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 of Christian community With the explosion of the older adult population, this important book explores the opportunities and challenges that this presents for the Christian community. Amy Hanson challenges us to let go of many old stereotypes regarding aging and embrace a new paradigm that sees older adults as active, healthy and capable of making significant contributions. Debunks the myths of aging that keep us from fully embracing the potential of people in life's second half Offers suggestions on how to re-invent ministry with older adults Focuses on unleashing older adults to serve and make an impact on churches and congregations A volume in the Leadership Network series The author shows church leaders how they can unleash the power of the baby boomer population to strengthen their congregations.