Here come the baby boomers…again! Are you ready?
What Church Leaders Need to Know About Ministry to Aging Baby Boomers
Those Elusive Baby Boomers
The Baby Boomers
The Baby Boom generation is so named because a spike in the birth rate immediately following World War II and a significant decline in birth rate in 1965 defines it. In the United States of America, a steep increase in the birthrate following World War 2, produced about 78 million babies, which eventually accounted for close to one-third of America’s population in 1980. This American demographic phenomenon is commonly referred to as the Baby Boom, with its statistical population of Boomers presently (c. 2020) between 56 and 74 years of age.
As a fellowship, our goal is to see older adults involved in every aspect of the church, growing in their relationship with God and serving him wholeheartedly. We organize specific programs and ministries dedicated to reaching older adults. We want to encourage older adults to finish well, just as Paul describes in Philippians 3:13, 14: “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
We emphasize the importance of serving and place a strong emphasis on fellowship. We also make evangelism a priority, making efforts to look outside the walls of the church to the millions of older adults who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. We understand that while many older adults may practice religious habits, such as going to church, not all of them have let the truths of the Bible transform their life. The reality is that boomer age and older adults represent a wide-open door for ministry and evangelism. We cannot assume all older adults are Christians or that all older people are spiritually mature. “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).