If Not A Caravan, Then A Complete Commissary!! Since it would be nearly impossible to transform a “commissary” modeled church into a “caravan” model, the best, in my judgment, one can hope for is a blend of each. I have talked to several pastors who understand that they are pastoring a “commissary” model but recognize the need for some sort of “caravaning” effort. If that is the case, then we must make sure that everyone is served by the “commissary”. I would like to call your attention to a response, by Paula Clare, to a previous blog entry (7/12/08)dealing with this subject. “I agree the Seasoned Believers have been put "in the wagons." It's really poignant when you think about the reasons the wagon train did this with the women and children: 1. They couldn't keep up and would impede progress 2. They were seen as "weaker" and couldn't contribute to the movement of the wagon train 3. They were never given weapons to defend themselves, but had to rely on the skills of others to be protected. Wow. Double wow. No WONDER so many boomers are dropping out...we feel like a hindrance instead of a help!” There are Children’s Departments, Youth Departments, Teen Departments, College and Singles Departments, Young Married Departments, Married with Children Departments galore. These groups have ample opportunities to be served by their particular commissary departments. There is virtually no recognition nor effort to provide the “Seasoned Believers” with fellowship or resources to assist them in their journey. I recently had conversations with several Bible College representatives about this lack of recognition of the “Seasoned Believers”. Three responded with similar statements that they planned to begin graduate programs for “Geriatric Ministries”. Paula was correct when she said “No WONDER so many boomers are dropping out...we feel like a hindrance instead of a help!” Dr. Thom Rainer, in an article titled The Church In 2011: Catching The Age Wave, that appeared in Lifeway Biblical Solutions for Life indicated that his research showed that 2/3 of the Baby Boomers are unchurched. If that is true, then out of the 858,000 people over 45 in the 9 metropolitan Cincinnati counties, there are some 572,000 unchurched and church alumni among us. My guess is that, if we are not “caravaning”, then it would behoove us to develop some significant “Seasoned Believer” departments.