REACHINGBABYBOOMERRESOURCES
RECOMMENDEDBOOK:Hanson,Amy.BabyBoomersandBeyond:Tappingthe
MinistryTalentsandPassionsofAdultsOverFifty.SanFrancisco:JosseyBass,
2010.
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LASTCHANCESFORCHURCHESTOREACH50MILLIONAMERICANS
ThomRainer
Mygenerationwasthelargestgeneration.Itwasthegenerationbusinessesand
churcheswantedtoreach.Wewerethesixtiesgeneration.Theself-indulgent
generation.The“me”generation.TheVietnamgeneration.TheWatergate
generation.TheCivilRightsgeneration.
Andnowwearethedyinggeneration.I’mnottryingtobemorbidorsensational.I’m
simplyreportingcensusrealities.Wewerebornbetween1946and1964.Theoldest
amongusis67yearsold.Mortalityisinevitable.Weareshrinkinginnumbers.
DuringthebabyboomthatfollowedWorldWarII,morethan76millionlivebirths
wererecordedintheUnitedStates.Atthetimewewerethelargestgenerationin
history.Wehavesincebeensupplantedbythenearly80millionMillennialsborn
between1980and2000.
Buthereistheharshestrealityaboutmygeneration.Weestimatethatonlyabout
one-thirdofBabyBoomersareChristians.Thatmeansthat50millionadultAmericans
inthisgenerationareunchurchedandhaveyettobereachedwiththegospelof
Christ.
Andtimeisrunningout.
Hereareafew(hopefully)helpfulfactsabouttheBabyBoomersandchurches.Of
course,ourfindingsdepictthemajorityofBoomers,notallofthematanyonetime.
•
Mostchurches,iftheyhaveanintentionaloutreachministry,gearittoward
theyoungergenerations.Thatisunderstandable.Butrelativelyfewchurch
leadersareaskingthequestion,“Whatcanwedoprayerfullyandstrategically
toreachtheBabyBoomers?”
•
MostoftheunchurchedBoomersdonothaveananti-churchmentality.They
aremorereceptivethanmostimagine.
•
MostoftheunchurchedBoomerswouldnotbecaughtupinworshipwars.
Theyhaveawidetoleranceandevenfondnessformanymusicalandstylistic
approaches.Achurch’sworshipstylewouldmostlikelynotbeahindranceto
reachingaBoomer.
•
ThoughBoomersarefastbecomingsenioradults,theywillnotappreciate
manychurches’approachestosenioradultministrytoday.Theywanttomake
adifference,notsimplybeentertainedandtaketrips.Youmayverywellreach
manyBoomersbydemonstratinghowtheChristianlifeistheonlytruelifeof
meaning,andhowtheycanmakeadifferenceasabeliever.
•
Boomersarebecomingincreasinglyintrospective.Theyareaskinglife
questionsthatreallymatter.Theirreceptivitytomattersofeternalimportcould
begreatrightnow.
•
Thisgenerationlargelydoesn’twanttotalkaboutretirement.Theyspeak
moreintermsofcareershiftornewvocationalopportunities.Theyarenot
ready,andprobablyneverwillbe,fortraditionalapproachestoretirement.
•
TheBoomersarethinkingaboutrelationshipsnowmorethananypointin
theirlives.Asimplebutpowerfulwaytoreachtheunchurchedinthis
generationistogetChristianBoomerstoconnectwiththem.ManyBoomer
Christianshaven’tinvitedsomeonetochurchinyears.Nowistheopportune
time.
Asyoucelebratethisnewyear,allowonesoberingrealitytobebeforeyou:more
thanonemillionBabyBoomerswilldiebeforetheyearconcludes.Ifittookyoufive
minutestoreadthisarticle,tenBoomersdiedwhileyouwerereading.By2015the
deathratewillincreasesignificantly.
WehavebutafewchanceslefttoreachthelostandunchurchedamongtheBaby
Boomers.Timeisgrowingshort.
“ThenHesaidtoHisdisciples,‘Theharvestisabundant,buttheworkersarefew.
Therefore,praytotheLordoftheharvesttosendoutworkersintoHis
harvest’”(Matthew9:37-38,HCSB).
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ThoseElusiveBabyBoomers
ByMissyBuchanan
NotlongagoIsatinachurchreceptionareawaitingforanappointment.Icouldn’t
helpbutoverhearaconversationbetweentwochurchvolunteers.Theywereactive
senioradults,mostlikelyintheirmid-to-late70’s.Theywerelamentingthefactthat
notonebabyboomerhadsignedupforanupcomingeventtobehostedbythe
church’ssenioradultgroup,theAmazingGrays.
Basedontheirconversation,Idiscoveredthatthewomenhadputalotofeffortinto
planningaspecialdinnerwhichwasintendedtowelcomethefirstwaveofbaby
boomersintotheranksoftheirchurch’ssenioradultministry.Thevolunteershad
followedthesuggestionoftheolderadultcouncilandhadidentifiedthosemembers
andvisitorswhowerebornbetween1946and1955.Thewomenhadevencrafted
colorfulinvitationsandmailedtheminanticipationofagreatresponse.
Nowthreeweekslater,thewomenweretornbetweenbeingveryangryandbeing
totallydiscouraged.
Actually,it’snotanuncommonscenarioinchurchesthesedays.Ascongregations
begintorespondtothecomingagewave,manyaretryingtosteerboomersinto
currentolderadultministryprograms.Theproblemis,it’sjustnotworking.
Inherbook,BabyBoomersandBeyond:TappingtheMinistryTalentsandPassionsof
Adultsover50(Jossey-Bass2010),Dr.AmyHansontacklesimportanttruthsthat
churchesneedtohearaboutministrytoboomers,agroupincreasinglyknownasthe
“newold”.Infact,Ibelieveeverychurchleadershouldreadthisbookinpreparation
forthefast-growingagingpopulation.Hansonoffersgreatinsightintoboththe
similaritiesanddifferencesbetweenboomersandtheiroldercounterparts.Shealso
suggestspracticalstrategiesformeetingtheministryneedsofallolderadults.
AccordingtoHanson,aprimarykeytounderstandingboomersistorealizethatthey
arekeenlyinterestedinstayingyoungandarelikelytoresistanythingassociated
withaging,old,orsenior.Justconsiderourculture,whichsendsastrongmessage
thatagingwellisallaboutremainingyoung,activeandhealthy.It’snotsurprising
thataninvitationtojoinagroupcalledtheAmazingGrayswouldbemetwithlittle
interestbyboomers.Infact,boomerswouldlikelyconsidersuchagroupas
somethingfortheirparentsorslightly-oldercounterparts,butnotforthem.It’snot
thattheyintendtosnubtheirolderpeers,it’sjustthattheydon’tseethemselvesin
thisrole.
Sowhat’sachurchtodo?Hansonpointstotheimportanceofchoosingnamesthat
won’trepelpeople.Shenotesthatsomecongregationsarebeginningtogravitate
towardlabelslike“Secondhalfministry”or“Encoregeneration”whileother
churchesarechoosingtostayawayfromanytermthatreflectsanage-relatedimage.
Hansonalsopointstoanotherimportantrealitythatchurchesoftenmiss.Aspeople
age,theybecomemorediverse,notless.Justthinkaboutit.Atage75,somepeople
havetraveledextensively;othershaveonlyoccasionallyleftthetowninwhichthey
wereborn.Somearestillworking,eitherfull-timeorpart-time;othershavebeen
retiredfordecades.Butthegreatestdifferencehastodowithphysicalandmental
abilities.Someareactiveandhealthyat75;othersarelivingwithchronicdiseaseor
disability.Understandingthisdiversityisafirststepincreatingmeaningfulministries
whichwillmeettheneedsoftheover-50crowd.
Learningtothinkaboutministrytothoseover50intoday’sworldrequiresanew
paradigm.Itmayevenrequiretossingoutsometiredlabelsinfavoroffresh
identities.Asthefrustratedvolunteersarediscoveringintheirfailedattemptto
embraceagingboomers,itmeansrethinkingwhat’s-always-been-done.That’sthe
firststep…andthemostdifficult.
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WhatChurchLeadersNeedtoKnowAboutMinistrytoAgingBaby
Boomers
ByAmyHanson
Chancesareyou’veheardsomeofthesestatistics,buttrytotakeafreshlookand
reallyletthemsoakin:
•Americans65andolderarethefastest-growingsegmentofthepopulation.
•Inthepastcentury,thenumberofpeopleintheUnitedStatesundertheageof65
hastripled;however,thenumberofpeopleover65hasincreasedbymorethana
factorof12.
•Today,thereareapproximately78millionbabyboomersintheU.S.,withthe
oldestboomerturning63thisyear(2009).
•Bytheyear2030therewillbe72.1millionpeopleinAmericaovertheageof65.1
Nearlyeveryindustry,fromtravelandleisuretohealthcare,isworkingovertimeto
respondtotheseunprecedentednumbers.Butthechurchislaggingbehind,andasa
whole,littlefocusisbeingdirectedtowardrespondingtothisagewavecrashingon
ourshores
.
AsItravelacrossthecountry,Ispeakwithchurchleaderswhoareawareofthe
demographicsbutsimplydon’tknowhowtoprepare.Ihopethefollowing
suggestionswillspuryourthinkingandencourageyoutoexpandyourviewofolder
adultministry.
Letgoofthe“one-size-fits-all”mentality.Oneofthemostcommonchallenges
facingtoday’straditionalsenioradultministryistheinabilitytogetthe“young-olds”
toparticipate.SooftenIhavesenioradultpastorsorseniormembersina
congregationcomeuptomeandsay,“Wehaveagreatprogramonthethird
Thursdayafternoonofeachmonth,butwecan’tgetthosewhoareintheir50sor
60stoattend.Whatshouldwedo?”
Inordertoreachthelargenumberofpeoplewhofallinthe50-plusrange,wemust
recognizetheiruniqueness.
Oneofthemostresearchedprinciplesinthefieldofagingisthatwebecomemore
diverseasweage.Ifyougatheraroomfullofpreschoolersyouwillfindthat
developmentally,theyarebasicallydoingthesamethings.Butaswegetolder,our
differencesincrease.
Bytheageof80,somepeoplehaveneverleftthestateinwhichtheywereborn,
whileothershavetraveledallovertheworld.Somehavedoctoratedegrees,and
othersdidn’tfinishhighschool.Andprobablyoneofthegreatestdifferencesamong
peopleistheirhealth.Somearerunninginmarathonswhileothersarefrailandliving
withdisabilities.
Thiskindofdiversityamongpeoplerequiresdiverseministries.Churcheswithfruitful
50-plusministrieshaveavarietyofdifferentwaystoreachpeople,including
motorcycleclubs,caring-for-aging-parentseminars,grandparentingevents,andeven
specialboomerevents.
OnechurchinBothell,Washington,hostedaBabyBoomerBashafewyearsagoto
celebratethefirstboomerturning60.Beatlesmusic,yellowandorangedecor,pizza,
anddancingwereallpartoftheevening.Theemphasiswasonrecognizingand
affirmingpeopleatthisparticularstageoflife.
Findwaysforolderadultstointegrateintotheentirechurch.WhenIwasgrowing
upmyhomechurchhadpromotionSunday(Isuspectmanyofyourchurchesdid,
too).Itwasareallybigdealforgrade-schoolerstomovefromoneSundayschool
classtothenext,olderone.Wewereproudofeachyear’saccomplishmentand
excitedtomeetournewteacher.
Butlet’sfaceit,asadultswetypicallydonotlikethis.Wedon’twanttobepromoted
andtoldwemustfitintoacertainmold.
Inacademicliterature,thisiscalledage-gradinganditreferstousingagetodictate
whatopportunitiesandprivilegespeoplecanenjoy.Forexample,wemaythinkitis
appropriateforour25-year-oldniecetobegettingmarried,butwehavegreat
reservationsaboutour85-year-oldfathermarrying.
AfewmonthsagoIwasvisitingwithaformerstatesenatorwhoisinhis70s.Iasked
ifheparticipatedinhischurch’sweeklysenioradultprogram.HelookedatmelikeI
wascrazyandsaid,“Idon’twanttobewiththoseoldpeople!”Heproceededtotell
meabouthisintergenerationalSundayschoolclassthatincludedyoungfamilies,
singles,andretirees.Hehadfoundhisplacetobelongandhisplacetoserveatthe
church,butforhimitwasnotwithintheformalolderadultprogram.
Asleaders,ourgoalshouldbetoseeolderadultsinvolvedineveryaspectofthe
church,growingintheirrelationshipwithGodandservinghimwholeheartedly.While
specificprogramsandministriesdedicatedtoreachingolderadultsarevaluablein
connectingpeopleandhelpingthemgrow,successcanneverbesolelymeasuredby
howmanycometotheseevents.
Considereliminatingthewordsenior.Mostpeopleovertheageof50perceivea
seniorassomeonetheyarenot.Old,elderly,andseniorareallwordsthattendtostir
upnegativeattitudes.Somechurchesfindsuccessbyusingpositivetermsfortheir
ministries,suchas:Adults50&Better,Lifeafter50,orSecond-HalfMinistries.
AnumberofchurchesandnationalministriesareusingthetermEncoretodescribe
thisnewgenerationofolderadults.Whenaconcertorperformanceendsandwe
standtocheerandapplaud,wearepleadingforanencore.Essentiallywearesaying,
“Thatwasgreat!Pleasecomebackoutandgiveussomemore.”
Wewanttoencourageolderadultstofinishwell,justasPauldescribesinPhilippians
3:13,14:“Idonotconsidermyselfyettohavetakenholdofit.ButonethingIdo:
Forgettingwhatisbehindandstrainingtowardwhatisahead,Ipressontowardthe
goaltowintheprizeforwhichGodhascalledmeheavenwardinChristJesus.”
Makeevangelismandspiritualgrowthapriority.Inthepastatraditionalsenior
adultministryoftenplacedastrongemphasisonfellowship.Thefoundationof
ministrywasbuiltonpotluckluncheonsandbustrips.Whilenothingisinherently
wrongwiththeseactivities,sometimeswecanneglecttolookoutsidethewallsof
thechurchtothemillionsofolderadultswhodonothaveapersonalrelationship
withChrist.
Thetruthis,notallolderadultsareChristians.Statisticssuchas“64percentof
AmericanswhoacceptJesusastheirSaviordosobeforetheir18thbirthday”2have
beenusedtojustifywhysomuchenergymustbespentonchildrenandyouth
ministries.Andwhiletheseareimportantareasofwork,perhapsthereasonforsuch
alownumberofconversionsinthesecondhalfoflifeisbecausewehavenot
investedtimeandresourcesinthatarea.
Anotherimportantpoint:whilemanyolderadultsmaypracticereligioushabits,such
asgoingtochurch,notallofthemhaveletthetruthsoftheBibletransformtheirlife.
Therealityisthatboomerageandolderadultsrepresentawide-opendoorfor
ministryandevangelism.WecannotassumeallolderadultsareChristiansorthatall
olderpeoplearespirituallymature.“Openyoureyesandlookatthefields!Theyare
ripeforharvest”(John4:35).
Emphasizetheimportanceofserving.Oneofthemythsaboutagingisthatthelater
yearsoflifeareatimeforrelaxingandlivingalifeofleisure.Inthecollege-level
gerontologycoursesIteach,Iaskstudentstoimaginethemselvesat75or80and
whatitistheywillbedoing.Mostofthemsaytheywillbeplayingbingoorlyingon
thebeach;fewofthemseethemselvesworkingorvolunteering.
Butinreality,thevastmajorityofolderadultsreporttheywanttobeinvolvedin
somethingproductive.Researchdemonstratesthatpeoplewhovolunteertendtobe
healthier,livelonger,andhaveincreasedlifesatisfaction.
Olderadultshaveskills,experience,andtimetocontributetomeaningfulservice.We
simplymustexpandourviewofwhatitmeanstoserveinthelateryearsoflife.
IbelieveitisnoaccidentGodhasordainedsuchalargenumberofhealthy,active,
andcapableolderadultstobealiveatthistimeinhistory.Thechurchhasan
incredibleopportunitytoreachthisgroupandunleashthemtosignificantlyimpact
thekingdom.Let’snotmissthischance.
________
1“AProfileofOlderAmericans:2008,”AdministrationonAging,U.S.Departmentof
HealthandHumanServices;availableatwww.mowaa.org/Document.Doc?id=69.
2Availableatwww.barna.org.SearchbyTopic:Evangelism.
AmyHansonisaspeaker,educator,writer,andconsultantinolderadultministryand
gerontology.Shewastheactiveadult(50-plus)ministriesdirectoratCentralChristian
ChurchinLasVegasbeforemovingtoNebraskatocompleteherPhDinhumansciences.
Sheteachescollege-levelcoursesonagingandiswritingabookonthechurch’s
responsetotheagingbabyboomer.AmylivesinOmaha,Nebraska,withherhusband,
Jon,andtheir5-yearolddaughter,Ella.FindoutmoreaboutAmy’sministry
atwww.amyhanson.net.
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Herecomethebabyboomers...again!Areyouready?
ByJohnSchachinger
Atonetimeitseemedthatbabyboomerswererespectfullydriftingoutofthe
limelight,nolongerinthecrosshairsofdesirabledemographics.Littlewasheard
aboutthemunlessitwasadirewarningthatboomerswillbankrupttheSocial
Securitysystem,overwhelmmedicalcare,orintroduceanotherlineofloose-fitting
jeans.Eveninthechurch,boomerministryhadlongbeeneclipsedbyavigorousGen
Xandyouthministry.Butallthatischanging,drastically,andinwaysundreamed.
Babyboomers,roughly76millionstrongintheUnitedStates,areaging.Bornat
aboutthetimethearmedforceswerereturninghomeafterWorldWarII,thislargest
demographicgroupinNorthAmericaisabouttoenteritsmostsignificantstageof
life.
SociologistscallthisanAgeWave,andjustlikeawaveit'sformingbelowthesurface,
gatheringmomentum.Whenitbeginstocrestitwilloverwhelmeverythinginits
path.1
Boomerswilllivelonger,havemoreleisuretime,moredisposableincome,more
educationalopportunity,andmoremobilitythananygenerationbefore.Asweage
(I'maboomer!),wearerediscoveringacommitmenttopersonalandspiritualgrowth
andwillbemakingsomesignificantcontributionsinthatarena.
Inthepast,wehaveoverwhelmedandtransformedeverystageoflifewe've
encountered.Fromthecradletoyoungadulthood,entireindustrieshavesprungup
orbeenrevolutionizedtofeed,clothe,entertain,andeducateoursocieties.2Mega
andSeekerChurcheshavearisen,inpartanticipatingthemass(yettohappen)return
ofbabyboomerstothechurch.3
Werevolutionizedandtransformedyouthandyoungadulthood,andwe'llalso
revolutionizeretirement.Althoughwehaven'tputittogetheryet,boomeragingwill
bearlittleresemblancetotheseniorcentersandretirementcommunitiestoday.
We'llfaceourmortalityinourownway,andwhenwedowe'lldoitinsuchnumbers
thatNorthAmericawillactuallyshiftfromayouthtoaseniorculture.
Likemanyotherinstitutions,churcheswillbeoverwhelmedandchallengedbythe
demandsandopportunitiesofferedbyagingbabyboomers.However,ourattitudes
towardseniorministryandtheabsenceoftargetedevangelismtothoseover55,
couldleaveusill-preparedtomeetthetransformationofagingabouttoovertakeus.
Accordingtoacceptedsociologicalagecategorizations,thefirstboomerwillturn65
in2011.Thisisthetimetoreadyourselvesforthecomingchangesthisgenerationwill
bringtoourchurches.Thispreparationrequirestwosteps:anenlightenedapproach
toaging,andanunderstandingoftheforcesdefiningboomermaturity.
Viewsofaging
Mostofuswoulddescribeagingasafairlypredictablelinearprogressionfrom
childhoodtoadulthoodandonintomaturity.Itisaseriesofstages,eachpreparing
forthenextalongtheway.
Duringadolescenceandyoungadulthoodweacquiretheeducationandskillsto
pursueacareer,acceptresponsibility,andstartafamily.Weenteradulthood
advancingourcareersandraisingourfamilies.
Aroundage55orsoourproductivitybeginstopeak,wemightexperienceamidlife
crisis,andthenacceptthefactthatourbestyearsarenowbehindus.Whatfollowsis
acomprehensive,inevitabledecline.
Wethenenterretirementandaging,andlargelydevoteourselvestorecreation,
leisure,andobsolescence.Bynowourmajordecisionsandlifecoursehavebeen
determined.We'veprogressedasfaraswecanandit'stimetomovetothesidelines.
Althoughsimplistic,thissummarydescribesalinearviewofagingbornoutofthe
industrialrevolution.Ithasprevailed,moreorless,forabout150years.4Althoughit
mayhaveworked,ithasalsoproducedmostoftheprejudicewehaveaboutour
elderlyinmanyculturestoday.
Linearviewofaging
Thelinearviewofagingtendstocauseustodefinevital,growingchurches,asthose
withyoungerfamilies.Demographicallyspeaking,wechoosecommunitieswith
youngerfamiliesasbeingmorefavorableenvironmentsforchurchgrowth.
Thelinearviewassumessomeoneover65islesslikelytobeconverted.Itnarrowly
definesseniorministryasconsistingalmostentirelyofrecreationalprojectsand
socialgatherings.Ittendstoviewtheseniorsinthecongregationasaliabilitygroup
thatrequirescare-takingratherthancare-giving.Ifseniorsareinvolvedinchurch
leadershipit'sassumedtheyareconservative,risk-averse,andchange-blocking.It
mayevenassumethatthechurchwillbebetteroffwhentheystepaside.
Thelinearviewofaging,accordingtoFredricHudson,"createssocialprejudice
againsttheold,anditkeepsthoseinmidlifeandretirementreminiscingandlooking
backward,wantingyoungerbodiesanddreams....[thusrobbing]thousandsof
peopleofenormouspossibilitiesthattheyarecapableofattainingastheyget
older."5
Suchalinearviewmayhampertheoutreachandspiritualgrowthofcountless
unchurchedseniors.
Thecyclicalviewofaging
Incontrast,acyclicaldefinitionofagingisnotonlymorehelpfulforministry,but
providesamoreaccuratepictureoftheprocess.Cyclicalagingseesprogressfrom
childhoodtomaturityasaseriesoflifechapters(adolescence,youngadulthood,
maturity,retirement)markedbytransitionsfromonechapteroflifetothenext.Each
transitionisafascinatingperiodoftimewhenwereassessandreinventourselvesin
lightofsixcorevalues:(1)asenseofself;(2)achievement;(3)intimacy;(4)creativity
andplay;(5)searchformeaning;and(6)compassionandcontribution.6
Adultlifeisdescribedasareoccurringcycleofthesesixcorevalues.Adolescence,
youngadulthood,maturity,andretirementarealllifechapterswiththeirown
transitionsfromonestagetothenext.Asweapproacheachchapterandits
accompanyingtransition,wecyclethroughthesesixcorevalues,re-evaluating,
renewing,andreinventingourselves.7
Asweagewealsodefineandemphasizethesevaluesdifferently.Youngadults,for
instance,aremoreoutwardlydirectedwhentheydefinetheirvalues.Theyseeka
senseofself,achievement,andintimacy.Valuessuchasthesearchformeaningor
compassionandcaringaregenerallylessdevelopedatthisstage,orputonholdin
thefaceoftheimmediateneedforacareerandrelationships.
Ministeringtoseniors
Seniorshowever,havealreadyacquiredasenseofselfandachievement.Thisfrees
themtosearchformeaningandtoexpressthesenseofcompassionandcaringthat
hadgoneunexploredearlierinlife.
Thesixcorevaluescometogethertodefinethesenioradultlifecycleasatimefor:
Spirituality—Seniorsdescribeadeepappreciationforuniversalmeaningand
mystery.8They'reeagertoexperienceaprofoundsenseofotherness,orasenseof
God.
Personalintegrity—Nolongerdrivenbycareersoradvancement,seniorsturntheir
attentiontomakingadifferenceintheirworld.Socialactivism,altruism,andleavinga
legacymarkthislifecycle;whatBobBufordaptlycallsmovingfromsuccessto
significance.9
Mentoring—Thequesttoacquireandshareknowledgeandwisdomisveryimportant
toseniorsandtheywillworktocreateanenvironmentforthatexchangetotake
place.
Itiscriticalthenforchurchestounderstandthatwhetherornotwe'reconvertedor
churched,asweagewearehardwiredtoseekoutsomesortofsignificant,serving,
spirituallife.
Inaddition,therearetwofactorsthatwilldefineboomeraging:lifeexpectancyand
memory.
LifeExpectancy—Boomerswillretireontheheelsofskyrocketinglifeexpectancies.
Age65isalreadyconsideredquestionableandevenlaughableasaretirement
marker,ashealthprofessionalspushlifeexpectancyandmoreimportant,
lifequalitywellintothe70sand80sandbeyond.
Thesociologyofanentiregenerationactivelylivingbeyond75isnotsomething
we'reusedto,orhavethoughtmuchabout,andwecanonlyspeculateabouthowan
entiregenerationwillspendanextra20to25yearsofqualitylife.Furthermore,when
suchagenerationnumbers76million(intheUnitedStates),itmeanswe'refacinga
dramaticsocialupheaval.
Memory—Theeventsthatusheredboomersintoearlyadulthoodhavenotleftus.
Thelate1960sandearly1970swerenotonlytraumatic,theywereintensely,albeit
naively,spiritual.
Regardlessofthedegreeofparticipation,thelifestyleexperimentsandtheactivism
ofthisperioddeeplyimprintedeveryoneofus.TheadventofEST,Lifespring,Silva
MindControl,andthegeneralrushofselfimprovementplansofthelate1970s,were
allmanifestationsoftheboomerspiritualquest.
Churchesshouldbeacutelyawareofthespiritualsubtextthatmarkedthelate1960s
andearly1970s,andthatearnedboomersthetitle,AGenerationofSeekers.10
Ourspiritualmemorywillresurfacedramaticallyasalltheseforcescometogetherin
aseekinggenerationturning65and70.Thechurchthatcanbetheretomentorusin
thisquestwillbethechurchthatfinallyministerstowhathaslargelybeenalost
generation.
Fiveinitialstepsinministeringtoagingboomers
Therearefivestepsthatwillbeginaministrytoagingboomers:
Examineyourownagingprocess.Whatareyoulearningaboutyourselfandyourcore
values?Whattransitionshaveyouexperienced?WhatdoesJesusChristmeantoyou
nowthatyoumissedwhenyouwereyounger?Whataboutamaturingspirituality?
Howcouldyouimpactsomeonewhoisagingandrediscoveringaspiritualquest?
Examineyourchurch'sattitudetowardaging.Areyouragingmembersconsideredan
assetorliability?Aretheyavitalpartofyourchurchorareyouwaitingforthemto
moveoutoftheway?Doesyourchurchseethemascare-givers,orcare-takers?Ifyou
knewanagewavewasapproachinghowwouldyourpresentattitudechange?
Developaministryfortheaging—now.Ourpresentoldermembersarethepioneers
ofthiscomingagewaveandtheycanteachusalotaboutaging.Weneedtospend
timewithchurchesinourcommunitieswhoeffectivelyministertoseniors;thenread,
research,andworkwithwhatwehave.Wedon'tneedtoberevolutionary,butwe
needtogetsomethinggoing.Indoingthis,wewillnotonlyreachoursenior
members,butpossiblyalsodevelopsignificantrelationshipswiththeirboomerkids,
whosebiggestpresentstressoriscaringfortheirownagingparents.
Makenomistake,they'rewatchinghowwetreattheirparents,andifthey're
unchurched,thiskindofministrycanbecritical.
Watchfortrends.Boomerswillnotagequietly(they'veneverdoneanything
quietly!).They'llwrite,publish,andnetwork.Currentlytherearenumerousboomer
Websitesthatcomeandgo,andwatchingthemcanactasaneffectivetrend
indicator.RatherthanrecommendanyspecificsiteI'dsuggestentering"baby
boomer,""babyboomeraging,""babyboomerspirituality,"etc.,intoasearchengine
andchoosingthesitesyoufindmosthelpful.
Somesitesarenostalgic,someareinformational,buttogethertheygiveinsightinto
boomerattitudestowardaging.
Acquaintyourselfwiththeliterature.Severalexcellentbookshavebeenpublished
duringthepastdecade.Here'sabrieflist:
AgeWave(BantamBooks)andAgePower(PenguinPutnam)byKenDychtwald.
Thesehavegreatstatistics,sociologicalinsight,andawake-upcallforsocialchange.
HalfTime,byBobBuford(HarperCollins/Zondervan)isoneofthebetterChristian
approachestolifeafter50.
PrimeofYourLife,byWoodrowKrollandDonHawkins(FlemingH.Revell)isoneof
thefirstChristianhow-tomanualsonaging.
TheAdultYears,byFredericM.HudsonJossey-Bass).Althoughalittlenew-ageyat
times,Dr.Hudson'sbookremainstheseminalworkonself-renewalandaginginthe
twenty-firstcentury.Thebibliographyaloneisworththepriceofthebook.
CatchtheAgeWave,byWinArn(BeaconHillPress).Goodfirststepforchurches
lookingtobeginaministrytosenioradults.
TheBabyBoomerang,byDougMurren(RegalBooks).Avaluablesingle-volume
reviewonboomerministry.Interestinglyenough,thisbookwasreleasedthesame
year(1990)asDychtwald'sAgeWave.