic and personal. Encourage Participants to talk about themselves. When they start to tell a story about themselves, sit up in your chair. Let your body language say, “I’m all ears.” This will encourage others to engage in personal story telling.

Key 5:  Focus on the Person not the Problem

Not only can a forum drift off into third-party topics, it can also get stuck trying to “fix” problems. Men especially tend to be fixers. When this happens, gently shift the discussion to the person and away from the solution. Chances are, the Participant already knows the solution and doesn’t need to hear it from the group. The participant needs to talk about his/her feelings, emotions, and fears.

Key 6: Do Not Argue Theology.

The Church of Jesus Christ has been doing that for two thousand years. Leave the arguments to the theologians and focus on forum participants.

Key 7: Go With The Flow

Don’t be so concerned with the material or lesson that you cut off a good discussion. The agenda of the forum is neither to work through all of the material nor complete the lesson. The goal is relationships. Our primary agenda is to pay attention to what God is doing in each other’s lives.

Key 8: Stay With an Expressed Emotion

Whether positive or negative, don’t move away from what the participant is experiencing.  It may be anger, sadness, broken heartedness, fear, joy, laughter, etc. The most important moments of your forum are when these kinds of emotions are on the table and supported by others in the room.

Key 9:  Be Alert for Key Life Issues

Pay very close attention to what people bring to the table. At each forum, expect that at least one of your Participants will have a particularly challenging life issue or

matter of concern. It may be business related. More than likely, however, it will be personal. Listen for it. Talk about it when it comes up. Let the participants set the agenda.

Key 10: Invite the Holy Spirit to Lead

This is not your forum. It’s not the participant’s forum.  It is the Lord’s forum!   He wants to move forum Participants to a deeper level of faith and greater passion for service. Make it a habit to invite the Holy Spirit to lead you, as you lead. Make it a habit to invite the Holy Spirit to facilitate you, as you facilitate. Listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act upon them.

(For more information, visit www.pinnacleforum.com)

The “church family” is not immune to the dangers of ageism and age privilege!

Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

•         A church is ageist when it regrets the inability of the old to climb the stairs to the sanctuary, but fails to provide accessibility.

•         A church is ageist when it takes public pride in the “new young families” who are attending church activities, but takes for granted the “old folks” who have supported the church through many years.

•         A church is ageist when it forgets its active old members and leaves ministry with the old to the retired minister on the church staff whose task is to visit the shut-ins.

•         A church is ageist when it assumes that old people no longer want leadership roles.

•         A church is ageist when it acts on the assumption that in order for younger people to become involved in the church the active and able old members must be expected to step aside.

•         A church is ageist when it makes plans for an “older adult ministry” without consulting the ones to whom and with whom they plan to minister.

•         A church is ageist when it “honors” the old but treats them in a condescending and patronizing way.

•         A church is ageist when it puts all of the hearing aids in one pew, down front.

•         A church is ageist when it assumes that old people will always resist change.

Here Are Some Examples of Ageist Behaviors and Attitudes in Many Congregations

•         When older adult ministry is planned without the involvement of older adults, that’s ageism.

•         When a church believes that the only way it can be innovative and growing is to have older adults step aside, that’s ageism.

•         When a church fails to make its facilities accessible, that’s ageism.

•         When a church hires staff for other age-group ministries or provides them a budget but ignores ministry with older adults, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders believe they know what’s best for older adults without consulting them, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders regularly ignore issues of aging and older adult concerns in their sermons, hymn selections, and prayers, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders focus solely on young families and ignore older members who have supported the church over a period of many years, that’s ageism.

Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. is the Directorof the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. This article, Is Your Church Ageist, appeared in the fall 2006 issue of Center Sage.

What this “Baby Boomer” Senior Pastor learned at a CASA Network Leadership Conference.

Joe Boerman

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

I am a “Baby Boomer.” This means that I was born between 1946 and 1964. I care about my generation, many of whom are still hoping to have lived a life of significance before they die. As my generation transitions into our senior adult years, I have a lot of questions (and fewer answers) about what it will take to reach them for Christ. So it was in an effort to get some answers that I recently attended the annual gathering of CASA, an organization that researches and strategizes ministry for senior adults. What I have learned is impacting the way our church thinks about senior adult ministry in the near future.

Our church, like many others, has an active senior adult ministry that features a weekly Bible study, regularly scheduled outings and a system of caring for the needs of the group. Those who are currently 65 years old or better have enjoyed being part of the group. In recent years, however, our senior adult pastor has bemoaned the fact that he can’t get any of the “younger seniors,” ages 55-65, to participate. I went to CASA hoping to learn some new methods for getting younger boomers to join this senior adult group.

What I learned is that we need to quit trying. Boomers have never been joiners, and they aren’t about to start now. The next generation of senior adult ministry will look different than it has in the past few decades. The Baby Boomer generation does not want to be singled out or given a special based-on-age category. It’s likely they never will.

Because of what we believe to be true about Boomers, this is how our church plans to reach them:

• We will plan special felt-need training opportunities (groups/forums) for this age group, but let them self-select in participating. We will not market these opportunities as geared for a specific age group.
• Our current senior adult pastor will continue to focus attention on his group of 65+ year-olds, and no longer be concerned with getting younger Boomers to join them.
• A new staff person will be recruited to focus on reaching the Boomer generation, but his/her primary role will be one-on-one relationships rather than group oriented.
• Baby Boomers have much to offer the kingdom, including knowledge, leadership, experience, and inherited wealth. They want to be particularized and given specific roles that fit their gifting and position in life. They still believe they can change the world and will keep trying to do it. They need BIG challenges. Don’t even think about giving them small, insignificant roles. They can smell condescension a mile away.
• We will work with Boomers one-on-one, recruiting them to significant ministry opportunities.
• We will raise the bar high in what we expect of them, making sure to paint the picture of how their ministry will change lives.
• We will train our staff and lay leaders in how to particularize for Boomers.
• We will encourage our paid ministry staff to read a current book on how best to empower Boomers.
• We will recruit a core of “volunteer staff” positions from this age group, with office space and opportunities for enrichment given to them.
• In 2010 we will create a “Boomer Think Tank” made up of eight to ten Boomers to cast vision and strategize how best to do ministry with their own age group.
• We will use this age group to help us bridge the gap between the Gen X and older Sages in our church, hopefully minimizing the harmful effect the “generation gap” had on ministry a few decades ago.

We have much to learn, and we know we need to learn it quickly. The opportunity has already arrived. Few churches are addressing it. It is my belief that for many churches to be able to thrive in the next 20 years, they will need to become excellent in reaching Boomers for Christ. To do so will take some collaborative and creative thinking. The reward for those who do it well will be enormous.

Joe Boerman has been the senior pastor at Immanuel Church, Gurnee, Ill., since 1989.