Introduction The world of the so-called Baby Boomer (born between 1946 and 1964) is a world of constant change and uncertainty. This segment of people, like all segments of people, operates and evaluates life through a unique lens or culture. Kory Floyd defines culture as ―[T]he learned, shared symbols, language, values, and norms that distinguish one group of people from another.‖1 Therefore, Baby Boomers see and experience the world in a way that is unique from other segments of society. Understanding this segment of society is important because of the size and influence of this group and their affect upon the church. This segment of the population is very large. History.com notes, More babies were born in 1946 than ever before: 3.4 million, 20 percent more than in 1945….In 1947, another 3.8 million babies were born; 3.9 million were born in 1952; and more than 4 million were born every year from 1954 until 1964, when the boom finally tapered off. By then, there were 76.4 million ―baby boomers‖ in the United States. They made up almost 40 percent of the nation’s population.2 Not only is this group large and influential, but this group is also in a state of flux. No other generation has been so infiltrated with massive changes with the culture. Aubrey Malphurs calls these changes ―megachange‖. He defines megachange as ―a massive shift in our culture, science, society, and institutions. This change is enormously greater than the world has ever experienced…. We are living at a frightening point of absolute, chaotic discontinuity, watching the old die off and the new rush in to fill the vacuum.‖3 ey was simply to get a brief overview of those who are Baby Boomers attend church. For simplicity, the age span fifty to seventy was used.... ... middle of paper ... ...eal with the frustrations. Wise pastors and leaders will prepare their congregation for the hardships of following Christ and the demands of the gospel. Conclusion Baby Boomers make up an overwhelming forty percent of the population. They are a very large and influential group of people. In addition, they are also a very confused and somewhat depressed group who are facing challenges now and will face great challenges in the future. None of this is a surprise to God. God, who is absolutely sovereign and knows the hearts of all people, would call upon his people to minister to this group and to make a difference. Baby Boomers represent a great culture of people who are waiting to hear the good news and become disciples of Jesus Christ. The church has before it a great opportunity to minister. As the Scripture says, ―With God, all things are possible‖ (Matt 19:26). 27
Dr. Ken Nichols in his book “Masterpiece” said it best, “We may notice how God is changing us from the inside out, but over time, those who are watching us will be able to see the difference.” As discussed in chapter four, the direction of inclination of the approaches to cope with burnout by the pastors in the Northeast Florida was meditation, exercise, bible reading and prayer dialogue with others, study for renewing, listening to hymns, and so on. Most strategies that the African-American pastors suggested represent spiritual and conservative methods. Now, this chapter will bring to the light the practical and
Stein, Joel, and Josh Sanburn. "The New Greatest Generation." Time 181.19 (2013): 26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Mar. 2016.
Mead, Loren B. The Once and Future Church Reinventing the Congregation for a New Mission Frontier . The Alban Institute, Inc., 1991. Kindle eBook file.
Churches have historically sought to minister to the special needs of widows, orphans and the aged. Today many churches are reexamining their efforts along these lines in light of the changing cultural and social situation. As concern for the plight of the aged has increased, so too have the resources available to the church. Health systems, social agencies and informational services all stand ready to provide support to churches taking on new projects or otherwise strengthening their ministry with the aging.
boomers take their knowledge and skills with them as they face retirement. As of now
“The call is something that is an indescribable joy and an indefinable burden at the same time.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 32). There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a congregation of the redeemed moving forward in their faith. However exciting this may be, it is usually not the thrill that propels the pastor in his service. It is the burden placed on the pastor by God that compels him in his work. The pastor understands that he is largely responsible for the work of God being accomplished by his faithfulness to his calling. “All through the Word of God and down through the annals of history, when God has moved it has almost always been attended by the preaching of the Word.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 31)
All of the above mentioned facts indicate that the American society has changed. Work Cited The "Baby Boom" AP U.S. History Topic Outlines. N.p., n.d. Web.
Moving to the post World War II era, the evangelical coalition began to appeal to the older generations, to the Hollywood population, and to leaders in Washington D.C. Soon after the war, the religious conflicts that infected fundamentalism in the 1920’s were no longer relevant. Protestantism, in its mainline form, had become much more evangelical in its’ nature and its’ sects became much more interested in becoming recognized publicly. Many historians agree that, “what has not often been recognized, however, is that one of the most important driving forces behind the postwar resurgence of religion was a cadre o...
Another factor that differs these two generations is how they view work. Baby Boomers have a tendency to see work as their life. They live to work. The Baby Boomer generation is often characterized as being workaholics, as they place significance on their job status and experience (Generational Differences Chart). And because of this, their lives are often unbalance, with work taking a larger role in their lives than families. This is why some Baby Boomers refuse to retire because work gives them a drive to go
When most people hear the label Generation –X they think of a hopeless generation of youth that have given into the pressures of the world. I would like you to think of the X as the Greek symbol for “Chi” which is used as a symbol for Christ. In this decade the youth involved in the Christianity has grown significantly. Youth are responding to the church in ways that the past generation did not. Where mom and dad embraced the tumultuous sixties their children have taken hold of Christianity. The youth organizations that promote the Protestant doctrine have seen the youth membership grow by 50% since 1990. Catholic Churches have witnessed their youth involvement double in the last decade. The youth are coming from all walks of life, backgrounds and income levels. Although the majority seems to be whites, the number of young blacks involved in Christianity has become notable.
Baby Boomers are the most powerful demographic group in history. Businesses thrives or fails based on their ability to keep pace with the likes and dislikes of this economic powerhouse known as the baby boomers. At 76 million strong, boomers have the influence to rule the marketplace and make sure they keep a place set just for them as the
His church is a “good sized” suburban church that has been around for 295 years. He describes the parishioners as having a “broad tent” of theological views. This congregation is open to new ideas and re-visiting the old. They appear to be carrying out intentional missional work in their community
The baby boomers generation span the year through 1946-1955. The parents of these baby boomers included people who had been part of the roaring 20's, people who had gone through the great depression, and who had gone through World War II. The parents of these boomers who had lives through the depression and world war wanted to pass onto their children a more secure future. These baby boom parents valued saving money for their child's future. They wanted their child to get an advanced education (college). These parents equated college with success and the opportunity for a good job.
Another aspect of pastoral ministry is that every pastor is unique. God has gifted each pastor differently and with his own style. It is imperative that a pastor use the gifts that he has to bear witness about Christ. It is also important to preach Christ and not self. It is crucial that a pastor understand who he is, accept himself, and to develop the gifts given by God. Too often, preachers compare themselves to others and envy what they do not have. That is dangerous and sinful. One must accept the gifts given by God and to use them for His glory.
It is important for me to remember when preparing a sermon, that it is not about the preacher, but through preaching, God the Holy Spirit does the work of giving God’s