Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century


Book Description

The Complete Guide for Senior Adult Ministry Over one quarter of Americans are age fifty or older. This sizable group has unique needs and requires specialized ministry. In this resource, pastor to senior adults Dr. David Gallagher offers invaluable insights, practical ideas, and successful strategies for ministering effectively to people over 50. In this book you'll find: Ð THE BIG PICTURE AND NUTS AND BOLTS OF SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY. This book offers a fresh framework of ministry goals and vision, as well as the practical insights to accomplish them. It includes steps for effective senior adult ministry, characteristics of senior adults, ways to involve senior adults in ministry, and more! Ð 150 SOLID GOLD MINISTRY TIPS, TIME-SAVERS, AND LIFE-SAVERS. This priceless help will be useful to both those new and experienced at senior adult ministry. Ð POWERFUL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. These tested and proven-effective ideas help meet the social, emotional and spiritual needs of seniors! Ð REPRODUCIBLE WORKSHEETS AND HANDOUTS. Found in most chapters, you'll find these reproducible helps invaluable for sparking creativity for all areas of senior adult ministry. A must-have, fresh, new resource for churches who truly desire to effectively reach everyone in their community.




Designing an Older Adult Ministry


Book Description

Building on the success of Designing a Ministry by, with, and for Older Adults, author Rick Gentzler gives readers new ways to develop and strengthen ministries with older adults, providing: information about the needs and life issues of older adults tools to help congregations evaluate their current situation models for ministry with older adults suggested resources For more information on ministries with older adults, contact the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries or call the toll-free number, 877.899.2780, extension 7177.




Aging & Ministry in the 21st Century


Book Description

The church is in the hands of its elders. While the popular perception is that the aged are needy and infirm, Gentzler affirms that the majority of older adults have plenty to give. The church needs to tap into their wisdom, energy, experience, and talents. Gentzler stresses that older adult ministries need to be by and with elders as well as for them, since participants will represent all stages of retirement and activity levels. In addition to the practical issues of programming, Gentzler takes on more difficult topics of aging including chronic conditions, depression, and death. He also recommends that churches pay special attention to the needs of the Baby Boomer generation, since they are now becoming the older adults who will determine the church's path for years to come. "As Boomers have cycled through their various life stages, they passed through 'hippie' and 'yuppie' to become 'abbies': aging Baby Boomers," Gentzler writes. "But don't tell Boomers they're aging. ...They really do expect to stay young and see getting old as an option, rather than a reality." The Leader's Guide is here.




Catch the Age Wave


Book Description

It is time to reexamine our ideas of senior adult ministry. Comfortable assumptions and outdated programs are being challenged in a time when an increasing number of seniors do not regularly attend church. Authors Win and Charles Arn have updated and supplemented their classic book, Catch the Age Wave, in an effort to provide ideas, examples, and advice for starting and maintaining a senior adult program. In addition, they have added practical program ideas to use in any local church setting.




Ministering to Today's Adults


Book Description

Adult ministry poses a unique challenge to churches today -- a challenge that many of us fail to meet adequately. The tragic result is an exodus of the best and brightest from our pews, not because these people have changed their theology or abandoned God. They just don't find much at church that seems immediately relevant or compelling. For nearly fifty years Kenneth O. Gangel has been teaching church leaders how to do adult ministry right. In this volume he has distilled his insights into an easy-to-grasp-and-apply analysis of what it takes to capture the attention and guarantee the participation of adults in your church, including: * Specific advice based on ages, genders, and circumstances peculiar to certain ministries * Proven, cutting-edge curriculum models that can revitalize your church's adult instruction * Contemporary solutions to the most common problems we encounter in ministering to today's adults Whether they know it or not, even those who are lagging in church attendance and distancing themselves from other believers still need the time-proven, heaven-given blessings only the church can offer them. As you read this book, Gangel will give you fresh ideas about how to draw these drifters back into the fold. The real-life stories he tells and the successful strategies he outlines may strike in your heart some spark of imagination and renewed commitment that will help you to bring new life to the adult ministry of the church you serve.




A Vision for the Aging Church


Book Description

James M. Houston and Michael Parker believe now is the time for the church to offer ministry to its increasing numbers of seniors and to benefit from ministry they can offer. They issue an urgent call to reconceive the place and part of the elderly in the local congregation, showing that seniors aren't the problem--they are the solution.




Youth Ministry in the 21st Century (Youth, Family, and Culture)


Book Description

There are many philosophies and strategies that drive today's youth ministry. To most people, they are variations on a single goal: to make faithful disciples of young people. However, digging deeper into various programs, books, and concepts reveals substantive differences among approaches. Bestselling author Chap Clark is one of the leading voices in youth ministry today. In this multiview work, he brings together a diverse group of leaders to present major views on youth ministry. Chapters are written in essay/response fashion by Fernando Arzola, Greg Stier, Ron Hunter, Brian Cosby, and Chap Clark. As the contributors present their views and respond to each of the other views, they discuss their task and calling, giving readers the resources they need to develop their own approach to youth ministry. Offering a model of critical thinking and respectful dialogue, this volume provides a balanced, irenic approach to a topic with which every church wrestles.




An Age of Opportunity


Book Description

A companion to the author's earlier book Designing an Older Adult Ministry (Discipleship Resources, 1999), this book will provide new information and outline ways to develop and strengthen ministries by, with, and for older adults that can, and will, enhance the spiritual growth and well-being of people of all ages. The church is beginning to recognize that there are vast numbers of older people in its membership. It is becoming aware of its indebtedness to them for the leadership, support, service, and faith that has made the church of today possible. The church is uniquely positioned to help older adults respond to the challenges of aging; to see the tremendous potentialities in the lives of older adult for making the church and community better; and to assist older people as they experience new meaning and purpose in their later lives. Chapters include "Why Older-Adult Ministries?"; "Understanding the Aging Process"; "Aging and the Spiritual Journey"; "The New Seniors: Boomers?"; "Intentional Ministry by, with, and for Older Adults"; "Organizing for Intentional Ministry in the Local Church"; "Organizing for Intentional Ministry in the Conference"; "Congregational Care Ministry"; "Additional Ideas for Intentional Ministry"; and "Trends in Aging." Appendixes include a "Facts about Aging" quiz, information on creating and using older adult surveys, and suggested resources for further reading and study.




Baby Boomers and Beyond


Book Description

How ministry leaders can help older adults be a vital part of Christian community With the explosion of the older adult population, this important book explores the opportunities and challenges that this presents for the Christian community. Amy Hanson challenges us to let go of many old stereotypes regarding aging and embrace a new paradigm that sees older adults as active, healthy and capable of making significant contributions. Debunks the myths of aging that keep us from fully embracing the potential of people in life's second half Offers suggestions on how to re-invent ministry with older adults Focuses on unleashing older adults to serve and make an impact on churches and congregations A volume in the Leadership Network series The author shows church leaders how they can unleash the power of the baby boomer population to strengthen their congregations.




Aging Successfully


Book Description

Aging Successfully offers suggestions for greater satisfaction and happiness for people over age fifty. It raises spiritual and emotional issues such as how to deal with depression and gives specific action steps. This book is packed full of practical help; it is a road map for aging, especially during economically challenging days. This practical, easy-to-read book provides wisdom and time-tested counsel for a happy and highly productive second half of life. When Dave Gallagher was considering retirement, he wanted help with financial planning and retirement living options, so he began compiling resources. Dr. Gallagher combines the information he gained with principles that he gained in working with hundreds of people over the years, and compiled them into this book. The principles come from personal experience, research, and helping people age successfully. The author draws from his experience of ten years as senior pastor in an age-restricted community designed to reach people over age fifty.