Redd Alert

Welcome back to Redd’s Diner as we find ourselves sitting around the big table discussing issues involving, “Savvy Seniors”which are part of the “Encore Generation.”

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Seniors are living longer and doing more in their later years than some people give them credit for.

Even in my own church some members are questioning why we are spending more for youth programs than we are for golden agers, and as I have stated before in my blog musings, seniors make up the larger percentage of our country’s population.  Even in our evangelistic outlook, seniors comprise one of the largest unchurched groups.

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Society, in general, fails to look at seniors as individuals with skills and knowledge based upon a wealth of experience and history.

Today, let us look at a group that church executives have identified as the “new old.”  They are the boomers that bring much to the church, but often are “unnoticed.”

When you look at baby boomers such as my daughters (early 50′s), terms such as old, elderly, senior, golden-agers, etc. do not seem to fit or describe boomers.  Many of these boomers, who were involved in youth ministry, are now entering their fifth and sixth decades of life.

So you may be asking what changes do they bring?

• Baby Boomers are approaching aging in a different way than the preceding generations  They have no desire to spend their retirement years sitting in a rocking chair or playing shuffleboard.
• Just as when they were young, they are interested in changing the world.
• They do not want to get old and are doing everything they can to stay healthy and look young.
• Even if they continue to work, they work at jobs where they can make a difference in society.

The church has bought into the myth that younger is better.

They believe that a growing church has a lot of young people, and if you have too many older adults that must mean that you are a dying church.

Instead, we have the potential to grow a church by increasing the number of older adults because millions of adults over the age of 50 are not Christians.

If we will be intentional about reaching these people for Christ, our churches will grow, especially when you consider that there are 78 million boomers, many of whom are not connected to the church.

As you leave the diner, think about the distinction of doing things with or through older adults rather than seeing them as just older adults.

I also want you to do something that is an option.  Look up Dr. Amy Hanson’s website www.amyhanson.org. She is a specialist in gerontology.  Her book, “Baby Boomer and Beyond: Tapping The Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults over 50,“  has provided much of the material for this blog.

Until next time, blessings.

Lou

When we last met together on the written page, I promised that we would look at how diverse our world’s population has become.  We will do that; after saying, “Wow I never thought about that before.”

What is the next step that can be the most humanitarian thing you have ever done?

• Would you develop or ignite a personal vision to help someone, or some group, in order to be “salt and light” as God’s Word refers?
• Would you develop a behavior to impact others?

According to the Mitsubishi Research Institute the diversity of our world can be assessed in several ways.  If we shrink the world’s population to a village of 100 people.  It would look like the following:

• 57 Asians
• 21 Europeans
• 14 from the Western Hemisphere
• 8 Africans

Of these 100 villagers:

• 52 are female, 48 are male
• 70 are non-white, 30 are white
• 70 are non-christian, 30 are christian
• 89 are heterosexual, 11 are homosexual
• 59% of the wealth is held by 6 people
• 80% live in substandard housing
• 70% are unable to read
• 50% suffer from malnutrition
• 1 is near death, 1 is near birth
• 1 has a college education
• 1 owns a computer

Learning to live and embracing all that entails in a diverse culture is the heart of our survival.

What does it mean to you?

As you look at the list that you just read, what stands out that makes you want to do something about the problem?  As a servant of my Lord, I want to reach those and bring them to Christ.

At a Billy Hybels’ Summit in 2007, he introduced me to a stirring thought, “Holy Discontent.”  From that moment on I looked at the evil in the world and vow to fight it with more vigor.  However, I am not talking about evil as the only problem that we can help solve.

Let me use a personal example; I entertain in senior centers, churches, as well as, other venues.  Generally, I pick the style of music in regard to Gospel, 50′s, 60′s and so forth.  One of the senior centers that I entertain in has a large number of Asian participants.  Instead of doing comedy and ballads, I select a more upbeat music program in order to create audience participation.

What does this tell you?

Sometimes in order to be ministry effective we must get out of our comfort zone.  We might have to volunteer in a homeless shelter, or we might be convicted to learn a language in order to meet a need.  Dealing with diversity does not mean ignoring it; it means you are meeting a need head on with love for all people.

A pastor once told me that my age group does not keep pace with their younger counterparts.  I told him to ask a geezer like me to do something and it gets done.

We are not far behind in the electronic race.

According to Verizon FIOS:

• Older adults 65-74 access the Internet at rates higher than many expected with 58% stating they regularly log on.
• 28% of those over 65 discuss Internet health care information with their doctors, compared with 33%  of those under 65.

This short piece of information speaks of information necessary for me to listen to.

1. It indicates that all age groups can be wired for the future.
2. Each age group can have a desire for its individual members to know about world problems and do something about them.

All ages must consider the following and then identify one or more problems.  Then our “Holy Discontent”  will move us to do something.

• What about the poor?
• Who will care for the sick and dying?
• Will anyone visit the prisoners?
• Who will clothe the naked?
• Who will take in the orphans?
• Who will give water to the thirsty, and community to the outcast?

Remember Popeye and his famous statement, “That’s all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more?”

When all ages in our churches and communities recognize what is going on around us and we are stirred with “Holy Discontent,” we will become Popeye people loving our neighbors as ourselves.

The next time we have lunch together at Redd’s Diner (the written gathering) we shall look at the new old and their problems.

In His service

Lou

Possibilities for a growth producing Middle & Older Adult Ministry

Now that I have sparked your awareness of how many of us there are, let me create a setting of possibilities for a growth producing Middle and Older Adult church program.

The possibilities in most churches are tremendous. 

While there are many middle and older adults in the church today, there are millions outside of the church.  Middle and Older adult ministry is a great place for a church to proclaim the gospel and effectively carry out the Great Commission. 

Considering that older adults are one of the largest unchurched groups.  Here are five steps that have worked in effective Middle and Older adult church ministries.

1. They begin by identifying those adults 50 years and above, both in the congregation and in the community.  They develop a profile of both groups, listing needs, interest, family, marital status, mobility, skills, and hobbies. 
2. They organize a three month trial program for middle and older adults to assess interest, participation and possibilities. 
3. They raise congregational awareness about the opportunity for ministry and the church’s response to those over 50.
4. They consider the addition of a full or part time middle and older adult pastor.  In most churches there are twice as many over 50 as youth 13-19 years of age.
5. They provide opportunities for growth and development in the following areas:
   • Ministry Opportunity:  Giving time, experience, energy to others.
   • Spiritual Growth:  Continuing to walk in the Christian life.
   • Evangelistic Outreach:  Sharing the gospel with others.
   • Friendship:  Building relationships with others.
   • Education:  Continuing growth.
   • Fellowship:  Providing recreational and social activities.

This is a critical time for the church in America as more and more people enter the 50+ population.  These people have unique skills, needs, and hopes.  The church with the good news of Jesus Christ has the wonderful opportunity to minister to them.

Lou

The Scope of Older Adult Ministry

Why?

The Great Commission is both timeless and ageless.  Many people have bought into the myth that there is some magical age at which one retires, even from Christian service.  Some churches unintentionally feed this myth.

The generations of older adults have a history of mobilizing to get the job done.  Why would they stop just because they become older?  If anything, becoming older is more of a reason to stay faithful to the mission of “The Great Commission”.  After all it is not the great suggestion.

What?

Older adult ministry must be about developing strategies for involving older adults in making disciples, maturing or growing believers thus multiplying leaders and ministries.

Who?

Older adult ministry should involve all older adults in ministry with, to, and through older adults.  Then ministries will target people of all ages.  As an example older adults may minister to children as they volunteer through a community public library.

How?

Older adult ministries will use the existing structure of the church’s Sunday School or other Bible study groups in order to help other ministry teams.

When?

Anytime, as older adult ministry can not and should not be limited to one event or meeting.

Where?

Anyplace, in the church, down the street, or around the world.

Now that we have answered: Why, What, Who, How, When and Where, what should we anticipate will happen in our churches?  Here is my take on this.

• Churches will see older adults come to know Christ as personal Lord and savior and follow Him in baptism.
• Churches will hear stories of how God has changed the lives of older adults and those to whom they reach and minister.
• Church will see older adult ministry leaders sending out older adults in service, as well as, seeing older adults discovering how they link their giftedness beyond the walls of the church.

Do not throw out what you are doing with that monthly meeting, just give it an enhanced focus.

Lou

Welcome to “Redd Alert”, a Senior Adult Ministry blog site

A little about the author: Lou Redd

“Redd Alert” is a brand new ministry vehicle for me and I want to welcome everyone to this ministry blog.

After Years of teaching school, and working with church youth (RA’s and Baptist Men) the Lord has opened the door and has called me into a full time ministry for middle and older adults (age 50+).

As of February 1, I began working with the Mid-Maryland Baptist Association with Director of Mission’s Joel Rainey, and the Baptist Convention of MD/DE (BCM/D) Missionary Ellen Udovich.

A little about the ministry:

With direction and power from our Lord, we endeavor to minister to the middle and older adult group (Seniors) which make up 40% of our church congregations.  In addition, it is also one of the largest unchurched groups in America.

With those statistics in hand, we desire to;

1. Develop church groups comprised of older Americans that will not only minister to their senior church members but also reach out to the senior community.
2. For each church to transform their older adults into outreach vessels through social and ministry multi-tasking.
3. To be informational.
4. Learn how the Department of Aging, the AARP and other Senior focus groups can provide information.

As you can see the possibilities are endless.

As one person recently asked me, “what is a middle and older adult ministry?”  my answer is that it is a plan for significant living in the second half of one’s life.   One may have had a successful career, but at retirement one wants to continue to do something significant with the rest of his/her life.

In reality it is a time of re-purposing one’s life and how one accomplishes that is dependent upon the church and its staff.

The coordinates of attitude, spiritual growth and Godly habits leads one to strategize a plan to turn aging into significance. The goal of middle and older adult ministry is to move that significance into an action plan of service to others in the church and the community.  The equation,  Aging + Strategy + Action = SIGNIFICANCE in the second half of life.

A few strategic avenues:

Through mission trips one can resist complacency.  Volunteering in your church, hospital, or soup kitchen will focus upon gifts, talents, and resources.  Basically that is what middle and older adult ministry is all about.

God’s word hold the key:

Psalm 73:24

With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory

Isaiah 46:3-4

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you, I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

1 Timothy 1:12

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Now that you know a little about “Redd Alert” I welcome any questions or suggestions that you may have.  Please feel free to send them to my email at singergosp@aol.com.

Please come back often, new blog updates will be posted monthly.

Until the next time, many blessings.

Lou