Help Your Leaders Train Themselves

Leona Bergstrom, Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

Programs offered for mid life and older people in churches today should be the best! They should be strategic, cutting edge, relevant and attractive! How?


1. Start with Trained Leaders

Excellent programs have pastoral and lay leaders that are trained in ministering with people in midlife and beyond. Not only do they understand some of the physical and social issues encountered in aging, but they are studying the Scriptures and are coming to an understanding of God’s purpose for long life.

Sadly, few Christian colleges or seminaries offer such training at this time. To meet the real need for continuing education in 2nd Half ministries, CASA is launching a Leadership Academy. It is an exciting opportunity!

CASA Leadership Academy offers a four-course, online certificate program designed to meet the needs of professionals and church leaders. Under the direction of Drs. Ben Dickerson and Darryl Watkins, students will have opportunity to interact with issues such as the changing images of aging and generations, biblical concepts of aging, program development and innovative church leadership. The first class will start in September

2009, and enrollment is now open. There are special discounts for CASA Network registrants. For more information, visit www.gocasa.org or write to info@goCASA.org


2. Be strategic.

In the early ‘70s, church leaders were expected to develop strategic plans for reaching and ministering to youth. Now, four decades later, those youth have grown up and are facing even more challenging spiritual and physical issues. If we are to minister with excellence to people age 50+, then we need to have a plan. We need to identify our purpose, our mission and our strategies.

One way to infuse new ideas into the planning process is to put together a “Dream Team.” Invite10-20 key people in your church who are age 50+ to join this team for three months. Meet at least once a month and begin to envision what a cutting-edge ministry to Boomers and Beyond would look like. What are their needs? Their challenges? Their spiritual growth plans? What are the craziest, wildest, most effective ways of reaching out? Design the dream, then “fire” the team. Invite those who are willing to participate regularly on the leadership team and go from there.


3. Think INTERGENERATIONAL

Excellent 2nd 1/2 programs are continually considering ways to reach out to the next generations. Living and leaving a legacy of faith is imperative. As Dr. Ward Tanneberg says, “Leave the lights on for the next generation.”

Developing relationships with the other generations is what will keep Boomers and Beyond relevant, vital–and interesting!