Is your church ready for the Baby Boomer Boomerang? A newly released study has found that 1 in 5 Baby Boomers are turning to religion in their old age. That 20% represents approximately 19 million boomers. I am calling this trend the Baby Boom Boomerang.
Why are they returning to religious and church activities? The study, the Longitudinal Study of Generations, provided three key reasons:
- Time. Simply stated boomers have extra time on their hands as they enter retirement. They desire to spend that time in a meaningful way and thus their interest in church.
- Brevity of life. Boomers realize they are in the fourth quarter of their lives. Now is a time to think about eternity and preparing for that inevitability.
- Fragility of life. Boomers are not as young as they once were, and this fragility is causing them to explore ways to make what time they have left count.
The return of Baby Boomers has huge implications for the Church! In the last few years we have put a lot of focus upon keeping and getting back younger generations. You can find a ton of material on Millennials for instance. We have essentially ignored Baby Boomers taking for granted this key generational group. This study should wake us up to the reality that boomers still have a lot to contribute.
Let me share with you three key results of the Baby Boomer boomerang…
- Increased attendance. We have been in a gradual but continual decline in church attendance since the 1960’s. Having 19 million potential new attendees could make a significant difference in your attendance numbers. A wise church should be creating plans that will attract this key demographic group.
As The Stewardship Coach let me tell you why increased attendance is important for you. It means…
- Increased offerings. You can put up a chart showing the decline in giving and the decline in church attendance and they look almost identical. Simply put, the more people in your pews or chairs the more money you will pull into the offering plate. While that might seem crass or unspiritual to you, if you are fully funded you can’t do the missions and ministry you feel God has called you to. Finally, boomers coming back to your church means…
- Increased volunteer base. What church doesn’t need more help? Think of all the skills and talents the typical boomer has that could be harnessed for your church. If we are smart, we will tap into this base resulting in increased missions and ministry opportunities.
Don’t count out Baby Boomers just yet! Understanding them and connecting with them will be crucial to your success.
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach