We are on the threshold of a new era in senior adult ministry. Many traditional methods of ministering may no longer suffice. Creative ways of engaging and involving senior adults must emerge. Churches will either prepare for the "age wave" or be swept away by it. Those who prepare will benefit from offering innovative ministries to reach a broad spectrum of seniors.

Jesus is our model of a balanced person who grew spiritually, mentally, relationally, and physically (see Luke 2:52). All of life is to be dedicated to God and used to bring Him glory. Senior adults continue to be growing individuals with a wide range of interests and abilities. A balanced program for senior adults is achieved with broad-based offerings that reflect their diversity in ages, lifestyles, and needs.

The Five Service Areas

Balanced programming will reflect the five service areas of senior adult ministry in the local church.

1. Spiritual Enrichment - The need for spiritual growth does not diminish with age. Some seniors are eager to grow in the Lord; others need motivating. Provide resources and activities for continued spiritual growth, such as Sunday morning Bible study, discipleship studies, weekday Bible study, prayer groups and seminars, evangelism training and witnessing, retreats, and state and national conferences for senior adults.
    
2. Learning (Growth) Opportunities - To function in our rapidly changing world, seniors must continue to learn. Today’s younger seniors have more formal education and will expect the church to offer quality, challenging growth experiences. These would include seminars and workshops held at or sponsored by their churches.
    
3. Socialization - Seniors enjoy parties, banquets, trips, leisure activities, dinner clubs, recreation, club meetings, and rallies. Socialization activities meet friendship needs and provide biblical koinonia. Each social activity should have a spiritual component. Fellowship and recreation events provide a non-threatening opportunity to reach and disciple unchurched and unsaved seniors.
    
4. Services Needed - A small percentage of seniors need services your church can provide, such as meals-on-wheels, transportation, homebound ministry, telephone reassurance, home repairs, and day-care. Determine the needs in your local situation and supply them as God gives the workers.
    
5. Services Provided - The flip side of needing services is providing services. After determining the services needed, plan ministry projects to address them. Remember that seniors themselves are a capable pool of volunteers for ministry. Many of them have the time, resources, health, and motivation to impact significantly their churches, communities, and world for Christ.

Plans made by and with seniors have a greater success rate. Allow senior adults to take responsibility for their own programming.

Steps to Balancing Your Ministry

Adequate, accurate planning allows for a smooth-running senior adult ministry. The following steps can help you begin or maintain a balanced senior adult ministry.

1. Recognize the need for a coordinated senior adult ministry in your church. A coordinated ministry brings each senior adult program and activity under one "umbrella" so that each functions effectively.
    
2. Select a coordinator of senior adult ministries. With pastoral backing and church approval, seek a person -- either staff or volunteer -- to coordinate the total ministry.
    
3. Form at task force. Lead by the coordinator, the task force should represent the senior areas in Sunday School, Discipleship Training, music, recreation, missions, and the senior adult club.
    
4. Use a strategy-planning process to assess your current ministry and plan for the future.
   • Profile senior adults in your church and community
   • Survey to discover senior adult interests and needs
   • Identify available resources in your church and community
   • Determine priority issues and concerns
   • Formulate objectives for your ministry
      
5. Suggest ways to strengthen existing ministries.
    
6. Elect an on-going senior adult steering committee. Task force members can become the basis for a Senior Adult Ministry Council, whose stated purpose is to provide continuing coordination for senior adult ministries, programs, and activities.

Larry Mizell is an adult event coordinator for LifeWay Church Resources.

This article was excerpted from "A Balanced Senior Adult Ministry" in Forward Together: A New Vision for Senior Adult Ministry. Please see the original source for a full list of references cited in this article.