Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for All Generations (TCP Leadership Series) Paperback – November 1, 2007

Rockland Community Church (Front Royal, VA) is a relatively small (about 60-70 people) interdenominational church that was founded 60 years ago through the merger of neighboring Baptist and Methodist Churches. Our congregation is composed of people largely over 60. I became the pastor almost two years ago. At 38, I am the youngest adult who regularly attends our church.We began to work through RP<40WKP>60 a couple of months ago. Our Deacons and I are going through it chapter by chapter at our monthly meetings (which is a bit too slow of a pace, I think, to create much momentum). I am also leading a small study group (4-5 of us) who are going through it a chapter each week (this is about the right pace).So far, I think it is having a positive impact. So much of what we read (at least the parts that describe the >60 crowd and the dynamics of older congregations) really resonates with who we are as a church. The insights into the <40 crowd have helped to substantiate what I've been trying to communicate for the last two years.I also shared some information about church life-cycles (google "bullard" and "church life cycle") that really helped paint the picture of where we're at and where we will soon end up if we don't become proactive. We are still in the early stages of this journey, but I'm hopeful that we will have the strength and the courage to begin to make changes that help us reach people under 40 while at the same time keeping people over 60.Just this last Sunday, I read a couple of paragraphs to the congregation in order to explain why we are beginning to introduce some "newer" (I'm intentionally avoiding the label "contemporary") music (using recorded music). The paragraphs I read (beginning on p. 52 and ending on p. 53) included the statement, "The builders of the church, those over sixty are being called to become missionaries to a younger generation. They need to learn to speak this other 'culture's' language, develop relationship bridges, and discover ways to communicate the truth about our awesome God to the next generation."As we seek to live out the Great Commission, I hope that we will come to see ourselves as "missionaries to a younger generation" -- for their sakes and for ours ... and, most importantly, for the sake of the kingdom.[...]

Can you think of a question about the future vitality of existing congregations that is asked more often than "how can we reach people under 40 while keeping people over 60?" I can't! And neither could primary author Eddie Hammett when an over 60 woman first posed this question to him.As a constant observer and encourage of congregations, Eddie determined he ought to write a book on this subject. He teamed up with a friend--Randy Pierce--who had been a spiritual traveler for many years, and represented the under 40 crowd. Randy, now a practicing Christian, is able in this book to recount the perspective of under 40 persons who are searching for a church experiences that speaks to their needs.The approach taken by this book is not a big bang approach where congregations get whiplash in the middle of making changes needed to attract people under 40. It is a coaching and learning approach where congregations develop the capacity to do and/both--reach the under 40 crowd while simultaneously affirming the the 60 plus stakeholders. It is a win-win approach that seeks to carry everyone forward into God's future.Along the way various approaches are suggested in dealing with the existing tension in congregations before they start this journey, and the additional tension likely to arise as congregation focus on the under 40 and over 60 folks.This is also a very personal story for Eddie, as he recounts in his book. He talks about how the "ah hah's!" needed by the over 60 stakeholders was experienced in his home church that led them to embrace changes that would attract the under 40 crowd.Throughout the book are helpful coaching questions that can be used for dialogue sessions in congregations. Also, do not miss the coaching interview between Eddie and Randy at the end of the book.Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60 is one of several resources that speak to the transformation journey of congregations. Others to consult are: Pursuing the Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation (TCP Leadership Series)   Recreating the Church: Leadership for the Postmodern Age (TCP Leadership Series)   Renew Your Congregation: Healing the Sick, Raising the Dead (TCP Leadership Series)

The author covers a diverse landscape of why churches must reach out to multiple generations. The insights provided give encouragement to those seeking to engage all age groups in their church. No one group should receive all the ministry resources. Planning for a church that has the capacity to meet needs of growing Christians is the goal of this book. I appreciated the detail of pointing out pitfalls and more suggestions on how to proceed. A must read for pastors seeking to reclaim lost ground.

The authors do a fantastic job of covering all of the bases for churches who are struggling to respond to the changes of the 21 century without saying goodby to their senior members. I found it informative in documenting what was and what needs to be. It is succinct and bold as it speaks into the present realities of Evangelical Christianity. Most sections have coaching questions at the end to further challenge the reader and as an aid to a group discussion. While there are many books on the market addressing the issue of cultural change and the church, this is the one to read, if you only have time to read one.

I think the author did quite well on the book overall. The information he provided was solid and the piece was written well overall.The most important thing this contributes is the fact that we do NEED to keep both the over 60 group and the under 40 group. As a pastor, I am unsettled by the fact that both these groups often cannot get along and see eye to eye. For example my observations have been that they are more than willing to turn their backs on one another and walk away. This is why I have primarily given it a 3 star marks. The highest value of the book, in my opinion, is its premise that keeping both the old and the young together is desirable and good.I can thoroughly recommend this book!