Posts Tagged ‘Boomers’

From our Alliance Partners at Fresh Horizons

In August 2011 Fresh Horizons hosted two conferences for those embracing the new wave of ministry to those in life’s second half. Tauranga in New Zealand’s North Island was the host city for the first New Zealand Conference of this kind in the country. A local board working in cooperation with Fresh Horizons Australia staged a fantastic event over two days that drew close to 100 pastors, church leaders and interested Christians from around New Zealand. The following week Caloundra City in South East Queensland hosted their second Australian Conference with over 60 leaders, ministers and interested Christians from as far away as Victoria attending.

Both conferences benefitted from the insights of keynote speaker Ward Tanneberg (USA) who focused on the topic “Influencing the Generations”. A variety of relevant electives were offered and well received that included the topics “Jesus and women in today’s world”, “Positioning and equipping your church to reach and mobilise baby boomers” and “Accentuating the positive.” A valuable feature of both conferences was the panel of practitioners who are successfully involved in second half ministries. New Zealand’s panel featured Tom Frew, a Baptist pastor whose entire ministry focus is on building a vibrant congregation of over 50s. Nan Kingston-Smith focused on health and fitness while Denise Whitehead is involved with the Tauranga City Council exploring the concept of global age friendly cities.

 

Fresh Horizons is a Kingdom focused ministry established to inspire, educate and equip active Christians to engage in a ministry and evangelism with Baby Boomers and beyond. Learn more at www.freshhorizons.org.au.

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 The Best Vines

The ‘new elders’ arrived when much of your church was looking the other way. Together with their older ‘builder’ parents, boomers usually represent at least 25% of urban and suburban centers in Canada and America, 45% of the average evangelical congregation and 51% of mainline congregations. These ‘new elders’ of Christendom are the first generation intent on living another 30 or 40 years after reaching age 50, and have to grapple with the excitement and responsibility such a reality brings.

Inside your church, they range from impatient to resigned and everywhere in between. They represent a key to your church’s ministry success, having experienced much of what the world is like out there. They have much to give to the other generations. They want to teach and be taught and long to be Jesus’ hands and feet in today’s world. Maybe not the same way their parents did, but every bit as impactful.

There are boomer grandmothers flying airplanes and grandfathers launching new enterprises while others return to the classroom or travel the world over. They listen for spiritual truth from mystics and gurus while their greatest need is to know the gospel. With all this comes openness to peers who sensitively and authentically live and share the love and life of Jesus Christ.

Some of our elders, like veterans home from battle, are in need of thoughtful and loving attention, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet some of our greatest saints are not always certain the church understands and values them. We can be sure of one thing, though. If ministry to and through adults in life’s second half is pushed to one side or inadequately addressed, it will have catastrophic implications on the lasting influence your church has with all generations.

Think with me. Alongside reaching and teaching young adults, the youth and children of the church family entrusted to you, have you planned for effective ministry to and through boomers and builders as well? Who are the ‘new elders’ in your church? What are their names? Do you know their passions and concerns, their hopes and dreams? What kinds of ministry to and through adults in life’s second half will you inspire as you seek to reach your world for Christ?

We can help you find at least some of the answers you need.

Is your church or organization an active CASA Network ministry partner? If not, visit the ministry partner page right now and join. We will be your researchers and trainers, your inspirational resource and a reminder that, like fine wines, the salt and pepper dust of age you see on Sundays often conceals the best the vineyard has to offer (John 15). Check it out!

 

 

 

 

 

Ward

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May be Detrimental to Third Age Ministry

by Robert Chism

 

The objective of this article is to create receptivity for appropriate Church change regarding the social disconnect produced by age bias and greater longevity.

The term “third age” was introduced by William A. Sadler in his book, The Third Age (2000). The term refers to a 30 year period, not previously possible in the life experience. It is based upon the increase in life expectancy between 1900 and 2000.

New-old, encore generation, midlife & beyond, second half, 50+, older adults, third agers, senior, mature, frail, and elderly are all terms used to describe a similar population segment with varying degrees of political acceptance.

 

The Faith Development in Adult Life Cycle (FD/ALC) study from 1981-1987 included, among others, the following Church practices:

  • Primarily a Youth Focus
  • An Institutional Pastoral Model
  • We’ve Never Done it That Way

Let’s examine in greater detail how these standards may cloud, or even hinder, the Great Commission and Commandment as well as a commitment to Third Age ministry.

 

1. Primarily a Youth Focus 

Retirement, midlife, and youth are primary faith development stages.

Charles Arn’s book, White Unto Harvest (2003), confirmed that there exist heightened degrees of emotional and spiritual receptivity during life changes. Heartbeat! (2011), identifies an effective ministry model that looks for the side doors, personal sweet spots or passions to engage with third agers.

Under the category “one size fits all,” many think third agers can be ministered to through other ministries. This may be true to some extent, but we must still recognize the unique issues that affect people in this life stage, which are all big issues (mentoring, parental care, grandparenting, grief share, addictive behavior, military family support, wellness, finances, generosity, estate planning, and finishing well, to name a few). According to Amy Hanson’s book, Boomers and Beyond (2010), it is good to gather people of all ages together. However, there are times and places for ministering to people one-on-one exactly where they are.

Age 65+ is the fastest growing population segment for the next 30 years. They have abundant discretionary time which includes a 30 year longevity bonus for pursuing their passions. On average, third agers contribute 80% of the local church budget and own 65% of the nation’s wealth! According to the Great Commission, everyone includes the old and the rich.

Based upon the size, affluence, life stage, and uniqueness of this population segment, my interpretation is that both a focus on third agers and youth is more appropriate.

 

2. An Institutional Pastoral Model 

The institutional pastoral model had negative historical experiences reported.

Ward Tanneberg, President & Executive Director of CASA (Christian Association Serving Adults) Network recommends greater investment in training for adult ministry pastors and lay leaders with little or no special training that are responsible for the midlife and beyond segment.

A short list of available helpful educational resources includes:

 

My interpretation is that an individual lay model by, among and to third agers is more appropriate for this segment.

The books of Michael Kinsman, Encore (2007); Charles T. Knippel, How to Minister Among Older Adults (2005); David Gallagher, Senior Adults Ministry in the 21st Century (2002), Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church (1995) are all useful references for effective local Church ministry.

 

3. We’ve Never Done it That Way

It is desirable to celebrate, sponsor, and encourage a spiritual quest. This means doing more in terms of people’s needs, problems, and life changes both positive & negative with a sense of vibrancy, intensity, and care—more than church-as-usual.

Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Church (1995), also identified spiritual receptivity (knowing who you can best reach) as key to evangelism. My interpretation is that an intentional second half recruitment, development, and placement flexibility provides the best engagement process for third agers.

 

Take away points from this article include the following changes:

  • A dual focus on third agers and youth
  • Individual lay evangelism by, among, & to third agers
  • Intentional third ager recruitment, development, and placement flexibility

 

What’s next?

For over 28 years CASA Network along with other Christian organizations have been teaching appropriate changes that address social disconnect caused by ageism and a 30 year longevity bonus. With their momentum, it is now time to commit to find a way to engage with third agers.

 

 

Robert W. Chism is the founder of Finishing Well, a personal website dedicated to coaching third age adult faith development. He attends Village Church of Gurnee, and is a member of the CASA Network, YES! and Christ Together. Certificate programs he participates in include, the Center for Christian Leadership, Anderson University School of Theology; “Aging Ministries,” and “Navigating Ministry in Times of Generational Changes.” Bob has four decades of experience in finance & strategic planning, and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is a graduate of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace, as well as Bowling Green and Northwestern Universities. Married 48 years, he has three adult children and seven grandkids.

Contact Information: Robert Chism, 1513 Eagle Ridge Drive, Antioch, IL 60002 | ph. 847- 395-1626. Send an email to: chism.w.robert@comcast.net.

 

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Seminar: Igniting Boomers for Significant Impact

“Why are the Boomers in our congregation so uncommitted?  It seems like they used to be so involved and now all they do is attend.”

This question from the Outreach Pastor of a nearby church expresses a growing concern throughout North America. What’s happening to this generation of believers that is supposed to be so interested in “finishing well,” investing their skills and talents, and making a significant impact with the remaining years of their life?

The Finishers Project, partners with the CASA Network, has studied this phenomenon and now offers local churches an opportunity to delve into this challenge. An insightful, one-day seminar is designed to enable church leadership toward a better understanding of, and communication with, this unique boomer generation. It is possible to help them connect with fulfilling ministry roles.

Facilitated by Tom Adelsman, Director of Church Ministries, and Don Parrott, Finishers President, the “Igniting Boomers For Significant Impact” seminar provides a practical understanding of the boomer mindset, why they become less engaged in our churches, and insights into communicating in ways they will hear. The desire of Finishers Project is to help churches mobilize this powerful force of workers for kingdom impact locally and worldwide.

This one-day, adult-learning workshop rotates between short presentations by Adelsman and Parrott, then round-the-table interaction on the questions and challenges presented. Participants and church staff, working with mid-life and beyond adults or lay leadership, leave the four-hour session with a greater understanding of how to help these vital people connect with ministries that utilize their God-given passions.

One recent participant stated, “This meeting was very beneficial to me. It was as advertised!”

We encourage you to contact Finishers Project by phone or email to see if this seminar might be offered in your area. Email: toma@finishers.org, or call 480-854-4444.

 

Don Parrott is President of Finishers Project. For more information, see their website http://finishers.org/.

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Peter Laslett, 20th century English historian (1915-2001), was an early proponent in British and American society of what I believe must happen in 21st century church culture. In his book, A Fresh Map of Life, published in 1991, he points to the need for a new outlook and a new language with which to view life in today’s world. Nothing could be truer for churches today than the need for a new outlook, a new language and above all, the need for leaders to take a new and serious look at the world through the 40/50 Window.

Nearly 40% of society is 50+ in age. In a few short years it will be 45%. It’s happening in the USA, in Britain and Europe, in Canada and Australia. Today it is estimated there are more than 70,000 Centenarians in the USA alone. Japan is in second place with nearly 45,000. But the headline story is not about our growing 100-year-old population. The big story is the fact that society as a whole is aging, that we are living longer and growing older than at any other time in history, and that this very fact offers the greatest potential for the Church in mankind’s history. It is also about churches not absorbing this big story while growing sluggish with inadequate staff or finances to sustain them in our faltering economy. A new paradigm for doing business is imperative. The world at large recognizes this as our new reality. But the Church has been slow to get on board.

This amazing percentage of 50+ adults will continue to increase. Some see it as an unforgiveable burden on society. Others, like myself, see it as an undeniable opportunity, however poorly we Christ followers may be approaching this reality at the moment. Pastors and other leaders must come to grips with longevity issues, a reality that many are only glancing at or turning away from all together. Here’s a thought, not totally intended to be humorous, but, if the new wave of today’s mono-generational churches survive another two or three decades, they could wind up looking, acting and feeling like ecclesial ‘Sun Cities!’

Much of our thinking regarding aging in the Church is framed in a perspective belonging to the past. Even in ‘2nd half’ terminology, to which I myself often refer, there is a confusion that attempts to join the age of fulfillment with the age of decline. For example, when we in the CASA Network approach the ages chronologically, we identify three broad categories, namely 1) the Legacy generations – birth to approximately age 44; 2) the Bridge generations – 45 to around 69; and the Sage generations – 70+ (the three circles in our logo). Yet the longer I work in this age-wave environment and the more I see where researchers, academics and other thoughtful leaders are headed with their assessments, the more I am persuaded that we may have marked off Bridge generations too early at 70. I think we should be giving them another 10!

While dependence and decrepitude may define the oldest old, the weak and the infirmed, it in no way defines the vast majority of modern boomers and trailing edge builders in the Church or society. And therein lies the beginning of our misperception. It used to be that human life potential was wasted by people dying before their ‘three score and ten’ was up. Today, we who abhor teaching anything other than an authentic, up-to-date, rightly divided Word of Truth still find it easy to buy into century old passé myths of aging without a second thought.

Look at it another way. View the Body of Christ as you would a one-dollar bill. Hold it in your hand. It represents the entire worth of the Church. We decide to invest 55 cents of that dollar in children, youth and young adults. The remaining 45 cents we hold onto for a while. We don’t invest. We make no effort even to connect it to our earlier investment. We don’t understand its power. After all, what can you do with 45 cents? So it lies there in our hand. Losing interest. Getting in the way. Eventually it goes on a shelf or in a drawer. Out of sight.

Forty-five percent of the Christ followers in most of America’s evangelical and mainline churches are 50+ in age. Losing a high percentage of valuable influencers when we need them most doesn’t make any sense at all. Letting them slip through our fingers through inattention, under-serving or by not understanding their true value to the whole Church is even worse.

Maybe this is why a dollar isn’t what it used to be!

 

 

 

 

 

Ward

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Mar
30
2011

The new old are active, involved and anything but “old.”

Amy Hanson was a recent guest on Ed Stetzer’s Thursday-is-for-Thinkers blog site (edstetzer.com).

When I first started in pastoral ministry, the big rage was how to reach the baby boomer. I even attended an Elmer Towns conference by that same title in Buffalo, New York. Though I wasn’t a boomer, I found fascinating the need to reach this rather large generation. Later, we’d hear much about what was then called Generation X (what my generation would be called), and the focus continued to evolve toward subsequent generations. We need to consider, however, as generations age, how does the church respond? Today’s post deals with that issue.

I am glad to have Amy Hanson here at the blog. Amy is a speaker and consultant in the area of older adult ministry, as well as the author of Baby Boomers and Beyond: Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults over 50, in which she reminds us of the work still to be done making disciples in the older generation. She regularly blogs at amyhanson.org. I’m glad to to have her here today, and hope that you will join the discussion.

Well, it’s here. The year 2011. And people like me who have spent their entire ministry, work and academic life immersed in the field of aging and older adult ministry have been anticipating this year for a long time. Just a few weeks ago when January 1st rolled around, the first of 78 million baby boomers turned 65. Pew Research Center reports that 10,000 adults are turning 65 each day and that in 20 years, almost 20% of our population will be over the age of 65.

In the past month there has been a surge of news articles and stories on the topic of aging baby boomers, a group I like to refer to as “the new old.” These are adults who are primarily between the age of 50 to 70 and view the later years of life in a completely different way than their parent’s generation. The new old are active, involved and anything but “old.” Government, health care, fashion merchandising and a host of other businesses are giving serious attention to the implications of this huge demographic. And it’s time the Church enters into the conversation. How do we respond to this phenomenon? What do we need to know?

Here are 4 key issues we must consider.

1. The new old are approaching aging in a much different way than preceding generations. For starters, leading-edge baby boomers and those just slightly older do not like the word “senior” and they reject just about anything that smacks of old age.

I’ve had more than one frustrated church leader tell me, “We can’t get those sixty-year olds to attend our senior adult activities!” One primary reason for this is because the new old do not consider themselves to be seniors and for the most part, they are never going to fold into the existing senior adult ministry at a church. They are not interested in potluck luncheons or bus trips. While some of these ministry ideas have worked in the past, they are not going to reach this new generation of older adults. Community senior centers are discovering this and making adjustments like taking out the shuffleboard court and putting in fitness centers. Some retirement communities are even removing the names “senior” and “retirement” from their titles. The church will need to follow suit.

A handful of churches across the country are creating boomer ministries (separate from their senior adult ministries) and are calling these new ministries Encore, Adult Impact or simply Boomer ministry. Whatever the format, we need different ministry names, fresh ideas and a whole new approach to how we do things.

2. The new old are reinventing retirement. The New Retirement Survey conducted by Merrill Lynch found that 76% of boomers want to keep working in some fashion during retirement. Many adults want to retire from their current career and launch into something new, like part-time work or a job that has flexibility. The types of jobs boomers are most interested in involve working in the nonprofit sector, starting their own business, or just doing a fun job that is less stressful. One thing is certain. Boomers do not plan to sit in a rocking chair and simply relax for the next 20 years of their lives. They want their retirement years to include a component of work – either paid employment or a significant volunteer role.

3. Not all older adults are Christians. I know that sounds so simple, but think about this for a moment. Many churches invest a lot of time, staff and resources into children’s and youth ministry – which is important – but few churches are intentional and strategic about reaching the millions of older adults who do not have a relationship with Christ. Ironically, there are some characteristics among 50+ age adults that make them very receptive to the gospel. They are facing a number of life transitions such as caring for aging parents, concerns about their own heath and mortality, financial worries, and evolving relationships with their adult children and grandchildren. All of these stresses provide great opportunities for communities of faith to reach out with ministry. Boomers are also receptive because they are searching for purpose. They are entering a new phase of life and are asking questions like, “now that I am getting older, my work life is changing and the children are out of the house, what is it that gives my life meaning?” Obviously, Christ-followers hold the only true answer to that question. I’ve been thrilled to learn of a few church plants and multi-site venues that are purposing to reach out to this age group. But we need more.

4. Aging boomers have the potential to make a tremendous Kingdom impact with their lives. They have time, experience and resources and they want to participate in purposeful endeavors that will benefit others. As these adults enter their retirement years, they desire to do more than staple newsletters, fold bulletins and make coffee. One man said about his retirement: “I want to give my time to ministry through my church, but I’d like to do more than be an usher.” These are adults that can lead community efforts to help with homelessness, give hours each week to mentoring children at an underprivileged school, serve for an extended time overseas, counsel those who are facing unemployment, and on and on the list goes. It is imperative that we open our eyes and recognize the potential of this generation and then find ways to unleash them into ministry. My fear is that if the church does not engage them, they will look elsewhere.

Never before in history have so many adults moved into their later years of life with so much health and vitality. We have a window of opportunity right now to harness the capacity of this enormous generation, to grow them up as disciples of Christ, and to mobilize them for His mission. Let’s not miss the chance.

What are the barriers you’ve seen that keep us from developing robust ministries with aging boomers in our churches and communities? What are you doing in your ministry context to reach out to this age group and tap into their ministry potential? What other comments and ideas do you have about ministry with the new old?

 

 

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WE can BE A BRIDGE … LEADING PEOPLE TO HIM.

Alice Kalso

I love word plays, especially describing Boomers.

Here’s my favorite: Boomers are the bridge.

I stumbled on this analogy a decade ago in a book ahead of its time called The Sandwich Years. Author Dennis Gibson coined the phrase. It works for me.

If you’re a Boomer, or the parent of a Boomer, close your eyes. Picture a bridge:  an Indiana red covered bridge, the Golden Gate bridge, a floating bridge, a suspension bridge. In our families, Boomers are like bridges because:

1. Boomers connect people. Boomers share so many rich memories with their parents: church potlucks with jello salads and homemade desserts, shuffleboard, ping-pong and church baseball games. And who could forget cake and punch wedding receptions hosted by the Ladies’ Missionary Society?  Or church services twice on Sunday? Yet Boomers also share experiences with the younger set: taking sermon notes on an I-Pad, “reading the Bible” on an electronic device, and corresponding instantly with missionaries around the world. The Boomers’ breadth of knowledge and experience allows them to reach out to old and young and explain cultural differences.  They can also interpret the medical world to their aging parents, and advocate on their behalf.

2. Boomers are resilient. Having weathered the test of time, Christian Boomers stand strong. Many have lost loved ones, endured layoffs and triumphed over other disappointments, with God’s help. In the process, they’ve learned much from the “school of hard knocks.”  Patience, gratitude, encouragement, joy. By testing God’s faithfulness and finding it rock solid, they face tomorrow with optimism. This is no pie-in-the-sky theology that denies difficulties and trials. Instead, it focuses on Christ’s ability to move us and change us through difficult situations. No matter how hard things are, Boomers realize that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  (Psalm 30:5). That unshakable belief centers them.

3. Boomers are approachable. Young adults and the frail elderly are often self-focused for different reasons. The young ones are launching, whether starting careers, finding a life partner, or raising children. These monumental tasks require virtually all their efforts. The older generation has other issues. Their bodies, plagued by physical ailments, require far more attention than before. In addition, they face the death of friends, spouses and dreams. They are waning. Boomers are the go-to people for both generations, able to offer advice and help. Old and young alike have faith in this middle group, precisely because of their firm foundation that will endure.

Yet there is a darker side to being a bridge. “Sometimes Boomers feel walked on from both sides,” Gibson writes. Demands race at them from both the generation above and below, resulting in an emotional traffic jam. This “intergenerational traffic jam” happened to me 12 years ago, when my very frail parents arrived for a 10-day visit. Our agenda was over the top with two graduations, our parent’s surprise 50th wedding anniversary celebration, and our oldest daughter’s wedding. Father’s Day capped it off.

I hadn’t seen Mother and Daddy in a while. What a shock when I met them at the airport! My best-laid plans suddenly came to a halt, and daily minor medical emergencies took center stage. “I need a Fleet enema NOW!” my Dad moaned from time to time. Until then, I knew nothing about such things. But I learned quickly. Another day Mother tumbled out of the car onto the grass, flat on her back. No broken bones, just her pride. Then there were the usual requests from our teens and the bride.

The wedding went well. Daddy’s biggest fear—that he’d trip down the aisle—didn’t happen. At the end of the visit, I felt so many conflicting emotions. I was glad to see them, proud that our children had been so accepting, sad at their frailty and especially that I hadn’t been physically present to notice their decline. On a personal level, I felt splintered and broken. I needed to repair the bridge.

A helpful book on this subject is The How of Happiness by research scientist and author, Sonja Lyubomirsky. In her highly documented and readable The How of Happiness, she distills years of empirical research on the science of happiness, compiling the results of many studies over time on ‘happiness’—what makes some people content while others are less so, and what people can do to improve their happiness level. Here are some of the ways she suggests happy people use to repair their bridge that were helpful to me.

Happy people:

1. Express gratitude. Thankfulness brings back well being after loss, fatigue and overload, says Lyubomirsky. It strengthens moral behavior, enabling us to do the right thing, even when others, including older and younger generations, might not respond positively. No wonder the Bible contains so many admonitions to “Give thanks.”

2. Avoid ‘overthinking.’ This is an area I have to give to the Lord, as it’s easy to second-guess my decisions or mull over problems which can’t be resolved. I agree with Lyubomirsky that ruminating about an issue heightens sorrow, impairs our ability to solve problems and saps motivation. Whenever I find myself ‘overthinking,’ I tell myself, “Stop!” If I’m diligent, the pattern will cease.

3. Suppress negative emotion. Happy people “schedule” their negative emotions. For example, if I feel sadness, I say to myself, “Sadness, I can’t see you now. I’ll see you after supper.” Then at the appropriate time, I can pour my heart out to the Lord. Scheduling negative emotions allows me to express them and still function throughout the day.

4. Practice their faith. It’s probably no surprise that prayerful people tend to live longer. They have higher deposits of hope, gratitude and love. Especially helpful are prayers that those which go beyond asking for things. Seeking God’s presence daily makes us happy. Here Lyubomirsky agrees with so many Scriptures.

The best example of such a ‘bridge’ is our Lord himself. To borrow words from Simon and Garfunkel’s song so popular with Boomers in the late 60s, Jesus is our “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” He gave of Himself to all generations, feeding people physically and spiritually, healing the sick, connecting his disciples to each other, and ultimately bridging the gap between sinful humanity and a righteous God. And when He felt spent, He knew how to repair, spending time alone with His Father.

Even at the end of His life, He continued to bring together old and young. Suffering incalculable agony, Jesus nevertheless turned from his pain to gaze at His mother. “Behold your son,” He said.  And to His best friend John, Jesus said, “Behold your mother.” These two took the advice of their advocate, their example, their ‘bridge.’ John took Mary into his own home for the rest of her life.

What a legacy Jesus left us! No matter our generation, we are given the power to reconcile others to God, to be a bridge leading people to Him.

Alice Kalso is Director of Marketing for an affordable retirement community in Bellevue, Washington.  She has written on family issues for 25 years, publishing in Christian and secular newspapers and magazines.  Her new blog, www.boomersguidetoeldercare.com, addresses the relationship between adult children and their aging parents.

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DR. PETE MENCONI

As Baby Boomers search for significance, meaning, and purpose for their lives, the local church is one place they will look. Today, local churches and the worldwide church are   going through profound changes. In order for churches to   minister effectively to Boomers in their search, pastors and church leaders must understand the changing spiritual dynamics confronting the church and our culture.

In his book The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Reggie McNeal (2003, Jossey-Bass Publishers) gives us six new realities confronting the church:

New Reality #1. The Collapse of the Church Culture

“The point is.. all the effort to fix the church misses the point. You can build the perfect church–and they still won’t come. People are not looking for a great church…The age in which institutional religion holds appeal is passing away.”

“Church leaders seem unable to grasp this simple implication of the new world–people outside the church think church is for church people, not for them.”

New Reality #2. The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth

“The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, ‘Thy church come.’ The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence.”

New Reality #3. A New Reformation: Releasing God’s People

“The time is ripe for recapturing this original appeal of the gospel. People are interested and searching for God and   personal salvation through a relationship with him. Increasingly they are not turning to institutional religion for help. They don’t trust religious institutions because they see them as inherently self-serving. So they are off on their own search for God.”

New Reality #4. The Return to Spiritual Formation

“I am recommending that churches provide life coaching for people. We need to view this as spiritual formation. We   cannot take the approach that we just need to teach people the classic spiritual disciples, assuming that a person already has a developed center. We must use spiritual disciplines to help people form the center. We must attend to their self-awareness and life relationships.”

New Reality #5. The Shift from Planning to Preparation

“Faced with diminishing returns on investment of money, time and energy, church leaders have spent much of the last five decades trying to figure out how to do church better. Emphases have come and gone in rapid succession. Church and lay renewal has given way to church growth, which has given way to church health. The results beg the question.”

New Reality #6. The Rise of Apostolic Leadership

“The appropriate response to the emerging world is a rebooting of the mission, a radical obedience to an ancient command, a loss of self rather than self-preoccupation, concern about service and sacrifice rather than concern about style.”

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Dr. Pete Menconi

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center (a book review)

As Baby Boomers search for significance, meaning, and purpose for their lives, the local church is one place they will look. Today, local churches and the worldwide church are going through profound changes. In order for churches to minister effectively to Boomers in their search, pastors and church leaders must understand the changing spiritual dynamics confronting the church and our culture.

In his book The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, Reggie McNeal (2003, Jossey-Bass Publishers) gives us six new realities confronting the church:

New Reality #1. The Collapse of the Church Culture

“The point is.. all the effort to fix the church misses the point. You can build the perfect church–and they still won’t come. People are not looking for a great church…The age in which institutional religion holds appeal is passing away.”

“Church leaders seem unable to grasp this simple implication of the new world–people outside the church think church is for church people, not for them.”

New Reality #2.  The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth

“The church was created to be the people of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist for itself. It was and is the chosen instrument of God to expand his kingdom. The church is the bride of Christ. Its union with him is designed for reproduction, the growth of the kingdom. Jesus did not teach his disciples to pray, ‘Thy church come.’ The kingdom is the destination. In its institutional existence the church abandoned its real identity and reason for existence.”

New Reality #3. A New Reformation: Releasing God’s People

“The time is ripe for recapturing this original appeal of the gospel. People are interested and searching for God and   personal salvation through a relationship with him. Increasingly they are not turning to institutional religion for help. They don’t trust religious institutions because they see them as inherently self-serving. So they are off on their own search for God.”

New Reality #4. The Return to Spiritual Formation

“I am recommending that churches provide life coaching for people. We need to view this as spiritual formation. We   cannot take the approach that we just need to teach people the classic spiritual disciples, assuming that a person already has a developed center. We must use spiritual disciplines to help people form the center. We must attend to their self-awareness and life relationships.”

New Reality #5.  The Shift from Planning to Preparation

“Faced with diminishing returns on investment of money, time and energy, church leaders have spent much of the last five decades trying to figure out how to do church better. Emphases have come and gone in rapid succession. Church and lay renewal has given way to church growth, which has given way to church health. The results beg the question.”

New Reality # 6. The Rise of Apostolic Leadership

“The appropriate response to the emerging world is a rebooting of the mission, a radical obedience to an ancient command, a loss of self rather than self-preoccupation, concern about service and sacrifice rather than concern about style.”

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