Podcast Episode #168
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We discuss a recent post on senior adult churches who are wanting to reach a younger generation and the consequences of not being willing to change to do so.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- True power in a church comes from God through the prayers of His people.
- Any successful ministry in a church begins with the power of prayer.
- Two areas in which churches often lack intentionality: evangelism and prayer.
- Churches who are reaching young adults have seniors who are intentionally making relationships with younger Christians.
- If you expect young families to come to your church, your children’s area needs to be ready before they come.
- Unfortunately, when faced with a life or death choice, most churches end up choosing death over change and life.
The five ways churches comprised mostly of senior adults can reach younger members are:
- Praying for younger people to come to the church.
- Being willing to change.
- Expanding their social circles to younger people.
- Starting Bible studies with younger adults.
- Asking younger adults to be “missionaries” to the older-adult congregation.
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Food for thought. I am nearing the senior age as well but have a heart for the young. I am discussing with a church at this time about calling a pastor who will maintain and minister to the present congregation while leading the congregation to pour its resources into offsite bible studies to Gen Xers and Millennials. The younger crowd is not even likely to ever come to the church but can be reached with a kingdom concept. The pastor would minister to both the present and potential congregations. Is this happening anywhere? If so where? I would love to talk with someone about this kind of revitalization.
Fascinating idea. Let me see what I can find out.
Given the dwindling size of many congregations and the hindrance that traditional facilities has on the younger generations, my thought is to somehow provide the desired outreach that they are willing to do without disrupting what they already have. Some changes would be necessary but most would be minor in contrast to a full transition of the church to meet the needs of the younger crowd.
Thanks for these suggestions. They are excellent. Leading an older congregation to reach out to and embrace the next generation will continue to be one of the greatest challenges facing churches today. Have you noticed that older folks are sometimes resistant to change (I’m being tongue-in-cheek, of course), even when the change results in reaching people for Christ? When the church grows, this in itself changes the church, which leaves people uncomfortable. “Who are these new people? Who do they think they are getting in here and trying to take over my church?”
My experience has been that many older church members will say they want the church to grow, yet they do not want it to change. They also want the pastor to use the same methods that have worked the last 50 years or so. And of course, even if the pastor can grow the church without ever doing anything new, innovative, and different, many of the older folks will remain unhappy. Sadly, this will continue to be an uphill battle for countless pastors and church leaders.
On another note, after much prayer and consideration, I have stepped out of the pastorate and am now working full-time for the local school system. This transition after 30 years of pastoral ministry has been challenging, but God is working and opening doors for ministry in the community. I believe exciting and spiritually fruitful days are ahead.
Thanks, Brother Thom, for this blog as it continues to be a source of encouragement and inspiration.
Thank you, Dan. Your transition is truly a great opportunity for a dynamic ministry. I have prayed for you, my friend.
Dear Thom, it’s been a long time but I have a question to present for your wisdom. I am now entering the Sr. Adult years along with Linda at a more rapid pace than I ever anticipated and nature is not cooperating to slow down the aging process. I am fully aware that we are and have always been interested in reaching the young and young families and it has to continue…….but when was the last time any of us has shown intentionality in reaching senior adults. Yes we want to reach the young but now aging boomers are entering their senior years at rapid rate. The question is what about birthing senior adult churches? Is it time a for a new emphasis on a growing people group? Rather than focusing on the difficulties of Seniors perhaps we should intentionally make a renewed emphasis on Senior Adult church not just senior adult ministry. Just thinking of the possibility of something new that might have merit. Maybe a whole new movement.
Great episode – with one exception; Mr. Howe must be severely and swiftly disciplined. A sure way to alienate the entire Northeast is to say Dunkin Donuts has bad coffee. (Sipping my DD Iced Coffee right now).
SORRY! I’m not a fan.
I am putting Jonathan in timeout for the rest of the day.
Apology accepted and the discipline deemed appropriate.
This is something that is wrong in my Church. People don’t want change, everyone is used to ‘that’s how we’ve been doing it and that’s how it will remain’, with this type of attitude, they’re making the younger generation run away from the Church to the world and I’m sure we don’t want that. Enjoyed reading this, its wonderful.
Wow! Thom this is such a simple dynamic and yet it is so profound. Sounds a whole lot like the life of our Lord who poured himself into the lives of 12 men. I find myself as a pastor who is 60 striving to intentionally pour myself into the lives of the younger generation. With the statistics that I’ve seen, the vast majority of service and giving is done by senior adults and if we don’t get this right it will spell difficult days for the church. If you ever see a senior adult doing this its a beautiful sight. Thank you sharing this and may God grant a of revival of this simple and yet biblical dynamic.
Thanks so much, Wayne.
How can a successful pastor make sure all ages are being ministered to? We are experiencing, being senior adults, that we are not needed and are isolated not viable but cast away as the younger adults forge ahead……I cannot understand why there are a multitude of seniors leaving a particular fellowship, guess the senior pastor will have to answer to the Lord for the why…………….just hurts to see the obvious.
Thank you for the Rick Pitino reference. It made my day while trudging through yard work.
I’ve spoken w/ many seniors who would love to reach a younger generation. Here’s how those conversations too often go: 1. (The lament) Why don’t they come to our Bible studies, luncheons, and retreats? We invite them all the time! 2. (The resolve) We will offer them a class…parenting, cooking, sewing, etc. Needless to say young folks rarely take them up on these offers.
We must communicate the expectation that following Jesus means being uncomfortable at times. To reach any group, they have to know you love them. They know you love them when you join your life to theirs, possibly at great cost to yourself. You become their cheerleader or advocate. For seniors this means engaging on social media, celebrating (not just tolerating) their music, and – big one here – ask them to teach you. If I sense you feel superior to me, I’m probably not going to like you. Ask me to teach you something & all of a sudden I’m thinking you’re a pretty interesting person!
I am intrigued by this matter. I am also a 60 plus year old pastor. I have been associated with several older”We have always done it this way” churches. The problems are out there, but the question is what works? I would like to hear some examples of things that have worked, especially for churches in more of a rural setting. Thanks and God Bless You.