In this post I want to write about the theology behind what Church Resources does and why you should care.  In addition to offering a unified vision for ministry to older adults, I hope to offer a reason why you and your congregation should give attention to the different needs and gifts that older adults present.

Humans have an equal distribution of original sin (Romans 3) which is what makes the gospel so universally relevant to all, both saved and non-saved alike. This is the main reason for the question, “How helpful is demographic data to congregations?” If the message is the same to both groups, how will knowing the gender, population change, density metrics, median income, etc. of your community help the proclamation of the gospel? If the remedy for sin and unbelief is to proclaim the perfect work of Christ, what else is needed but a clear voice and some ears to hear?

Poor or rich, single or married, apartment or home, rural or inner-city, all are in equal need of a clear gospel message. But young and old hear with different ears. Sure, the same words free from sin and death to both old and young, yet as we age and scripture has its way with us, we hear those words of grace with experiences of death and dying, and they are sweeter still. Age brings with it a breadth and depth of understanding that is often ignored.

The Scriptures often include both old and young in the task of the Gospel, even while making distinctions. Luke quotes Joel 2 in Acts when he writes “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Both young and old are directed to the task of proclaiming the gospel but have been distinguished in their tasks by their age. Psalm 71 also speaks to this, “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Paul also deals with young and old in Timothy chapter five, “Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father; treat younger men like brothers, older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity”. Scripture does not negate the distinction of old and young. The lines that mark old and young should be important to us because they are important in scripture. The prayer of the old sinner in Psalm 71 is that they would not die until they are able to proclaim the wonders of God to another generation.

At its core, Christianity is not concerned mostly about living, but with dying. We often forget that after a worship service, many pastors deliver the same words and sacrament to those who are dying, unable to attend: “Take and drink.” The word and sacraments are sustaining, real things, even to the end. Death and dying is the ultimate line of demarcation between the young and the old. Gospel words matter most to those who sit at the edge of heaven. The elderly who have allowed this fact to touch them hear those words “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” more deeply than I.

Have Your Elders Heard the Gospel?

The Senior Ministry Inventory is a unique research tool in that it provides data about people that can be used for and by the church for the purpose of the church. Although we include detailed demographic data for all our congregations, the congregation report is really about how the gospel message influences body and soul and how death to resurrection is understood through the work of the church.

Our Case Study survey has a different objective than merely identifying how to classify men and women into age, ethnic and income brackets. It asks that people indicate if the word they hear really lives! It focuses on assurance of salvation issues and relates them to the way life challenges our minds and bodies. Christ speaks to us about our minds and bodies when he says in Matthew 11, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

If it turns out that many in your flock do not hear the Gospel, or that it has not sunk into their understanding, no business model will help.  Demographic data will not be a launching pad for a shiny new program, but our Case Study approach could aid a serious effort to identify who needs pastoral care while there is still time to reach them.  Our data can help you identify who still needs to hear the living voice of the Gospel.

I have one more post in this series that will bring the practical and theological together and provide the way hundreds of congregations are now viewing ministry to older adults. Stay tuned.

Peace

Aaron

What you will find when you look at all these services is that they are packaging US Census data into attractive reports. Most let you drill through the data making it easier to find specific information. All this data is based on the Census departments long form questionnaire, here is the sample. The long form is given out every ten years and has 53 questions that focus on your age, gender, ethnicity, income and living situation. From these 53 questions all the above solution providers will give you reports, and some will try to provide interpretation.

But how helpful is demographic data to churches?

Demographic analysis is interesting, very interesting. In our Congregation Report, we include a 16+ page demographic study (as an appendix to the 80 page main report) free of charge because it is so interesting. Although the data will tell you many things, it cannot replace an evangelism strategy, or the message that accompanies your congregations efforts. These resources promise so much, but in the end can’t deliver because the census does not ask questions that deal with real need.

Unlike your local Target or Costco, your congregation has a mission, not a mission statement. The universal mission for the church is to preach Christ to your block group, tract, city, county, state, country and world. We also know that with the universal mission comes a universal message, Christ Crucified. Freedom from sin, forgiveness, release, the happy exchange, the gospel is the one message that is for members and non-members alike. This one message works because it deals with every man, woman and child in the same way, through sin.

The condition of sin is the foundation for all our proclamation, education, evangelism, and world missions efforts. If a service does not directly speak to this condition with an answer that can provide a solution, then no Census data program or service will help.

If you want to read more about the Case Study nature of the Senior Ministry Inventory click here and here. You can see some sample questions here. As you read through this material, you should begin to see the major difference between straight demographic analysis and questions designed to help answer the major reason the church exists.

There are more reasons our research tool is superior for congregational use, but you will have to wait until next week for that update. Have a wonderful memorial day weekend.

Peace

Yesterday we posted about the differences between mere-aging and mass-aging. Following are some statistics that illustrate the implications associated with mass-aging. Tomorrow we will post some biblical propositions regarding aging. Stay tuned.

• By 2015, of those over 65, the largest population segment in the U. S. will be single women 85 years old or older.  For the next 10-15 years the church must be prepared to provide an increased ministry to widows of the Builder Generation.
• By 2030 there will be more people over 65 than under 18 in the U. S.  The 20th century was a century of youth.  The 21st century will be a century of age.  Every national election between now and 2030 will be dominated by concerns of older-adults.  Every state, county, municipality and all major corporations are engaged in extensive studies regarding the implications of mass-aging.  The church at the national, regional judicatory and congregation level must do the same.
• By 2030, 35% of all those over 65 will actually be over 85.  However, for every 100 individuals 60-64 there will be 80 people in their 90’s.  And we know that many of them will be in our congregations.  This is mass-aging and the implications for Christian ministry are staggering.
• 15% of seniors today have kids that are seniors… the oldest-old are being cared for by the young-old.  The young-old are different from the new-old.  The new-old are the baby boomers.  The young-old are those in their 70’s who are taking care of those in their 80’s and 90’s.  These 70-year old care-givers need help themselves.  In facing the challenges of senior ministry, the church must specifically target the needs of care-givers.  Aging doesn’t only affect the individual, aging affects the individual and their family and friends who are care-givers.
• Today’s adults in their 40’s and 50’s represent the first generation that will likely spend more years taking care of their parents than taking care of their children.
• According to the U. S. Census, 1/3 of all baby boomers will reach age 65 with a total net worth under $ 1,000.  Mass-aging in the 21st century brings with it a financial wake-up call and the potential for mass poverty.

These projections have been gleaned from various sources:  The U. S. Department of Aging, U. S. Census Bureau, AARP, and numerous books and studies on aging.