REVIEW
CATCH THE AGE WAVE
Charles Arn

Sarah J. Blake

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Sarah Blake is a licensed minister with the Church of God (Anderson, IN). She is available to provide biblical teaching, ministry seminars, or music ministry for your church. Hear samples from some of her presentations and contact her for booking information.

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Catch the Age Wave is a book that should be on every pastor's bookshelf. The authors pose the question in the preface: "The age wave is coming. Will your church be ready for it?" In a handful of brief but extremely informative chapters, they explore the demographics of the age wave and provide practical guidance for nurturing a vibrant senior adult ministry. Questions answered include: "Who are senior citizens?" "What is a Christian view of aging?" and "What is an effective way to minister to seniors?"

Information from demographic studies is included in charts and graphs. Some personal experiences are also included to assist readers in understanding the perspectives of senior adults. Case studies of effective senior adult ministries are included in later chapters.

The authors conclude that seniors are able to provide valuable service to the church and desire to do so. However, they also conclude that the church's attitudes and practices concerning senior adult ministry encourage "rocking chair theology" which keeps seniors from participating actively. These attitudes and practices, they conclude, are based on secular ideas about retirement.

Early chapters present demographic information about the baby boomer generation and the changes in life expectancy which have occurred since the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935, which set the retirement age at 65. People are living longer and healthier lives than they did in the past; and a healthy view of aging is needed for effective ministry. An entire chapter is devoted to discussion of ways to develop a Christian view of aging.

The authors point out that seniors are not a homogeneous group but have diverse interests and needs. One recommended strategy for nurturing their involvement in the church is to establish lifestyle groups or other small groups which are based on interests or special needs rather than age. Some practical guidance is included for accomplishing this.

This book is not about entertaining seniors who are enjoying their leisure time following long lives of hard work. It is about enabling seniors to continue to work and participate as fully as possible following retirement from a paid vocation. The authors point out that seniors contribute the most volunteer hours out of any population and that many of those hours are contributed to church work. Since seniors sometimes feel that their contributions are unwanted (ageism) and struggle with loneliness, it is important that any senior adult ministry find ways to connect this group with the church at large. In fact, many seniors find their way into the church because they need a place to do something or build relationships.

If evangelists take this book seriously, there is potential for many people to enter the kingdom of God during their final days who might otherwise never hear the good news. There is also tremendous potential for the church to benefit from the gifts and talents of a number of very willing servants who can call younger members to spiritual maturity. Failing to take the book seriously would result in the loss of opportunities for individuals as well as for the church.

Arn, Charles and Win Arn. Catch the Age Wave. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1999.
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Sarah J. Blake is an experienced teacher of adult Sunday school as well as children ages birth to 5. She graduated with a M.Div. and professional distinction in Hebrew from Anderson University School of Theology in August, 2009. She has served as a Greek tutor at AU since July, 2009. She currently serves as a worship team vocalist at Park Place Church of God in Anderson, IN, and moderates online discussion groups for pastors and for families of people with disabilities. She has written numerous articles about health topics, disability issues, and inspirational and devotional topics. To see more of her work, visit her writing portfolio.

This document is copyright 2010 by Sarah J. Blake. For permission to reprint, please email Sarah at sarah@growingstrong.org.

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