Senior adults are a diverse group. With their broad range of ages, not to mention their varied hobbies, family lives, career stages and physical abilities, ministers to older adults have found that it is almost impossible to broadly categorize adults over 50.
Despite their differences, however, older adults have at least one common characteristic — the need for regular Bible study. To effectively organize senior Bible study ministries, churches must honor the similarities between older adults while recognizing the important differences among members of this group.
In his book “Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century: Step-by-Step Strategies for Reaching People Over 50” (Group), Pastor David P. Gallagher says curriculum materials for older adults should combine sound biblical teaching with creative interaction of learners. The subject matter, he says, must be relevant to senior adult lives.
Mark Seanor, minister to “experienced” adults at First Baptist Church, Huntsville, agreed.
“We have wonderful scholars among [senior adults],” Seanor said. “But more than what the commentary and word studies say, we need to focus on what the Scripture says to us as adults. How is this going to affect my life, my spouse, my children?”
“Bible study should be life-changing, and we’ve got to help our adults see that,” Seanor said. “We should teach from a fountain of excitement rather than a well of knowledge.”
According to Gallagher, encouraging openness also plays a critical role in teaching senior adults. This can be difficult because senior adults have often been together in their Sunday School classes for decades. They’ve celebrated, mourned, commiserated and laughed together for years, and they are not eager to break away from their group.
“There’s a saying, ‘Adults don’t promote,’” Seanor said. “The reason they don’t promote is that they’ve found support within that group.”
“The challenge is to help them see that by not creating new units, they become a closed group. It’s hard for an outsider to join that.”
Seanor said that they must have an outside focus. “We have to continue to challenge them that ministry is not only about absentees but also prospects,” Seanor said.
Phil Waldrep, who coordinates senior adult retreats through Phil Waldrep Ministries (see story, page 14), said many senior adults often make a dangerous assumption that if someone is over 50 and not a Christian, the person won’t ever be.
“One of the great challenges of senior adult ministry is to help senior adults understand they have much to offer in the way of evangelizing and extending grace to other senior adults,” Waldrep said.
Another major challenge is ministering to the diversity of senior adults. “We can’t assume that because people hit a particular age that they fit into a specific category,” Seanor said. “The traditional molds don’t necessarily fit.”
First Baptist Church, Huntsville, has tried to reach out to older adults by recognizing their differences. The adult ministry divides members into four groups based on their stage of life:
-Builders, or adults who are still working and who are dealing with empty nests and aging parents.
-Explorers, or adults who have just retired and are exploring God’s will for themselves and their time, energy and money.
-Pillars, or retired adults comfortable with where they are in life.
-Homebound and elderly adults, who may be permanently or temporarily unable to attend church or who may be caregivers for someone who is unable to attend church.
Seanor said classes organized by life stages rather than ages make more sense in today’s churches. The result, Seanor said, is an adult ministry that welcomes new people and ministers to the needs of those around them.
“We must teach intentionally and prepare intentionally to meet the needs of people,” Seanor said.
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