One size ministry won’t fit all older adults

Larry Link and Keithy Lowry discuss ministry to Boomers at a breakout session at the National Boomer Ministry Conference.

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ALLEN—Churches with a single ministry for all older adults may want to rethink their plan, said Larry Link, minister to adults older than 50 at First Baptist Church in Arlington.

One approach cannot span the range of interests among adults from their 50s to their 90s, Link told a breakout session at the National Boomer Ministry Conference at First Baptist Church in Allen.

boomer couple400As an illustration, he looked at a typical youth ministry.

“In most instances, a seventh grader’s ministry is not the same as a 12th grader’s ministry—a span of six years. But with senior adults, we don’t care if you’re 50 or 90, you’re just supposed to come in here and all be happy together,” he said.

“It’s ridiculous. That is not going to happen. It just won’t work that way. It never would have worked that way, but especially not now.

“Do you want to know why those younger adults stay away from those older adults? They really don’t have anything in common with them. They don’t see life the same way.”

Different stages of life

First Baptist Church in Arlington offers two senior adult ministries—one for Boomers and another for older adults. Beginning next year, he added, the church will create three divisions of senior adult ministry to minister better to people at different stages of life.

Link noted Baby Boomers—the generation born between 1946 and 1964, which numbers 80 million—are turning 65 at a rate of 8,000 people per day and will continue to do so the next 18 years.


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“That’s a tsunami of people,” he said.

Since many will live longer, healthier lives than previous generations, the church needs to plan how to get the most out of those lives, Link asserted.

Forming new ministries to meet the needs of Boomers is nothing new. Youth ministry began its rapid growth when the Boomers became teenagers, followed by new ministry for college students, single adults and young adults as the Boomers continued to age, he noted.

Address specific needs

“That’s how this all started in the ’60s and ’70s, but if you fast forward several decades, that’s kind of been dormant. There really hasn’t been a lot done with Boomers or adult minstries to address specific needs of people as they age. Now, churches are beginning to get the vision again,” Link said.

While Boomer ministry will look different in each congregation, Link offered some questions as a guide:

• How can the church help Boomers live those years making God-centered choices?

• How can churches help them redream their purpose for life?

• Since Boomers live longer—and differently—than other generations, what will that mean in terms of their added years?

Many Boomers feel disengaged vocationally, socially and in a number of other areas, including church involvement and spirituality, Link said.

Need for constant renewal

Boomers often don’t see the need to continue being transformed by constantly renewing their minds through truths from Scripture and the relationship they have with Christ. It’s just not as important as it once was, he said.

“God has gifted us with these extra 30 years, and that is not an accident. It is for a reason. Our responsibility in the church is to encourage Boomers to stay engaged. Not that they can’t quit working if they want, but to stay engaged in life. We have to model that,” Link said.

“We have to find purpose in life and then help them find their purpose in life. We have to help them dream a new dream. We have to help them stay focused on their mission for God.”


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