Training Ground ...

with Thom Rainer

Reaching Baby Boomers

When I see the number 2011, I think of some distant future. But 2011 is less than five years away, and significant demographic trends are taking place. These trends are profound, but I fear that the American Church is not even aware of the changing landscape.

Nearly one-third of all Americans living today were born between 1946 and 1964. This baby boomer generation has repeatedly shaped much of American life, including church life.

Concurrent with the aging of the baby boomers is a longevity boom. In 1900, life expectancy was 47 years. By 2011, the life expectancy of adults will approach 80 years. A huge and long-living older generation will be residing in our communities. How will the Church respond?

In just five short years, the oldest boomer will be 65 years old, and the midpoint boomer will be 56. These are not your typical mature adults, and churches that respond as they always have will miss a great evangelistic opportunity.

Most cutting-edge ministries in the church for the past 40 years have been aimed at reaching the younger generations. Indeed, churches should continue to reach young people with the Gospel. But few churches have given much thought or resources to reaching older generations. And if something does not change in our churches, this age wave will pass by with millions never responding to the Gospel.    

What is your church doing to prepare to catch the age wave? The answer to that question may very well impact the eternity of millions of aging boomer Americans.

-Outreach magazine, "Web Exclusives," November/December 2007

©2007 Outreach Publishing. All rights Reserved. Usage and reprint permissions.