Scanning the church-related news today reveals some interesting ideas about evangelism for two groups in particular. First, at least one denomination, the Church of the Nazarene, is addressing the senior adult population boom with a Prime Time Summit on evangelism for older adults.
According to a NCN News release, Derl Keefer, coordinator of Prime Time Ministries, and Brian Allen, vice-president of church relations at Olivet Nazarene University (ONU), are partnering to present the national summit, Saturday, June 3, in ONU's Larsen Center, near Chicago.
Lyle Pointer, professor of evangelism at Nazarene Theological Seminary, will be the keynote speaker. Pointer will also present a seminar on the effective methods of sharing the gospel with senior adults. Other seminar presenters include Paula Pointer, Becky Parks, and Charles Bledsoe.
Currently, more prime time adults live in North America than children. U.S. Census Bureau projections anticipate a tremendous increase in the number of people aged 65 and older in the next few years. Predictions for the next 25 years anticipate there will be more prime time adults than the children and teen population combined.
Studies show that the aging "boomer" generation is a fertile field for addressing spiritual issues. Evangelizing people in this age group must become a matter of mission to every Church of the Nazarene. The Prime Time Summit aspires to equip participants with practical tools for reaching and evangelizing this crucial segment of the North American population.
For more information about this educational and training event, contact the Prime Time office at 816-333-7000 x2362 or E-mail primetimeministries@nazarene.org.
--Prime Time Office, Nazarene Headquarters
Another large evangelism target for churches is men. Paul Coughlin, author of "No More Christian Nice Guy," cites Promise Keepers and fellow author David Murrow, who wrote "Why Men Hate Going to Church," for keeping the issue of men absent from church in the forefront for Christian ministries.
He faults churches for 10 mistakes they make that lead to a drop in the testosterone level in church participation:
- Church teachings about innocence that rob men of power;
- Preaching only from nice Scriptures;
- Upholding the unemotional man as the ideal;
- Churches that promote an unhealthy amount of sacrifice in marriages;
- Promoting only a gentle Jesus;
- Viewing men as a problem and women as more spiritual;
- Failing to support the idea of male sexual needs;
- Stifling boldness in the name of Christian witness;
- Sunday Schools that create nice, passive kids rather than good ones; and
- Sentimental worship music.
See more of Coughlin's ideas at Crosswalk.com.
Is your church targeting men? Seniors? Other groups? Blog here.
