With all the fuss I've heard lately about trying to reach Millennials, Gen Z, etc, I was thinking about how we might reach the Baby Boomers in our communities with the same philosophy of ministry that we use to reach Millennials. (And of course, pardon the verbal irony.)
(1) Sing old songs of the church. Everyone knows the new ones are watered-down anyway. Since they are an aging generation, make sure you sing aged songs. The worst thing you can do is make them uncomfortable by singing newer songs. Who likes to sing songs they are unfamiliar with? Or you could take a cue from Sonseed's great worship band.
(2) Flannel boards and chalk boards are a must. The church is seeing the Boomer generation continue to decline in attendance and participation. The message never changes, but the method has. If it worked for the Boomers before, why did we stop? Did we get tired of winning the Baby Boomer generation? I say: "Bring back flannel boards and hymnbooks." (Digital is overrated.) Why not have "leisure suit Sunday?"
(3) Refer often to Boomer cultural moments. Feel free to question the Apollo moon landing as a Hollywood stunt. Make arguments against the Vietnam war for the hippies you might be trying to reach. Revisit the civil rights arguments (on either side depending upon your Boomers). Make frequent references to the Lawrence Welk show.
(4) Give them positions of leadership & power. Want them in the church? Give them something to do. Stop letting the young people have all the leadership positions. Want Boomers back? Give them some power. After all, most church income comes from this age bracket.
(5) Preach hard... about the sins of others. Boomers will support you taking a stand against those who sin in different ways than they do. Just do not step on their toes. Check out every survey that comes out about what they care most about morally and preach on it!
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(6) While the craze for Millennials might be Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and other social media; Boomers like advancements like the use of telephones and cassette tape players. There is no MP3 player or Spotify play list that beats watching the two little wheels of a cassette tape turn! Heard of an 8-track? Put your sermons on cassette tape to draw them in to listen again.
(7) Have the Pastor dress in bell bottoms, a Leisure suit, and/or have long side burns/ afro. Nothing says you are welcome to a Boomer than their era fashion styles being show-cased by the Pastor. (Nothing alienates a Boomer more than a pastor wearing current fashions.)
(8) Integrate 50's, 60's, and 70's cultural fads into your ministry slogans. For example: "Make Christlike love not, war." "Jam with the church serving Daddy-O since 33AD." "The Old Man wants to make you Righteous!!" "Off the Hook in more ways than one!" Also throw in terms like groovy, bummer, split, mellow, and gnarly to season your sermon and make it relevant to the Boomers you are trying to reach.
(9) Steer clear of denominational affiliation. Boomers have been anti-establishment since Kennedy was assassinated and Armstrong landed on the moon. The quickest way to scare them away from finding a home in your church is to find out you are actually part of a denomination. Hide this fact at all costs.
(10) Most Baby Boomers are quickly approaching that scary time of their life called 'retirement.' Preach often and with emphasis on tithing as a means of retirement. We do believe God provides for us. Make many references to a tithing person as a fulfilled person.
So, it is your choice. Will you choose to loose the Baby Boomers?
Coming soon: How your church can reach Generation Z.
Note: Please keep in mind that orienting the church around the perceived preferences of any generation seems a bit ridiculous. Navigating cultural shifts and changes across time is difficult. It takes wisdom and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
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