Articles for Pastors & Adult Leaders

Loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, researchers warned in a recent webcast, and the problem is particularly acute among seniors, especially during holidays.

Two in five Americans report that they sometimes or always feel their social relationships are not meaningful, and one in five say they feel lonely or socially isolated. The lack of connection can have life threatening consequences, said Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad, who testified before the U.S. Senate in April, 2017 that the problem is structural as well as psychological. Read full article here.

by Dr. Amy Hanson

One thing is certain. Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964) are approaching aging differently than the generation before them. They are described as independent, cause-oriented, and well-educated. They don’t want to be called a senior and generally aren’t interested in potlucks and bus trips. So, how do we begin to reach boomers while still engaging senior adults? 

1. Form a Dream Team. For a boomer ministry to grow and develop, boomers themselves must be a part of the discussion and planning. Choose 8-12 individuals that have the potential to be leaders. Ask them to gather for a short amount of time (perhaps 4 weeks) to simply talk about their life issues and desires for ministry. As you listen, see if there are individuals who have a passion for reaching boomers and begin to cast vision to them. For more about starting a dream team check out this article.
   
   
2. As you start something new for boomers, don’t stop what you currently have going on for senior adults. Many of the programs that are reaching senior adults are valuable and effective. Some of them need to be re-purposed to encourage service and outreach, but most of the activities that are ministering to seniors should continue as you begin something new for boomers.
   
   
3. Identify leaders that can lead small interest groups that respond to the life events of boomers. Groups might be parenting adult children, support for those caring for an aging parent, or praying for grandchildren. Don’t get burdened by needing large numbers at one big event but rather look for the passions and needs of people and allow small groups to form around those issues. 
   
   

Starting something new isn’t easy, but with 78 million baby boomers moving into their sixties and seventies, it’s well worth the effort. 

A fascinating new study from Merrill Lynch and the Age Wave research firm (Giving in Retirement: America's Longevity Bonus) predicts that boomer retirees potentially will give the equivalent of $8 trillion through charitable donations and volunteering over the next two decades. The longevity bonus is the demographers’ term for the population's increased life expectancy.  Read more

As the Baby Boomer generation retires, church leaders who hope to continue to tap into retiree time and resources may need to rethink the ministries they ask mature adults to take on.

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Thom Rainer, Lifeway, talks about the trends that churches in America will face regarding the aging Boomer generation. He believes these trends may indeed become reality and challenges the church saying, “the opportunities seem significant. May the response of Christians and churches be nothing less than radical obedience." 

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