According to a recent report by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, America’s communities are not prepared for an aging population. The Church seems to say, “Amen.” So be it.

Following last months, “The Numbers Should Make Us Think,” we asked you to respond to the following statements, based on a Christian discipleship criteria being one’s “inner spiritual journey,” (contemplative transformation via prayer and meditation) and “apostolic outreach” (faith-generated action).

  • How would you rate the overall effectiveness of today’s North American Church in discipling 50+ age adults?
  • How would you rate the overall effectiveness of discipling the 50+ age adults in your church at the present moment?
  • What are some issues you are facing in ministry to and through 50+ age adults you would like to see addressed by The CASA Network?

What you told us.

The weekend response time was brief, but telling. Sixty-three responses were recorded. Here is how you answered:

Overall effectiveness of ministry to age 50+ in the Church throughout North America:

Very Ineffective 15

Ineffective 41

Effective 7

Very Effective 0

Overall effectiveness of ministry to age 50+ within their local church setting:

Very Ineffective 12

Ineffective 28

Effective 21

Very Effective 2

If this were a servant leader’s report card, we would be reluctant to take it home to our Heavenly Father. At the very least, we’d anticipate a severe “You will have to do better than this if you expect to ‘finish well,’” talking to. Fifty-six out of sixty-three rated the North American church as ineffective or very ineffective. Over 90%. In their respective local churches, the percentage changed to a more “respectable” 62% ineffective or very ineffective rating. (Did I really say, “respectable?”)

If inspiring, equipping and mobilizing the Church for ministry to and through adults in life’s second half is key to our overall ministry effectiveness, and if enriching the believer’s “inner spiritual journey” and leveraging an outcome of visible faith-generated “action” is the desired result, a range of perceived ineffectiveness landing somewhere between a best case 62% and a worst case 95%, even in an unscientific poll of this nature, points up just how far off the target many well-intentioned arrows of denominational, pastoral and lay church leaders may be landing.

What are the missing ingredients?

An example. Sociologists report the greater the youth involvement, the greater a church’s growth. Sociologists also tell us that a majority of these youth will leave the Church when they reach college age. I know there are voices of leaders who say, “We’re doing the best we can.” “It’s human nature.” “There’s nothing we can do about it.” “They’ll be back when they have kids of their own.” Excuses are made when we feel overwhelmed. When we feel overwhelmed, we stop searching for answers. This is but one example.

The fact is, we are in a spiritual war. Satan is in the devouring business. His minions target people at every age, especially youth. A missing ingredient in this war on children and young people is a lack of intentional interGen relationships between these precious youth and spiritually engaged second halfers. The intentional caring and sharing of interGen life and the stories of faith in families and in churches is key to sustaining faith in young people in spiritually turbulent times.

I’d like to hear more from church leaders who’ve checked in on our website survey. When it comes to ministry among 50+ age constituents, you who say the North American Church and / or your church are “ineffective,” tell us what are the missing ingredients that cause you to give the Church / your church an ineffective rating? Don’t be shy! Remember, it’s the Silent’s that never elected a President from their own generation.

What is making the difference?

Based on a discipleship criteria as being one’s “inner spiritual journey,” (contemplative transformation via prayer and meditation) and apostolic outreach (faith-generated action), for those of you who gave the Church / your church an “effective or very effective rating, how is it that you are successful in making this happen? What is making the difference? We want to know.

If you rate your church as “effective” in ministry to and through adults 50+ in age, please identify the church. Tell us the approximate number of worship service attendees on a Sunday morning. Let us know who and where you are. Your name, your role and email address? We are searching for “centers of excellence” (not perfection!) in 50+ Ministry throughout the United States and Canada. Places where best practices are giving positive outcomes that may help others in being more effective in their ministry. Remember, we are in this together!

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you.

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