EFCA ENCORE Resources
Baby Boomers and Beyond—Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults over 50
Exploring the opportunities and challenges the older adult population presents for the Christian community, Dr. Amy Hanson dares church leaders to let go of stereotypes about aging and embrace a new paradigm—that older adults are for the most part active, healthy and capable of making significant contributions for the Kingdom of God.
Dr. Hanson is a speaker, teacher, writer, consultant and a member of the EFCA ENCORE team. She is passionate about motivating church leaders to engage older adults in significant Kingdom work. Dr. Hanson combines her degree in gerontology and her ministry experience to educate and equip pastors, denominational leaders, students, health care professionals and older adults on the unique opportunities of an aging population. For more information: www.amyhanson.org.
Order this title from NextStep Resources.
The Second-Half Adventure
A must-read book for Christians who are age 50+ released by Moody Publishers. The Second-Half Adventure by Kay Strom is a useful tool for anyone who is seriously trying to figure out how they can use their God-given gifts in the "Encore" of their life. It is a motivational book that calls out the Boomer and Builder generations and challenges them to make a difference for the Kingdom.
Chapter 7 on "Confronting the Barriers" is a particularly helpful portion of the book. As the tag line states, "Don’t just retire–use your time, skills and resources to change the world."
The Intergenerational Church: Understanding Congregations from WWII to www.com
by Peter Menconi, Mt. Sage Publishing
Menconi is a pastor from Colorado who has studied the generations and does a good job of sorting out the differences between the five generations that are populating our churches. His intergenerational matrix at the end of the book provides an interesting summary of everything from worship syle preferences to worldview differences to desired preaching/teaching styles. The author states, "The local church is one of the last places in our society where all the generations can come together in a meaningful way." Written in 2008, the author offers practical ideas that could only come from a pastor as he suggests how churches can guide their attenders from different generations into meaningful interactions with each other.
This book may be ordered from www.Amazon.com.
Chris Holck’s Blog
Chris Holck writes a blog of special interest to age 50 plus but has application for all ages because of the intergenerational applications. It offers information and inspiration for Christians in their second half who want to finish well.
ttp://encoregeneration.wordpress.com
Articles
Is Your Home Your Castle or Your Cottage? by Chris Holck
Find a rhythm of life that lines up with your inner desire to make a difference and leave a legacy.
Additional Resources
The Launch
How can you plan better for what could potentially be one of the most productive chapters of a Christian’s life? The Launch facilitates this planning process by engaging participants in assessing their life experiences, skills and talents. The goal is to prayerfully consider how God would lead you to invest the new gift of time in a way that would be pleasing to Him and give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
The Launch is designed as a five-week small group experience for Christians who are in the second half of life or preparing for it. For only $29.95, you get a study guide and the rights to duplicate it, plus a DVD which has five professionally prepared 20-minute videos that will inform and spark your discussion time.
The Launch may be ordered from NextStep Resources 800-444-2665.
Sample Job Description
Is your church interested in an older adult ministries pastor? Click the link for a sample job description.
EFCA Faith Community Nurse Network
Faith Community Nurses (formerly called Parish Nurses) blend nursing and ministry promoting the wellness of the body, mind and spirt for individuals of all ages. Visit the web page to learn more: EFCA Faith Community Nurse Network
Helpful Websites
http://www.amyhanson.org
The website for Dr. Amy Hanson, EFCA ENCORE board member and author of Baby Boomers and Beyond—Tapping the Ministry Talents and Passions of Adults Over 50.
http://www.gocasa.org/
CASA’s (Christian Association Serving Adult Ministries) purpose is "Equipping & Encouraging Leaders of People 50+."
http://www.halftime.org/
Halftime’s website has valuable information about making adjustments to find more significance in the second half of life.
http://www.finishers.org/
The Finishers Project provides opportunities for short term mission work for people in their second half of life.
http://www.yestoserve.org/home
Young Enough to Serve (YES!) helps energize the hearts of adults toward serving in life’s second half, extending Christ’s love beyond generational and congregational borders.
Books on Generational Differences
Understanding the Generations by James Knapp, Aventine Press 2005
One Church, Four Generations by Gary McIntosh, Baker Books 2002
The Intergenerational Church: Understanding Congregations from WWII to www.com by Peter Menconi, Mt. Sage Publishing
Who Stole My Church? by Gordon MacDonald, Thomas Nelson 2007
Age Wave by Ken Dychtwald, Bantam Books 1990
Books on Making Mid-Life Corrections
From Success to Significance by Lloyd Reeb, Zondervan 2004
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper, Crossway 2003
A Resilient Life by Gordon MacDonald, Thomas Nelson 2004
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Zondervan 2002
Cure for the Common Life - Living in Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado, W Publishing Group 2005
Portfolio Life - The New Path to Work, Purpose, and Passion After 50 by David Corbett, John Wiley & Sons 2007
The Power Years - Pursue Your Dreams, Deepen Your Relationships, Achieve Financial Freedom by Ken Dychtwald & Daniel Kadlec, John Wiley & Sons 2005
Encore - Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life by Mark Freedman, Perseus Books Group 2007
Second Calling - Finding Passion & Purpose for the Rest of Your Life by Dale Hanson Bourke, Thomas Nelson 2006
