Don’t Spend Your Life . . Invest It – Engage Retired Adults for Ministry
Baby Boomers are Returning to Church July 16, 2018 Thom Rainer
One in five boomers increased their religious and church activity in recent years.
20 percent are becoming more receptive to faith and church.
That’s 16 million boomers when the percentage is applied to entire generation.
The study cited three major reasons for this shift:
- Boomers have more time, and they want to use that extra time pursuing a more meaningful life, including church.
- Boomers are becoming more aware of the brevity of life and are seeking answers to questions they had not previously asked.
- Boomers are more aware of the fragility of life. They don’t have the young and healthy bodies they once had. This awareness is driving them to find more meaning in the lives they do have.
Boomers are a challenge for ministry.
Once Boomers hit retirement, “they have other plans.”
Boomers have a different perspective on work and retirement.
Some retire early to pursue a bucket list of activities . . . Others work into their 80s.
Boomers are very active and busy. They will fit ministry activities in between work,
leisure activities, grandkids, travel and an array of retirement pursuits.
Boomers are not joiners; they are doers.
They still think they can change the world.
They like to get involved in meaningful projects that are quick and short term
They look for things to do for the rest of their lives to impact their world.
Boomers value relationships and community.
They prefer small groups over large gatherings.
Rather than large social activities with their peers, they are more likely to seek
leisure and entertainment experiences individually, with small groups of friends,
or with children and grandchildren.
Boomers Want . . .
- Their Lives to Matter
They need meaning and purpose
They want to leave a legacy
- Connections that meet their needs
They want convenient relationships and relevant Bible study
They use technology to connect
- To be ready for what’s next
They want help with life’s challenges and changes
They want a different retirement – active and meaningful
This generation will not join traditional senior adult ministries.
For most churches “senior adult” defines ministry to those over age 50.
With the Boomer generation you will get push back if you use that term.
Many don’t want to be called Senior Adults or Boomers. They want to be adults.
Boomers want more than the traditional monthly “meet, eat, burp and go home”
lunch meetings, games nights, and trip to see leaves and pick apples in the fall.
Older adults today aren’t satisfied being ministered to. Rather than having a meal
and speaker talk about a ministry, they want to be involved in the ministry.
We have put BIBS on senior adults and said, “Let us serve you.”
Boomers will not wear bibs; they want to wear APRONS and say, “Let me serve!”
Effective ministry with Boomers emphasizes service.
- Boomers want to be engaged in something meaningful.
They have time, experience and ability for significant Kingdom impact.
They can lead significant ministries—not just folding bulletins or making coffee
- Baby Boomers want hands-on participation in church ministries.
They like to lead. Give them the responsibility and cut them loose to do it.
Engage them in living out their faith through service.
Boomers like to create and direct ministry around their interests & passions.
Enlist them in discussion, planning and coordination of ministries.
There is nothing wrong with ways churches have addressed needs of seniors,
but this won’t attract Boomers and keep them active in the church.
- Churches need different ministries for older adults in various ages & stages of life
- Churches must respond to diverse experience, abilities, interests, passions, and goals of Boomers with ministries that help people age well and live with purpose
- Create ministry addressing life issues such as retirement, marriage, health, care ofaging parents, adult children leaving the faith, and grandparenting.
Opportunities to Minister in the Life Seasons of a Boomer
- Retirement . . What Now?–Budgeting or Retirement Planning
- Look out for the Boomerang!–Adult Children moving back home . .
- Where is Everyone?–Empty Nesters
- She’s Your Mom–Caring for aging parents
- What’s Up Doc?– Health Issues, wellness, fitness
- Leaving Home–Housing Transition to Condo, RV or Senior Community
- Oh My!–Family Issues: Alternative Lifestyles, Grandparenting, Divorce . .
- Letting Go–Death . . . parents, friends, spouse, children, grandchildren
Ministry Applications with Boomers
- Help them discover meaning in their relationship to the church & each other
- Provide opportunities for them to invest their lives in significant ministry
- Facilitate inter-generational encounters
- Engage Boomers and their grandchildren in ministry action together
- Provide flexible scheduling and ministry engagement (short term, project)
- Utilize existing groups & allow boomers to develop ministry with affinity groups
- Provide help with what’s next:Finances,Family,Retirement,Health . . .
The Key is to Encourage, Equip, and Engage Retired Adults for Ministry . . .
Challenge Them to INVEST Life, not SPEND it.