| In my work as a Growth Consultant I consistently | | | | will have naysayers pointing out the flaws of your |
| deal with churches that possess a rich history and | | | | direction. Some of the older folks will become vocal. |
| the potential for a very bright future. However, that | | | | Sadly, there are examples of these same folks |
| very history with church members over age 60 (plus | | | | threatening the church with their giving. They stand |
| or minus) regularly works against the church's bright | | | | accountable before God for that. In the meantime, |
| future. "If we could just do it like we did in the 70s | | | | you need to understand that your efforts to reach |
| or 80s, it would work. Why do we have to do it this | | | | lost people could cost you in giving from some of the |
| new way that you, the lead pastor who was born in | | | | vocal, tithe-paying, change-resistant older people. You |
| 1975, want to do? Why do we have to change | | | | hope that to not be the case, but as the leader you |
| anything? I like my church just the way it is." | | | | need to calculate what that could be. Begin to |
| I ask every reader to be clear on these components | | | | formulate how the church's budget would need to |
| of this article: | | | | adjust if that occurred. |
| - I was born in 1954 so I am not a spring chicken | | | | 6. Count the emotion cost. As difficult it is to imagine, |
| just yanging about old people. In fact, I happen to | | | | some of your finest supporters in the early days of |
| hold in high esteem those who have walked life's | | | | your ministry at this church were some of the older |
| road ahead of me. | | | | people. Now, however, with the changes you are |
| - This article IS about dealing with older people who | | | | undertaking, there will be some of those same |
| resist change, are vocal about it and sometimes use | | | | people that will stand diametrically opposed to you. |
| their financially giving to the church as leverage to | | | | No matter how tough you are, the pain will be felt. |
| get their way. Since their way is generally not about | | | | Your family may experience this as well. You must |
| change, the pastor who wants to see lost people | | | | know your own emotions and be confident that the |
| come to know Jesus and feels the church needs to | | | | direction God has given you is the right one for the |
| change for that to happen, will have to address the | | | | church. During the times of severe resistance you will |
| actions of this oftentimes minority group of older | | | | need to cling to that confidence. |
| folks. Remember, they are vocal. | | | | 7. Create multiple venues for older people to work in |
| - This article IS NOT about dealing with older people | | | | ministry together with younger people. This will take |
| in general. If you read it that way, you have read it | | | | you further than any intellectual argument. Even |
| wrong. Many of our seasoned saints want to see | | | | though the generations are 40 to 60 years apart, the |
| young people come to know Jesus, and although all | | | | more older people are able to interact with younger |
| of your changes may not be their style, they | | | | folks the better. Please know that in some cases, |
| understand mission and will stand with you. | | | | the older folks may be resistant to this because they |
| I literally had one client tell me that an older | | | | are comfortable with the older group they have been |
| gentleman told the pastor that if the pastor did not | | | | with for over 40 years. It is your job as the senior |
| start wearing a tie on Sunday that this older | | | | leader to cast vision and excitement to |
| gentleman was going to leave the church along with | | | | cross-generational ministry that all parties come to |
| his tithes. When I heard this, the great proverb (I'm | | | | see its value. |
| sure it's there someplace) came to mind, "Don't let | | | | 8. Explain everything. There are not many things |
| the door hit you..." I resisted suggesting that to the | | | | worse for a long-term church member than for an |
| pastor. My guess is that he already had the thought. | | | | eager young pastor who takes a hard right turn and |
| Here is a game plan for your consideration. I implore | | | | change everything without explaining "Why." So don't |
| you to read with spiritual eyes. I ask you to pray for | | | | do that. Explain everything. Certainly there are very |
| God's specific direction for your church. For some this | | | | good reasons why you are changing music, attire, |
| issue has been excruciatingly difficult. You see the | | | | whatever you are changing, etc. You will forgo many |
| potential for the church but the barriers of vocal, | | | | headaches by taking the time to explain "Why." |
| tithe-paying, change-resistant older people seem | | | | People, old and young, like to know "Why." Make |
| impenetrable. | | | | sure your "Why" always ties to mission. |
| PRE-CHANGE | | | | DURING CHANGE |
| 1. PRAY. If you look at this first step as a "Yeah, | | | | 9. Accept the departures. Never go into a period of |
| yeah, we do that" and do not give credence to the | | | | change looking for a fight. At the same time, you |
| seriousness of sustained, intentional and fervent | | | | must understand that there will be some |
| prayer you need not read any further. Do this | | | | change-resistant older people who will not make the |
| change thing without prayer and I can assure you | | | | trip with you. Every pastor hates this thought. |
| the church will be upside down quickly. It is critical | | | | Change will be slowed dramatically if your entire |
| that you have the mind of the Lord before you take | | | | focus is on keeping everyone. You must be willing to |
| any steps in moving your church to a point of | | | | lose people in changing the church to reach lost |
| change. This time of prayer is not an extended | | | | people. If you are unwilling to lose those resistant to |
| devotional time nor is it a weekend away. It is | | | | the changes you received from God during your |
| long-term prayer. If you sense that God is taking you | | | | extensive time in prayer, then you need to go back |
| a direction reaching a new generation you must do all | | | | to prayer and start the process over again. |
| you can to be assured in your heart that it is in fact | | | | Departures will occur. Be kind and loving when they |
| God, not just the latest and greatest new thing in | | | | occur but stay the course. |
| how to grow a church. Then do all you can to | | | | 10. Do not capitulate. Everything within you will want |
| communicate this to everyone, specifically your older | | | | to capitulate on one level or another to a |
| people. | | | | change-resistant demand. Do not allow this to happen. |
| 2. Prepare. Once you have the clear sense that God | | | | Once you are clear on direction, do not give way to |
| is moving you into and through an era of change in | | | | those who would seek to distract the direction God |
| the church you must prepare to be successful in this | | | | gave you. This does not mean you have to be a |
| venture. It's all in the preparation. Think through as | | | | dictator. It does mean that leadership demands a |
| many eventualities as possible. Do all you can to | | | | confidence in direction and you must possess that. |
| involve at appropriate levels those older people who | | | | When the change-resistant folks want you to |
| can be helpful and influential in the change. In that | | | | compromise you should do two things: be kind and |
| preparation, however, you must direct its course. | | | | be confident in your direction. Remember your |
| You should not prepare for change by group | | | | mission. Capitulation devalues mission. |
| consensus. Preparation does not mean you have an | | | | 11. Stay the course. This process will never take only |
| inflexible plan. Rather it is quite the opposite, meaning | | | | weeks. It will take months and years to fully |
| you think through all possibilities. | | | | implement. You made a choice during your intense |
| 3. Talk to the influencers. Whenever possible, well | | | | time of prayer at the beginning. You decided that the |
| before the season of change is set in motion, do all | | | | pain of not reaching those far from God was greater |
| you can to develop relational capital with the | | | | than the pain of being at odds with vocal, |
| influencers in your older population. Help those | | | | tithe-paying, change-resistant older people. With that |
| influencers tune into the mission of the church, to | | | | noted, you must be faithful to His call on your life to |
| reach those who do not know the Lord. Help them | | | | lead your church. Make the changes necessary. Be |
| learn that the church is not about those inside the | | | | faithful. Stay the course. |
| four walls, rather those outside. Do all you can to | | | | At the end of the day you will stand before God and |
| merit their trust. Talk to them about that which | | | | give account for what you did at the church where |
| matters to God, people who are far from Him. Help | | | | you were assigned. As noble are the causes of |
| them understand that the people most likely to make | | | | appreciating heritage, honoring our elders and learning |
| a life-transforming decision to accept Jesus are the | | | | from history, so much more is the cause of |
| folks under age 40 and even more so under age 25. | | | | presenting Jesus to those who do not know him. |
| Talk to them about some of their grandchildren who, | | | | Whether the older people were able to keep |
| sadly, many of them have strayed from the faith or | | | | whatever events or schedules they had enjoyed for |
| never had a real encounter with Him. What would | | | | the previous years or keep their dress code and |
| attract their grandchildren? Is it grandpa's suite and | | | | music will not matter. Whether unchurched John or |
| tie and hymns? | | | | Mary from down the block have a life-changing |
| 4. Clarify the church's mission. Many in the American | | | | encounter with the living God will matter. |
| church have lost sight of our Matthew 28:19 and | | | | Pray, prepare and talk to influencers in your older |
| Luke 19:10 reason for being. Without that | | | | population. Be clear on your mission to reach the lost. |
| understanding there really is no reason for change. | | | | Count the financial and emotional cost. Blend both |
| Many churches' activities point to a mission that is | | | | young and old in ministry areas. Accept departures of |
| nice but is nowhere near our mandate from Jesus. In | | | | long-time members. Do not capitulate and certainly |
| most cases churches are comfortable and most | | | | stay the course. When you do, the great church you |
| people including older people enjoy comfort. Our | | | | are privileged to serve will grow. You must |
| mission is not comfort. You should teach and preach | | | | acknowledge Jesus' desire to seek and to save what |
| on mission well ahead of any major change to reach | | | | was lost and His command to go and make disciples |
| more people with the Gospel. Then while in the midst | | | | of all nations. His mandate is clear. Our change to |
| of change continue the same. | | | | allow that to happen should be just as clear along |
| 5. Count the financial cost. Once change begins you | | | | with the spiritual resolve to see it through. |