THE AUTHOR
Amy Hanson, Ph.D., is a speaker, teacher, writer, and consultant who is passionate about motivating church leaders to engage older adults in significant Kingdom work. By the age of twenty-three, she led the active adult (fifty plus) ministries at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Today she unites her doctorate in gerontology and her ministry experience to educate and equip pastors, denominational leaders, students, health care professionals, and older adults on the unique opportunities of an aging America.
To learn more visit amyhanson.org.

About Leadership Network vii
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Reinventing Ministry with Older Adults xi
Part One: Ready for More: The New Old 1
1. A Wake-Up Call for the Church: A Reality We Can't Ignore 3
2. Not What You Thought: New Ways to Think About Aging 19
Part Two: The Boomer-and-Beyond World 35
3. Aging Well 37
4. Relationships and Responsibilities 51
5. Retirement: What It Is and What It Is Becoming 73
Part Three: Harnessing the Potential: Implications for the Church 97
6. Letting Go of the "One Size Fits All" Mentality 99
7. Serving: The Linchpin of a Successful Ministry 123
8. Matters of Faith: Spiritual Growth for the Boomer 145
9. Melding the Generations 167
Conclusion: An Uncharted Opportunity 187
Notes 191
About the Author 199

How ministry leaders can help older adults be a vital part ofChristian community
With the explosion of the older adult population, this importantbook explores the opportunities and challenges that this presentsfor the Christian community. Amy Hanson challenges us to let go ofmany old stereotypes regarding aging and embrace a new paradigmthat sees older adults as active, healthy and capable of makingsignificant contributions.
* Debunks the myths of aging that keep us from fully embracingthe potential of people in life's second half
* Offers suggestions on how to re-invent ministry with olderadults
* Focuses on unleashing older adults to serve and make an impacton churches and congregations
* A volume in the Leadership Network series
The author shows church leaders how they can unleash the powerof the baby boomer population to strengthen theircongregations.