RIDING THE WAVE OF SILVER & GRAY

While media and marketers were trumpeting the baby-boom generation, an entire wave of Americans moved into their 50s, 60s, and 70s. Today social scientists (and astute church leaders) are coming to see the vastness and significance of this overlooked and rapidly growing generation. For example, did you know that:

-There are more Americans 65 years of age and older than the entire population of Canada.

-The over-55 population is multiplying three times faster than the population at large.

-Since 1982, the number of persons in the U.S. over age 65 has exceeded those under the age of 18 years.

-Life expectancy will increase from 75 years to 80 years within the decade.

-The U.S. is moving from a youth-oriented culture to a nation of middle-aged and older adults.

-The 65-years-plus group represents 12 percent of the national population. (In churches, this group represents 20 percent.)

America, and the entire Western World, has found itself in the midst of what sociologists are calling an age wave. The senior adult population offers an unusual opportunity for ministry and growth for nearly every church.

At LIFE International (an organization helping parishes apply the principles of church growth to reach senior adults), a national sampling we recently took revealed that many denominations already are seeing the age wave crest on their shores (see chart).

Percentage of Members by Denomination

55 years+ 13-20 years

American Baptist 26.5 9.6

Assemblies of God 14.4 18.0

Christian Church/Church of Christ 24.8 12.4

Christian & Missionary Alliance 14.6 8.8

Christian Reformed 16.8 11.2

Church of the Nazarene 22.7 13.2

Disciples of Christ 43.8 8.5

Evang. Lutheran Church in America 20.2 5.9

Free Methodist 18.5 14.9

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod 18.8 10.2

Nondenominational 15.3 13.6

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 41.7 7.6

Southern Baptist 13.0 13.1

United Methodist 40.9 11.4

Donald McGavran, founder of the modern church growth movement, observed a remarkable phenomenon on the mission field of India more than forty years ago: when Christianity flourished in a region, often entire villages or groups of people came to faith within a short time. He later called these “people movements” and found that entire castes and tribes sometimes would become Christian.

McGavran also observed that some groups were, at certain times, more receptive to the gospel, while other groups tended to be resistant. His subsequent recommendation was to seek out “receptive people groups”-people whom God had prepared-and focus evangelistic strategy on these groups.

This principle of receptivity remains relevant today, and senior adults are one of today’s receptive people groups, for a number of reasons.

Changes in Life Situations

Seniors experience great changes in their life situations. The familiar “Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale,” developed by two physicians from the University of Washington, identifies various changes people experience, and then ranks the changes in order of severity or intensity. The researchers discovered a strong correlation between the intensity of the transitions and people’s health. Stressful life events often result in debilitating physical symptoms.

A subsequent study by Flavil R. Yeakley at the University of Illinois (“Persuasion in Religious Influence,” a doctoral dissertation in 1975) took this same stress scale and looked to see if unchurched people experiencing intense transitions were more likely to move toward Christian faith.

He discovered that when people’s traditional points of reference were changed, they seemed to be open to other changes in their life. So they tended to become active church members more often during times of change.

Now the insight germane to seniors: over half the events on the Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale typically occur in the lives of people over 50. The older persons become, the more frequently they experience life-changing events. These events provide windows of opportunity during which people seem to move from resistance (or at least indifference) to receptivity to the gospel. We understand these events as experiences the Holy Spirit uses to open people’s eyes to spiritual needs.

Below is our modified version of the stress scale. We’ve integrated additional life events that often occur among senior adults. Give full point value for events happening in the last eighteen months. For events happening eighteen to thirty-six months ago, give only half the indicated points. An accumulated point score of 39 to 50 points indicates a high degree of receptivity, and events causing a score over 50 indicate very high receptivity and the likelihood of a significant window of opportunity.

One of the best ways to reach older adults is to plan a senior ministry around some of these transition events. For example, we recently conducted a seminar in a Lutheran church. Across the hall met a support group the church set up for those who had suffered a stroke. More than twenty attend, most of whom had not previously been involved in the church.

A Baptist pastor from Washington recently told me of their “Crisis Deployment Team” to help persons dealing with the loss of a spouse or loved one. Those involved in this ministry had had personal experience and special training in this major “transition event.” They’ve seen many come to faith and become active in the church. (The pastor also said the helping process had serendipitously helped those on the crisis teams deal with their own sense of loss and grief.)

Desire for Relationships

Senior adults have a particularly strong need for meaningful relationships. Such relationships are known to be therapeutic and contribute to longevity. In contrast, one research physician from Johns Hopkins University calls loneliness the number one killer: “Some other illness goes on the death certificate, but the prime cause was loneliness.”

“Intimate relationships make a profound difference in the quality of life at any age,” says Ken Dychtwald, author of the popular new book Age Wave. “Yet in later years of life, making and keeping relationships can become more difficult.”

Many senior adults have children pursuing their own careers and family. Many have parents who are aged or deceased. Many discover decreased interaction with others following retirement.

Senior adults seem to be particularly willing to give and receive love. A study we conducted recently on the subject of love and caring in local churches revealed, for example, that:

-While 69 percent of church members 13-20 years old experience high or moderately high love in their church group, 95 percent of members 50 and older enjoy the same high level of love.

-Positive response to the question “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 highest, how easy is it to say ‘I love you’ and really mean it?” increased as people grew older (see graph).

More than one hundred United Methodist churches in Nebraska recently completed a thirteen-week study entitled Growing in Love-Seven Steps to Becoming a More Loving Person. “This study was a significant experience for all those involved,” said Robert Folkers, chairman of evangelism for the Methodist churches in Nebraska, “but I noticed particularly high involvement by our older adults.” Churches where love is taught and practiced will attract people-particularly senior adults.

Something to Contribute

Senior adults want (and need) to make a meaningful contribution. Some authorities suggest life can be broken into three basic periods.

Preparation (through age 25). This is a time of experimentation, of defining oneself by acquiring individual values, education, and a unique self-image. One’s priorities in this period tend, understandably, to be self-centered.

Productivity (from ages 25 to 65). Here, people define themselves through career, material acquisitions, marriage, and family. In this period they are concerned mostly about financial security.

Redefinition (age 65 and over). After retirement, it is no longer appropriate to define ourselves as we do through most of life-by vocation. As a result, seniors often find themselves looking for meaningful activity and a sense of purpose. Seniors who have been able to redefine successfully their self-identity say it is the elixir to good physical and psychological health. In contrast, it’s common for those who have not successfully redefined their purpose and identity to experience mental and physical deterioration.

Social and psychological experts today agree with the timeless prescription for good health and long life: “Those who give the most get the most.” Or, as Christ said, “He who loses his life for my sake shall find it.”

Churches with growing senior-adult ministries are ones that take ministry seriously-and extend it to senior adults in particular. A mere cycle of games, trips, entertainment, and handicrafts wears thin. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians retire from discipleship and ministry at age 65.

Speaking to a group of senior adults not long before his recent death, Donald McGavran, at 93, said, “Many people think their lives stop when they retire, that their real work has ended. When I retired at age 68, the most important work of my life began. Let me assure you, my friends, that your real life has begun, and probably your most important contribution will be made in the coming years. But see to it that you deal with important matters. See to it that you deal with the church. See to it that you deal with bringing people to Christ.”

Or, as Billy Graham recently said when asked about his plans for retirement, “I wasn’t aware that Christians retire from ministry.”

Getting Ready for the Wave

We believe the graying of the church could be the growing of the church! The possibilities for an outreach-oriented, growth-producing senior adult program in most churches are tremendous.

While there are many senior adults in the church today, there are hundreds of thousands outside the church. Senior adult ministry is a logical place for a church to proclaim the gospel and effectively carry out the Great Commission.

How does a church get started or enhance its senior adult ministry? Here are some ways we’ve seen churches do it:

1. They begin by identifying those adults 55 years and above, both in the congregation and in the community. They develop a profile of both groups, listing needs, interests, family and marital status, mobility and physical conditions, skills, interests, and hobbies.

2. They organize a three-month trial program for seniors to assess interest, participation, and possibilities. The details of such a program vary from church to church, but help is available from many sources, including denominational offices and organizations such as ours.

An effective seniors program will provide growth and development in the following areas:

-Ministry. The challenge and opportunity of giving time, insights, experience, and energy for the benefit of others.

-Spiritual growth. Continuing to walk in the Christian life and faith.

-Evangelistic outreach. Sharing one’s faith with nonchurched friends, relatives, and associates.

-Friendship. Building meaningful relationships with others in small groups.

-Education. Continuing intellectual growth that raises self-esteem and contributes to mental health.

-Fellowship. Providing recreational, social, and physical activities. Visiting interesting places and doing interesting things.

3. They raise congregational awareness about the opportunity for ministry and the church’s specific response to those over 55. Some plan a “Celebration of Seniors Sunday” with special activities and events to challenge not only the seniors but also the rest of the congregation to maintain an attitude and lifestyle that will give them a rich, full life.

4. They consider the addition of a full- or part-time senior-adult pastor. While many congregations have a youth director, few have even considered a senior-adult director. Yet, in most churches there are twice as many adults over 55 as youth 13 to 20 years old.

The decade of the nineties will be critical for the church in America as more and more people enter the 55-plus population. These people have unique needs and hopes, and the church, equipped as it is with the Good News of Jesus Christ, has a wonderful opportunity to gather and direct its resources to minister to them.