10 reasons why you should pay attention to “the new seniors” (Part 2)

In my last blog post I raised awareness about the coming wave of retirees that will take most of our churches by surprise.  I presented 10 reasons why we should pay attention to the group known as “the new seniors” (Baby Boomers who are retiring by the thousands every day).  This time, let’s consider why we should invest our time and budget dollars into reaching these people for Christ.  If we assume that seniors by and large know Christ as Savior, we’d be fooling ourselves.  Seniors may have white hair, but they are also white for harvest.

In a 2010 survey by Win Arn, it was reported that 22% of churches (all faiths) saw at least 3 or more professions of faith among senior adults during the year.  25% of churches saw at least 1-2 conversions among senior adults.  The data demonstrates that although we might think that older adults have already accepted Christ as Savior, they remain open to hearing and accepting His offer of forgiveness.

There are three significant shifts in the group of adults we know as senior adults.   According to George Barna’s State of the Church, Part 2 (2011), we know that:

1.       The proportion of the unchurched among this group climbed 8 points since 1991.  29% of people age 66+ are now unchurched.  There are many seniors in our communities who need to be reached with the gospel.

2.       76% of elders say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important to them (up 10% since 1991).  This means that approximately 24% still need to be reached with the gospel, and that this group can be reached with the gospel.

3.       Elders who meet the “born again” criteria increased 11 points to a total of 49% (based on their beliefs, not self-identification).  Although we might think that our church budgets should be targeted to reach younger adults, children, or teens with the gospel, we should not minimize the impact that evangelistic efforts can have on senior adults.

To embrace the challenge of reaching the new seniors, we must get past two significant myths about seniors and evangelism that are elaborated in detail in the book Boomers and Beyond (pp.146-149):

1.       Older adults are already Christians

2.       Older adults can’t (or won’t ) change and accept the gospel

In the book Boiling Point by Barna (p.242), senior adults were identified as one of 3 groups of people most receptive to hearing the gospel!  Significant life changes among senior adults make them ripe low-hanging fruit for our evangelistic efforts. From the death of a spouse, changes in personal finances, declining health, or new living arrangements, these significant life-changing events often soften the hearts of seniors to the gospel.

Look at your church’s budget and programming.  Does your money tend to be aimed at younger families, children, and teens? Have you left out a significant group of people (seniors) in your budget planning? How will you reach the seniors in your community with the gospel without the proper resources? Maybe it’s time to re-think our evangelistic efforts toward this group of people who are just as significant to God as any person younger than them.  Don’t accidentally allow yourself or our church to bias programs or evangelistic efforts against seniors!  They are waiting to be reached.

I’ll wrap up this 3-part series on seniors in my next blog post.  I’ll also let you know about a significant event that is planned to help church leaders reach Boomers who are creating a new wave of challenges and opportunities for our churches as they age and retire.

Thanks for reading and joining the conversation!  Like this article on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other social media outlets and let’s help churches reclaim an important group of people inside and outside our churches.

10 reasons why you should pay attention to “the new seniors” (Part 1)

There’s a wave coming, and most churches are not ready for the “new seniors.”  This is extremely unfortunate because the United States is about to experience one of the greatest waves of adults retiring and/or reinventing themselves and starting a second or third career based on their lifetime of experiences in the business world.  Baby Boomers are retiring in massive numbers every day and will present great opportunities to churches that haven’t written off “senior adults.”  One thing is for sure: the new seniors won’t look and act like the present senior adults in our churches. Treat them like they are, and you’ll lose them fast.

People are living longer these days (during the Roman Empire, average life expectancy was 22 years; in 1900 the average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47; by 2050 it is projected that Americans will live to an average age of 89).  Like it or not, our congregations are going to gray.  Only a few churches will be ready for this massive wave of new retirees.  Just how massive is it? Let’s see.

The people known as seniors are actually 3 generations in 1.  “Seniors” were influenced by the Great Depression; “The Greatest Generation” lived through WWII and started families (and the baby boom); the “Silent Generation” were relatively small in number and financially secure.

Here are 10 reasons why you should pay attention to “the new seniors”

1. Americans age 65+ are the fastest growing segment in the population
2. The number of Americans 65+ has increased 12-fold (3.1M to 37.9M)
3. An American turns 60 every 7 seconds; 24 hours from now, 11,520 more adults will have turned 60
4. The senior segment of the population will double by 2030 (39.6M in 2009 versus 72.09M in 2030)…this is according to the US Census Bureau
5. The older population grew 18 times as fast as the younger generation between 2000 and 2010 (US Census data)
6. Centenarians (people living to age 100) will grow from 134,697 in 2020 to 600,909 in 2050;  we are living longer
7. By 2030, 20% of the US population will be age 65+ (that’s one in 5 Americans)
8. By 2020, 22% of the workforce will be men age 65+; 14% will consist of women age 65+
9. 10 states have senior adult populations of over 1M people (California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas)
10. According to LifeWay Research, for the decade between 2000 and 2010, senior adults are the only group that has ended the decade with a higher number of baptisms than it began with 10 years ago; in fact, the number of baptisms among seniors has been very constant across the years in this past decade (in other words, you can still reach seniors with the gospel).

Do I have your attention yet? If yes, then stay tuned for Part 2 of this series on senior adults in our churches and how we must adjust in order to meet their needs because the new seniors (the Boomers who are retiring) aren’t going to be like the present group of seniors in our churches.

Will you and your church be ready for this new wave of retirees, or will you get wiped out when the wave hits?  Do you think you can continue with your potluck dinners and game nights and reach the new wave of retirees?  You won’t.

Have you written off older adults and focused your ministry on younger adults?  You should rethink your plans!

Watch for Part 2 later this week.

Share this with a friend, like it on Facebook, re-post it on LinkedIn, and let’s get the word out!

Surprise, Surprise! It’s What Your Group Members Need

If variety is truly the spice of life, too many small group Bible studies are pretty bland.  Whether on a church campus or in a home, group leaders tend to revert back to easy (and predictable) teaching methods.  It’s time to spice things up a bit and become less predictable.  Did you know that when God communicated with people, He often did so in surprising ways?

Hebrews 1:1 tells us that God communicated with man “in different times and in different ways” (HCSB).  Some of those ways proved to be surprising to the person or audience. Think about Moses suddenly hearing God’s voice through a burning bush, or the surprise when Balaam’s donkey spoke!  Shepherds were surprised to hear angels singing and proclaiming the birth of the Savior, and who could have predicted that a hand would appear and write on the wall during a banquet?

God has a way of communicating with man that is often very surprising.  As a group leader, you can copy this aspect of God’s communication style.  Your group Bible study members won’t mind a bit if you change things up, do something delightfully different, and keep them wondering what you’ve got up your sleeve.

If you’re in the mood to surprise your Bible study group this week, try one of these ideas to spice things up:

1.  Surprise them by changing the order of things.  Most groups have an identifiable pattern when they meet. Change the order in which you fellowship, pray, worship, and study.  You can begin by jumping into the Bible study, and end with a time if fellowship.  Save announcements until the end of the session, or don’t make them at all…simply hand out a sheet of paper on which you’ve listed them.  As someone once said, “If your group members know what’s going to happen, it’s time to throw out your playbook.”

2.  Surprise them by teaching in a different way.  If you tend to be a discussion-oriented group, intentionally deliver a mini-lecture.  If you tend to speak a lot as the group leader, introduce some visual aids or object lessons to help your visual learners connect with the lesson.  Break the group into smaller groups, watch a video clip, or try using a musical element in the lesson (play a song from your phone, iPad, or other device and have group members read the lyrics while the song is being played).  The goal is to get out of your rut and appeal to the different learning styles of your group members.  When you hear a small, quiet voice that says, “Your group members won’t like it,” simply ignore that voice and do it anyway. You’ll be surprised how much people will appreciate a little variety in the way you lead them through a Bible study.

3.  Surprise them by changing your group’s location.  If you are an on-campus Sunday School group, meet off-campus or in a different classroom, or just go outside if the weather is nice.  If you are a home group, meet in a place where you’ve never held a Bible study, like a Panera Bread, an office, or the backyard of a friend’s house the group doesn’t know.  A change of venue can excite your group members and build anticipation for your Bible study session.

Don’t be afraid of trying something new to surprise your group this week.  A small surprise can help you capture your group members’ interest, redirect their focus, and help you teach God’s Word more effectively.  Don’t be predictable…be surprising!  God would.  It’s time to spice things up!

3 Reasons Why Sunday School Will Make a Comeback

Years ago Dr. Ken Hemphill wrote a book by the title, Revitalizing The Sunday Morning Dinosaur, A book on bringing new life to the Sunday School. The very title conveyed that a challenge existed in the ministry that so many of us grew up with.

Many of us were saved because of the influence of a Sunday School teacher. We memorized Scripture, learned the order of the books of the Bible, and developed a love for the stories of Bible characters through the ministry of Sunday School. In fact, many of the pastors and leaders in our churches today were deeply involved in Sunday School…it’s helped make them who they are today.

So what is the future of the Sunday School? Has it seen its day? Is it still relevant? Or should we eulogize it and bury it alongside other strategies that we no longer employ?

I believe that Sunday School is going to make a comeback. Here are 3 reasons why we shouldn’t pull the plug on it just yet:

1. People aren’t getting less busy. Sunday School works as a Bible teaching strategy because it allows busy families to attend worship and Bible study at a time that is convenient for everyone in the family. Busy families will struggle to attend worship on a Sunday morning and then set aside another night for small-group study during the week. Kids need that night for ball practice, homework, or rest. Sociologists say that we are all living “time compressed lives,” and Sunday School is a great solution that frees up families’ time during the week.

2. Every member of the family has a consistent teacher/group leader. In a Sunday School ministry, people are placed in groups by age or life stage. The homogeneity principle comes into play; we place people in proximity to people similar to them under the leadership of a dedicated spiritual leader. Teachers are trained to lead a specific age group or type of person, and they typically do so one year at a time. In a Sunday School strategy, continuity becomes a major plus for families…teachers/leaders build relationships with group members throughout the year. Families learn to count on the help of teachers in teaching biblical truth to their family members.

3. Sunday School is still a cultural phenomenon with a history of doing good things. Call it what you will: LIFE Groups, Adult Bible Fellowship, Connect Groups, and a myriad of other names, Sunday School (that ministry that meets at a time adjacent to the worship service) is still widely regarded positively by members and guests. Yes, in many churches Sunday School is in need of a facelift, an overhaul, or a tune-up, but not an implosion. People who do (and would) attend know that Sunday School is trying hard to teach God’s Word, minister to their family members, and make a difference in the lives of people, and doing so with an army of volunteers.

Sunday School isn’t dead…don’t let anyone tell you differently! In the days ahead, churches who have the facilities and trained leaders to have a Sunday School will see it become more important to families as they try to stay strong in a culture that doesn’t share the biblical values they hold dear.

Want more people in your Bible study groups? The answer today at 12 noon CST!

How would you like your church’s Bible study groups to connect the unconnected?  Do you feel any need to help strengthen families and the spiritual conversations they have during the week?  Would you like to know that you are discipling people with wisdom and not allowing Bible study to happen in a haphazard way?

If you could answer yes to those questions, sign in and participate in a free Bible Studies For Life simulcast today at 12 noon CST.  The broadcast takes place from LifeWay’s headquarters in Nashville, TN., and features Dr. Eric Geiger, Ronnie Floyd, Ron Edmondson, and others who will show how the new Bible Studies For Life can help your church connect the unconnected, strengthen families, and disciple people with wisdom.  Click here to sign up for the free simulcast.

You can download the free adult and student BSFL apps in the iTunes store (just search for Bible Studies For Life). You can also click here and get free samples for adults, students, and kids.  See promo videos, scope and sequence info, advisory team members, and a lot more!

Here are a few key features of the new BSFL (I should know…I’ve given my life and work to this extreme updating of LifeWay’s best selling curriculum in 2012/2013!):

• One Point – each Bible study session has one key point, not 3 or 4, so that group members can understand and remember the key biblical concept.
• One Conversation – a new tool to help parents talk with their children about the topics the family is learning about in their Bible study groups
• 5 Discussion Questions – each adult and student lesson have 5 outstanding questions that have been crafted by Sunday School and small-group experts. They will generate lots of great discussion among group members and get everyone talking.
• Easy-to-use Leader Guide – we’ve simplified everything so that the new leader guides are intuitive and simple for busy leaders to use.
• Prayer Request/Journaling space – each session in the adult and student Personal Study Guides ends with a a place for group members to write down the prayer requests of their fellow group members. There is also an area for personal journaling so that a person can see how God is using the studies to transform their life.
• iPhone and iPad apps – if you prefer a digital version of the Personal Study Guides, go to the iTunes store and get the free download and two sample lessons

There are even more unique features of Bible Studies For Life. I hope you’ll take a look and see how this new curriculum can help your group and your church!

Shoulder to shoulder,

Ken

 

 

3 Ways to Encourage Groups to Pray

Today is National Day of Prayer, and across the country men and women are gathering at prayer breakfasts to hear special speakers and be challenged to make prayer a more integral part of their lives. Churches have opened their worship centers today for the purpose of inviting members and those who live in the community to come and pray throughout the day.

2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that God hears our prayers and desires to forgive and heal us. Our role? Have a humble attitude, pray, and earnestly seek God. How can you as a Bible study leader help your group members strengthen their prayer lives? Here are 3 ways:

1. Set aside adequate time for prayer when you meet. If you want to encourage your group to pray, then make the time. Don’t rush into your Bible study too quickly, but instead give group members time to open up and express their needs. On a side note, this is a good reason to keep group size smaller. A Sunday School group of 25+ adults will have too many people who are bashful about expressing a need and showing vulnerability in front of people they may not know well. Smaller groups can develop intimacy and a trust level that encourages prayer requests to be shared. Starting new groups not only helps a church grow, but it will strengthen the prayer life of groups!

2. Take time to celebrate answered prayers. Every Bible study group, whether on the church campus, in a home, at a restaurant, or in the workplace, needs to stop and celebrate how God has answered the prayers of group members. It’s one thing to make the time to share and pray, it’s something else entirely to look back and encourage one another by the way God is answering your group’s prayers. The fact that God is active, listening, and answering prayers will fuel the prayer life of your Bible study group. Some members will realize for the first time that God cares about them.

3. Practice praying in pairs or triads. We’ve all been in a Bible study group in which group members share prayer needs with the entire group. Consider placing people in pairs or triads to pray for one another and watch the change that happens relationally between members of your group! People begin to take ownership of relationships when you pray this way, and they tend to naturally follow up with the people they are praying with.

There you have it. Three easy ways to strengthen your Bible study group’s prayer life. How will you change things up in your group this week?

7 ways to make a good impression on Bible study guests this Easter

My wife and I began a new small group at our church just 5 months ago. This coming Sunday, I’ll do something I’ve never done before:  lead my small group through an Easter lesson (every church we’ve been a part of has called off small groups in order to have multiple worship services). My current church is continuing with our normal schedule. I know that I have guests coming to the group this weekend, so here are 7 ways that I (and you) can put a good foot forward and help guests consider giving our small groups a second try the week after Easter:

1.  Wear name tags.  I can’t tell you how important it is for people in groups to wear simple peel-and-stick nametags! Nametags help people get to know each other and they help guests feel relaxed because they can talk with people and call them by name. This is my normal practice in my Bible study group, and many guests have said “thank you” after the group session is over because the nametags helped them engage people in conversation.

2. Have copies of Bibles.  You won’t need many, but one or two copies of the Bible should always be handy in case a guest arrives without one. This happened in my group just last week! I’m thankful that we had a copy to place in a man’s hands who came without one.

3. Do a get-to-know-you activity.  Rather than jumping into the Bible study this week, consider starting your group time with an activity that builds community. Have people talk about their favorite Easter memory from childhood, the most memorable activity they’ve done as a family on Easter, where their favorite Easter meal took place (and what they ate), or a family Easter tradition that has been meaningful to them over the years. Get the group members talking and sharing, and you’ll help your guests relax and become part of the conversation quickly.

4. Follow up that afternoon.  Set aside 30-60 minutes on Easter Sunday afternoon to send a follow-up e-mail to each guest that came to your Bible study. If you have their phone numbers and have time, make a few calls and visit with the person, and ask if they have questions about you, the group, your church, or something else.  Research has shown that the faster we follow up with our guests, the higher the percentage return the very next week!

5.  Have extra copies of the curriculum you use.  If your group is using a particular Bible study, have extra copies. When my wife and I were visiting churches prior to joining our current one, several small groups we tried did not provide us with a copy of the material they were studying, so we felt like fish out of water.

6.  Provide a snack.  Something simple (donuts, the old stand-by) or a breakfast quiche and some coffee or juice can provide a way for people to stand around and fellowship while they eat, and it may also be an unexpected treat if you’re not used to doing this.

7.  Introduce guests to members of the group.  I make it my practice to quickly meet any guest who comes to my Bible study, then introduce them to another person or couple in the group. I want to help them start making connections with others, so I quickly hand them off to people with whom I know they’ll have something in common.