Where are the Boomers? (Pt 3)

We have taken a look at what many churches are doing in regards to provide experiences for the children and youth. Much of what is offered to them is indeed contemporary.

We want to turn now to the middle adults and the “Seasoned Believers”. What is the church doing to provide them with opportunities for meaningful ministry?

What is going on down at the church? Often it is something like this: A group is renting a bus for a day trip to look at fall foliage in Brown County, Indiana. An outlet mall trip is scheduled for the first of December. Branson, Missouri will be the destination in January.

In an interview with the Christian Reporter, Rev. John Heide, who was recently appointed as the first AG U.S. Missions representative specifically to mature adults (“Seasoned Believers”), concluded that most churches offer "perfunctory" programs for the “Seasoned Believers” such as sing-a-longs or a monthly potluck that will have a guest speaker whose words will have little or no relevance to his/her audience.

"That's not going to attract the baby boomer generation," said Heide. "They're not into potlucks."

"And what I call that is more maintenance than ministry," he continued. "It's just carrying them along month to month without utilizing their gifts and their talents."

"They have the time, the talents from years of experience, and the treasures including financial resources to help spread the Christian message throughout the world," he said.

Heide recalled a pastor who changed the format of the church's worship to gear his ministry to the youth. A year after making the changes, he was struggling with a lack of financial support as older adults fell out of the church.

"It's often times these mature adults that are financing the youth programs, supporting the missionaries and building the buildings," Heide stressed.

Mature adults don't want to just be asked to show up in church during offering time. Mature adults just want to be included and appreciated for their contribution rather than just kind of pushed off," said Heide. (Churches Neglect Older Folks; Potlucks Won't Do, Lillian Kwon, Christian Post Reporter Fri, Jan. 12 2007 08:44 AM)

The Boomer Blogger