New Publication

Earlier today I posted on the ABMA.us site a bibliography of books that I have read related to aging, retirement, and Boomers. I did not attempt to list web sites or periodicals. I do want to alert you to a wonderful publication from the Dushkin division of McGraw-Hill entitled Aging. It is a compilation of articles related to aging. These are published annually and a new edition for 2008/9 was published in March. Why they publish for 2009 in March of 08 I do not know. It is very much worth the money.

Go to http://www.dushkin.com/text-data/catalog/0073397601.mhtml to view information about this edition and for the phone number to order. Past editions can be ordered from Amazon.com.

(Sorry I could not make the address a hyperlink. I am certain there is a way but I am still learning.)

What I am reading

If you are like me, I am always looking for books to read. I do have some favorite authors like Dean Koontz and will read anything he writes but here I am not talking about leisure reading. I am talking about the kind of reading that will improve ministry. I devour a Koontz novel over night but these books I have to work my way through. Generally I am reading two or three at the same time. So, what am I reading:

• The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins - Dr. Collins headed the Human Genome Project and as a result of his work he moved from being an agnostic to being a believer.

• What's So Great About Christianity by Dinesh D'Souza - Mr. D'Souza gives a well researched and referenced apologetic to attacks against the Christian faith. It is almost too much to comprehend in one reading to keep it hand as a reference.

• Generation Ageless: How Baby Boomers are Changing the Way We Live Today...And They're Just Getting Started by J. Walker Smith and Ann Clurman - I am just starting this book. It was reviewed at our ABMA meeting in Oklahoma City and seemed interesting.

• Marketing to Leading-Edge Baby Boomers: Perceptions, Principles, Practices, Predictions by Brent Green - When I bought Generation Ageless Amazon.com also directed me to this book. While I don't like to think of the ministry of the church as "marketing" There is much that we can and should learn from this business discipline. I have just started this book also so if it is a dud, I'll let you know.

What about you? What are you reading? With so many books out there, it is difficult to know which ones are worth the time and money. Many of us have a developed Bibliographies that are extensive. If you have one, share it. On the ABMA web site's Resource page (http://abma.us/resources.html) I am going to post a Bibliography. Send me additional titles and I add them to the list.

Boomer Volunteers

I was panelist on a panel which was discussing Boomers. One of the ladies on the panel was bemoaning the fact that she could not get Boomers to volunteer in her ministry. Her take on us was that we were lazy and spoiled and would not volunteer.

I explained with some level of emotion that current research showed that Boomers were more than willling to volunteer and that if it were a cause in which we believed, we would give not only our time but also our dollars.

The difference, I explained, is that we will not support ministries in which we did not believe or have a vested interest. The organizations of our parents may be good but we are probably not going to join or support them.

I try to encourage people who come to me asking for a role in the church to do three things.

1. I give them a booklet showing all the ministries in which our church members are involved and ask them to look through it and see if there is an established ministry they feel called to support.
2. I ask them to pray, asking God to direct them to the ministry God has for them.
3. I ask them to dream about what they would like to do under God's leadership, even if it seems a little "off the wall."
   

Often a person will find a role in one of our established ministries, but sometimes God uses the booklet and prayer to plant a seed for a brand new ministry. When that happens, I try to find a way to Baptize it and add it to the book.

Welcome to the Boomer Blog

This is the beginning of a blog related to Boomers and how they (we) fit into the modern Christian Church. I am a Baptist and minister with the First Baptist Church of Augusta. I am a past president of ABMA and continue to work with their communications and web site.

My greatest concern is that churches begin to recognize the extensive resource they have in their members who are Boomers (born 1946 - 1964). My fear is that churches will not know how to integrate the energy and ideas of Boomers into thier ministry. This site is a place where we can discuss those issues and share ideas.

I earned my doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a special focus on Aging and retirement so one can say I am an expert but so far I am too close to home. In reality I am a fellow searcher so let's walk together in this forum.