Freedom and a sense of purpose is the prevailing theme of the retired
Baby Boomers. They do not wish to answer to anyone yet they do not want the
rest of their life to waste away. They want to make a difference in the
world. The worldview of the Builders and that of our culture as a whole has
prepared a prevalent ideal of retirement that is not what Boomers believe is
sufficient for healthy adults. They do not want to be belittled, and they
want to be treated like they have something to offer society.
The biggest barrier to
discipleship and evangelism is the Baby Boomer’s lack of commitment. Most
Baby Boomers do not want to be on some committee that lacks purpose and
requires commitment while answering to another person. William Easum
suggests relinquishing standing committees and establishing ministry teams.
(Easum, pg.61) The nominating committee would establish chairpersons and
that person creates a team for a specific task. These teams have specific
goals and appeal to a Baby Boomers’ compassion and purpose. "These folks
love going to a homeless shelter to prepare and serve a meal. They do not
like to
sit in meetings to plan a ministry to homeless people." (Easum, pg. 60)
Baby Boomers are not afraid of
doing. That is evident in their working lives. As this group retires and
enters into their Second Life, let us remember that they are probably some
of the most efficient and credible resources our culture has. Let us make
use of their drive for purpose and their task-oriented nature and go out to
win the world for Christ.