Second Half Learning Community

1
Second Half Learning Community

• October 30, 2008
• San Damiano Retreat Center
• Danville, California

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Opening

• Participating Churches
• Fair Oaks Baptist Church Concord, CA
• Golden Hills Community Church Brentwood, CA
• Hillside Covenant Church Walnut Creek, CA
• Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City, CA
• Quail Lakes Baptist Church Stockton, CA
• Twin Lakes Church Santa Cruz, CA
• New Covenant Community Church Fresno, CA

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Participants

• Dick Leona Bergstrom, Second Half For Him
  Converge Worldwide, Seattle, WA.
• Wes Judy Wick. YES Ministries, Santa Cruz, CA
• Jim Brumme Twin Lakes Church, Aptos, CA.
• Linda Weekes Golden Hills Community Church,
  Brentwood, CA
• Linda Robinson - Golden Hills Community Church,
  Brentwood, CA
• Mike Marlene McKnelly - Golden Hills Community
  Church, Brentwood, CA
• Rick Moe Senior Pastor, Golden Hills Community
  Church, Brentwood, CA
• Bill Jean Conner - Golden Hills Community
  Church, Brentwood, CA
• Tony Marty Aria - Fair Oaks Baptist Church,
  Concord, CA
• Helen Berggren - Fair Oaks Baptist Church,
  Concord, CA
• Steve McCoy Fair Oaks Baptist Church, Concord,
  CA
• Floyd Eldora Zielke New Covenant Community
  Church, Fresno, CA.
• Alan Forsman - Pacific Southwest Conference of
  the Evangelical Covenant Church
• Fred Kathy Jantz NorCal Regional Minister,
  Northern American Baptist Conf., Stockton, CA
• Wayne Bibelheimer - Associate Pastor, Quail Lakes
  Baptist Church, Stockton, CA
• Don Wilcox Leadership Network Encore Generation
  Director, Louisville, CO
• Larry Nunan - Peninsula Covenant Church, Redwood
  City, CA
• Ken Eunice Olson - Peninsula Covenant Church,
  Redwood City, CA
• Keith Young Leadership Network Metro CareLink
  Ministry, Elk Grove, CA

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Devotion

• Dr. Don Reed
• Executive Minister
• Converge Pac West
• (Baptist General Conference)

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Devotion

• Proverbs 226 Train up a child in the way he
  should go, and when he is old, he will not depart
  from it.
• Typically that is interpreted to mean that you
  have to figure out the way for each child. But I
  want to look at it from a different angle.When
  they are old they will not depart from it. It
  introduces for us what we are going to talk about
  today. When they are old they will not depart
  from it. This brings up the issue of generations.
  Builders versus Boomers. There are tensions in
  ministry to older adults. One of the tensions is
  that when we get old, it is hard to depart from
  it. Builders want hymns and gospel songs. Boomers
  grew up on Rock and Roll. It comes up in how we
  learn. I am a Builder and I learn by reading.
  Boomers grew up with TV and have a visual style
  of learning. I work with churches and am very
  interested in how people handle this generational
  thing. Levi is in one of your churches. A worship
  pastor was recruited to lead worship in a certain
  church. He led the services which were very
  contemporary. He met a white- haired man after
  the service that said I hope you become our
  worship pastor. Do you like the music?, asked
  my the worship leader. No, said Levi, but our
  church used to be 800, now we are 300 because our
  generation insisted on having our music.
• Eph 62 Honor your father and mother.
• I wasnt going to extend this to the Christian
  family. This is the first commandment with
  promise. What I observe is that this is a
  commandment with a problem, not a promise. This
  goes beyond the Boomer Generation. I preached at
  a church that has gone from 275 to 600. But a
  large part of their growth has been their
  traditional church at 1100 a.m. This church is
  oversubscribed 40k right now due to the giving
  of this group. This generation is more
  financially solvent and can fund the ministry.

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Devotion

• Luke 537 And no one puts new wine into old
  wineskins otherwise the new wine will burst the
  skins and it will spill out, and the skins will
  be ruined
• We are all vessels. There have been things poured
  into us all our lives. When we get to a certain
  point, some rigidity sets in. Howard Hendricks
  used to call it hardening of the categories.
  Jesus said there is only so much stretch in an
  older vessel and if we are not careful we are
  going to break it. I have talked to enough older
  adults and I hear the brokenness. Gordon
  MacDonald wrote the book, Who Stole My Church,
  about older adults who feel a sense of loss in
  the church today. It tells how to help them
  through it. They feel very torn. One of our
  churches had an influx of senior adults who were
  told, youre not going to like where we are
  going, please leave.
• Ephesians 210 For we are His workmanship,
  created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
  prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in
  them.
• How many of you have heard a phrase like this,
  Well I guess God still has something for me to
  do because I am still here? What they dont say
  is that they have no idea what it is. God, help
  me to do the good works you have prepared for me
  to do today. When Jesus said, It is finished,
  he had his work done. We have people who are very
  lost. Some of that is self-imposed with
  statements like, Ive done my time in the
  church, Im going to leave it to someone else.
• In the center there will be a circle or two.
  Imagine if you will, lines going from corner to
  corner, and going through the circle. (See
  visuals). Axis of lines going through the middle.
  We are being pulled in each of these directions.
  1) Preferences (upper left) I want it my way.
  2) Gods purposes (Lower right) 3) Respect
  (upper right) 4) Reject (lower left). The circle
  moves along these axis depending on where we are
  in our ministry.
• APPLICATION Draw a circle based on where you
  think your church is.

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Overview of the Day

• This is not a conference to hear from the
  experts. It is a gathering of leaders who are
  invited here to think together about what is
  ahead for mature adults and effective ministry in
  churches.
• Our learning community is patterned after what we
  have learned in the last two years of the Encore
  Generation Learning Community with Leadership
  Network. We are indebted to them for their models
  and style of learning.
• Why are you here and what do you hope to get out
  of the day?
• How to work with seniors without popping out of
  skin. (wineskins)
• Now have space in church and could handle group,
  but barrier how do we get younger people to
  come. There is a wall. How do we break down.
• People in 70s and 80s who dont think they are
  seniors.
• Came to find a way to get more people to come to
  senior retreat. Not seniors yet.
• Get Boomers incorporated into PLUS ministry. They
  think they are too young.
• Senior Communities in area. How do we reach older
  adults who dont go to church. What is outreach
  strategy?
• Were oversensitive. Feelings easily hurt.
• Common theme Dont want to go there.. ie man
  on gurney not wanting to go into the acute care
  for the elderly.
• Outline of where we are going today Look at Four
  Realities What was, what is, what could be and
  what will be.

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Timeline Exercise

• Using the framework of the Four Realities,
  presented by Dick Bergstrom, Alan Forsman led the
  group in a look at what was, what is and what
  could be. The participants were divided into
  three groups and assigned to describe the state
  of Older Adult Ministry in three different time
  frames
• 10 years ago
• Now
• 10 years from now

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Ten Years Ago
10
Today
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Ten Years From Now
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Church Models

• Purpose to learn from each other what is
  currently taking place in Older Adult Ministry.
• Facilitator Don Wilcox
• Assignment Break into church groups and diagram
  your current church model for Older Adult
  Ministry. Include
• Whats Working?
• Whats Stuck?
• Biggest Surprise
• Biggest Learning

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• Seniors program since 1985.
• Model Thursday morning group. Concludes with
  lunch that is popular.
• Challenge
• Getting older.
• Cannot move the tables.
• Move from Sept-June (?). No activities through
  summer.
• Womens Bible study but nothing for men.
• Care for each other.
• Body life.
• Periodic trips (rescue mission).
• No separate SS class.
• Try to incorporate into other ministries,
  worship.
• Bible Study every Thursday.

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• Annual Outreach
• Sign in sheets
• Making more focused on service
• Actual events
• Senior Adult Legacy Team (SALT). Recognize people
  who are a living legacy
• Stuck
• SALT is branded by those who are not seniors
  (dont want to join anything that has senior on
  it.) Corral Boomers wont come anywhere near it
• CASA event Michael Kinsmans model, book from
  Portland
• Model
• Senior Adult Commission has different aspects to
  it
• Trips every month
• Education, seminars
• Choir
• Handyman service

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• 3,500 people at GHCC.
• Has more resources.
• Church service many not involved.
• SS Class is the hub of the ministry. Lots of
  things come out of it.
• Church not a Sunday School class church mainly
  small groups.
• Seniors were in a small group in addition to
  church, serving.
• Socials, trips, Sunday School class, trip to
  Israel, blog/website, missions, ROMEO (retired
  old men eating out). JULIET (Just us ladies
  interested in eating too).
• STUCK
• Outreach not intergenerational.
• Communication. Lots of seniors not computer
  literate.
• Missions emphasis working.
• Seniors single program. Many seniors are single
  and lonely. Active seniors single ministry.

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• MODEL
• In transition from being inward focused to being
  externally focused.
• 40 over 50.
• Sunday Bible Classes. Younger generations dont
  relate to SS.
• Spotlight periodically printed 5X a year. Feature
  someone 50 that s been proven in ministry over
  the years. Sent out to people. Focusing in on
  people excited about what they are doing.
• KEY leadership team. Getting people proven in
  ministry. 4 areas service spiritual growth, fun,
  fellowship and evangelism. Mentoring program.
  Visitation in veterans hospitals.
• Community outreach. 250 people on a weekend.
  Beautify the whole school. Basket for all the
  teachers.
• SURPRISES boomers just dont want anything to do
  with PLUS ministry (at age 50). Concentrating on
  bridging the gap between 45 and 55.
• STUCK Ministry has been internal. Want it to be
  external. Reaching out as Salt in the world.
  Project Read go into public library and teach
  Hispanic people to read. Homeless outreach 2X
  weekly.
• LEARNINGS Externally focused, Some of our people
  just over 50 who are involved. Annual celebration
  every year with a speaker. Focus on special
  ministries on what God has done throughout the
  year.

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• MODEL I Thess 514
• WORKING
• Change the name midlife plus. YES Young Enough
  to Serve.
• Sharefest all churches work together 15
  churches/20 projects in community.
• Job Fair. Collaborating with other service
  networks.
• Special events. Visiting shut ins. End of life
  seminars.
• STUCK
• Recognition of needs of working with older adults
  the urgency of this ministry.
• Ageism in the church within the church, or
  what adults do to themselves. More long term
  relationships. Not happening. Age
  segregation/church-wide segmentation of groups.
• SURPRISE
• Intergenerational influence
• College students want to work with mid-life/plus
  adults.
• LEARNINGS
• Needs to be more in-depth on long term
  relationships.
• Events vertically oriented.
• Community lacking. Events dont achieve that.
  Sense of long term relationships not happening
• Retirement does not mean free time. Not
  necessarily available to serve.

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• On staff, but with new roles. Community Life and
  Spiritual Formation new roles in the church.
  Starting from scratch.
• WORKING
• Still called seniors ministry.
• Programs provided to seniors. Monthly lunch.
  Senior trips quarterly. Annual banquet w/100
  people. Staff puts it on.
• STUCK
• Need for leadership. Lack of a team. Huge
  challenge.
• Being designated in an age bracket. Have been
  run with a lack of pastoral oversight so have
  operated out of the mainstream.
• Small groups closed. Demographic works
  differently in a small group. Seniors more
  closed. Not as willing to share and be open. Take
  ownership for what they have done. Fear of
  vulnerability.
• Increase in mobility and travel less time
  available. Ongoing commitments a challenge.
• Expect to be served. Opportunity within small
  groups for service connects on a fellowship
  basis as well as serving.

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• 20 year-old church.
• Always has been restricted on activities re
  facilities. Now ahead on facilities.
• Great staff. 6 associate pastors. Not a specific
  pastor to senior adults.
• Seniors class (new). Had a large group to start
  but have actually declined. 50 Summit. Seniors
  class but nothing in adult program between
  college and age 50. People are there, but not
  coming.
• Problem with seniors program. Not attractive to
  seniors. Mens group are all seniors. Not
  growing. Have declined. No leadership group with
  our seniors. Organized by two men teaching it.
• BIGGEST SURPRISE
• Lack of interest. Lots of seniors but not
  interested in coming to seniors group.
• No programs for adults.
• Inflexibility.
• No outreach. Nobody doing it. How do we reach
  people?

SORRY! No image of their model available
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Lunch
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Readings

• Facilitator Leona Bergstrom
• Transitions Making Sense of Lifes Changes by
  William Bridges
• How do we manage transitions?
• The Church is currently in a time of transition
  time as a church.
• Our older groups are dying off.
• Losing a generation, but we dont understand the
  next generation.
• William Bridges feeling like Linus when his
  blanket is in the dryer.
• Silent Generation gets ignored.
• In early retirement.
• 78 million boomers coming forth.
• Who are the boomers? What do they think? Be aware
  of our environment.

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Group 1 CROSS GENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS AND
PURPOSES

• Generations are segregated.
• Regret of family disconnect.
• Christian community played more of a role than
  their own family.
• What did you learn?
• Boomers have different preferences.
• Personal relationships are essential for growth.
• Their values came from community more than
  family.
• Better understanding of generational mind set.
• Boomers. Its never about me!
• Education.
• Only Gods Sovereign design can change it.

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Group 2SPIRITUALITY IN THE BOOMER GENERATION

• The search for spirituality. Not religious, but
  spiritual. Catholic retreat centers.
• Feel?
• Heartbreak
• Pain
• Sadness
• Demonic influence?
• Anger, compassion.
• Learn
• Confusion
• Seekers of truth or me seekers.
• Spoiled generation.
• Dont want traditional.
• Dont want it to look like my mother.
• Eclectic. Seeking love and relationships. What is
  it. World is there for me.
• Ministe more effecively
• Caring loving accepting relationship.
• Listen more.

SORRY! No image of their report available
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Group 3WORK AND MEANING

• Legacy how do we pass it on.
• We have to be in relationship with other
  generations.
• Want to continue to give back. Build on the
  positive .
• Value being in leadership in the community.
• Want meaning more than just materialism.
• Want their career to be more than a paycheck.
• They want to be connected to where there money is
  going.
• Provide opportunities to be involved in
  meaningful activities.

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Group 4TECHNO-BOOM

• Computers and technology have been a part of
  Boomers lifestyle for much of their lives.
• From no internet to everything.
• Article about technical advances in the Boomer
  generation. Boomer age.
• Lot of people not computer literate who are above
  70 years old.
• Difficult to relate to seniors in the area of
  technology.
• Instant communication.
• Higher expectations of quality and technology in
  the boomer generation.

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Group 5PSYCHOLOGY OF AFFLUENCE

• Post WW II Baby Boom affluence took off.
• Great depression 46 homeowners. Decade later
  boomers grew up with affluence.
• Spot on very self absorbed. felt stereotypical.
  Doesnt fit everyone.
• Learned
• life and schedule revolves around them.
• Used to having it our way.
• Long term commitments in church dont fit into
  our way of life.
• Serving if it makes me feel better.
• Involve them in short term things.
• Accustomed to independence and options.
• Dont think much beyond themselves.
• How does it help you minister more effectively.
• More opportunities for people to get involved.
• Give low commitment probes go for short term
  experience.
• Call them to a higher purpose. Offer meaningful
  opportunities.

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Group 6MUSIC

• James Taylor, Fire and Reign. James Taylor is
  back with a 1 album. (CD).
• Feelings
• Frustration
• Reminiscing
• Sadness
• Hopefulness
• Learnings about the Boomer Generation
• Turmoil
• Medicated their problems
• Raised issues of social justice
• Many avoided personal responsibility
• Perseverance.
• Understanding that promotes ministry.
• Serving could be a platform
• Recovery ministries could be an entry point for
  people.
• Capitalize on significance of relationships
• Redirect to generativity vs. self-absorption.

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Group 7PURPOSE AND POWER IN RETIREMENT

• Emotions/feelings.
• Hope they can handle whats coming.
• When too me centered, there is no purpose to
  pursue
• The big shot in job may become nobody in
  retirement
• This generation
• Can be selfish
• Looking for instant gratification
• Driven by and/or captive to materialism
• Understanding to help us minister more
  effectively
• Learning to give to others can release us from
  materialism.

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What Will BeBuilding A Model For Boomer Ministry

• Facilitator Dick Bergstrom
• In light of the readings, what would an effective
  ministry to Boomers look like?
• Ah-hah moments
• We are asking the wrong question. It does not
  work to ask how do we get younger people into
  current groups?
• Is it even the right question to ask how to start
  a ministry to Boomers? Do they even want a group,
  or is inter-generational, cross-generational
  ministry our goal?

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Boomer Ministry Models

• FAIR OAKS BAPTIST CHURCH
• Need to have Boomers design ministry to boomers.
• Seniors need to develop new ways to reach their
  generation
• Develop intergenerational outreach.
• Prayer is key part
• Hospital and visitation
• Shut-in Visitation serving getting out of
  selves and giving

GOLDEN HILLS COMMUNITY CHURCH
Relationships develop friends. I go because my
friends are there. Purpose oriented not just
something to attend must have meaning Ownership
I have some part in it, designing or
doing Technologically savvy Entertainment
quality. Our ministries should have quality
(expect quality in TV and entertainment) Not
circular conversations complaining about style
or health issues Service oriented want to serve
in what we are doing Equip people on how to
serve Provide opportunities Principles not
necessarily programs. But have these qualities
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Boomer Ministry Models

• HILLSIDE COVENANT CHURCH
• Boomers are integrated in church. How do we
  provide for them in this juncture of their lives?
• Educational programs Navigating retirement
  decisions grandparenting classes
• Boomers want marriage renewal celebrate
• Track demographics what are boomers already
  doing? Encourage to get more involved in areas of
  service. They are already in service.
• Develop spiritually. Engage in small groups,
  growing to serve

• PENINSULA COVENANT CURCH
• Need to think about ministry specifically for
  Boomers.
• In 20 years or less, the people in current
  ministry will be with Lord or in a home
• Want to see current Boomers make up new PLUS
  ministry.
• New ministry for 45-55 year olds.
• Church is primarily older persons and boomers in
  denial. It is warranted.
• This has been good for us because it makes us
  look at the next generation.

• SEVERAL CHURCHES GROUP
• Dream team that plans
• Validate and disperse those among us. May not
  need another layer of ministry
• Occasionally have Boomer events acknowledge
  they are a common group
• Combination of 2 and 3.

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Wrap Up and Closing

• Common themes
• We came into the room asking how to get people
  into senior adult ministry its been vital but
  we have lost manyHow do we get the next to come
  along.
• Boomers are an entirely unique generational
  cohort.
• Every church is unique understand your own
  history, demographic and calling and design
  ministry that relates where you are.
• We have not attempted to help you develop a
  strategy or plan but it may be your next step.
  What will it look like in the form of a plan?
  Define what you will do, who will do it and
  setting deadlines.