Here Come the Boomers … continued

Last month I cited several statistics from the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study as evidence of the “sea of change” that is taking place in the United States as people like me, proud members of the baby boomer generation, grow older. This emerging wave of boomer older adults is causing much conversation about our nation’s ability to engage, care for and provide a safety net for the record numbers of older adults.

A high percentage of older adults is nothing new to most churches I visit during my travels for Wheat Ridge Ministries. Most of these people represent the “silent” and “GI” generations. What will our pews look like as these faithful and talented individuals are no longer in our pews? Will people of my generation remain active in worship and congregation leadership as they get older? And, just as important, will their children and grandchildren be active in the life of the church?

Two things are very evident from the recent NIH research. First, there is going to be a huge talent pool of skilled people who, as they retire or cut back on their employment, will have an increased amount of time to serve their community and their church. Second, since these increasing numbers of older adults will, on average, live longer than people of previous generations, the resources required to care for them during the later years of their life will increase significantly. 

Fortunately, our churches and communities are not without significant assets as we attempt to come to grips with the burgeoning older adult population. Organizations and activities focused on older adults in the Lutheran Church are a great example of this. The organizations that are members of Lutheran Services in America provide services to 1 out of every 50 people in the United States each year. Many of these people are older adults and many of them are served by a large number of excellent independent living, assisted living, and nursing care facilities for older adults, such as Lutheran Life Communities and Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. Lutheran Social Service organizations across the country, including great organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the South, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, and Lutheran Social Services of New York are daily providing services for older adults.

I recently asked Rich Bimler, past president of Wheat Ridge, to share a list of some other organizations he knows that are focused on serving older adults. Rich is more aware of older adult activities and resources in the Lutheran church than anyone else I know. Here are just a few organizations from his list:

• Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA) – This is a national ministry focusing on older adults celebrating and serving.   
• Ignite your Life – This is a program sponsored by the Ammerman Center for Creative Aging.  Its focus is helping younger older adults through programs, resources and modeling.
• LCMS Rural and Small Town Ministries – Focus on rural ministries with an emphasis on older adults.
• LEA EncourAGEnet – Hosted by the Lutheran Education Association, this network provides encouragement for retired/repositioned church workers and laity.
• Rich and Charlie Resources – Provides “encouraging words to those who serve.”
• Creative Communications – They produce a great devotional resource for older adults called Hope-Full Living.
• Lutheran District and Synod Older Adult events – One example is the Veterans of the Cross Retreat for retired church workers, hosted by the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS each year.  
• Grant Makers – Wheat Ridge Ministries is one of a number of Lutheran-related grant makers who provide resources to assist older adult ministry efforts that are developed by congregations and other faith-based and community organizations.

At the base of all of these efforts (I hope) is the ministry with and for older adults that takes place every day through the life of individual churches. For many older adults, their church is their place of community, the place where they gather with people of all ages for worship, service and fellowship. Local churches are uniquely positioned to serve our increasing numbers of older adults through their own programs and by partnering with others in their community.

More on all this in the next edition of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, to whatever degree you have been chronologically gifted, celebrate God’s gift of life today!

Ready or Not, Here We Come!

As a proud member of the “baby boom” generation, I like to do what boomers do – pay attention to how boomers are influencing the world! I came upon a great example recently when a new research study crossed my desk commissioned by the National Institutes of Health (NIA) based on 2010 census bureau information. The report focuses on the effect that aging boomers are beginning to have in the United States. For example…

     • In 2010, there were 40.3 million people aged 65 and older, 12 times the number in 1900.
     • The percentage of the population aged 65 and over among the total population increased from 4.1% in 1900 to 13% in 2010 and is projected to reach 20.9% by 2050.
     • From 2010 onwards, the older dependency ratio — the number of people aged 65 and over per 100 people aged 20 to 64 — is expected to rise sharply as the baby boomers enter the older ages. In 2030, when all baby boomers will have already passed age 65, the older dependency ratio is expected to be 37, which translates into fewer than three people of working age (20 to 64) to support every older person.

The data in this last bullet especially caught my attention. While we boomers like to brag about the positive influence we’ve had in the world, by our shear presence we are creating some significant challenges for our children and grandchildren as we grow older. This challenge also is evident as one looks at health and health care data from the study:

 

     • Over 38% of those aged 65 and over had one or more disability in 2010, with the most common difficulties being walking, climbing stairs and doing errands alone.

     • Changing marital trends, such as the rise of divorces, as well as the increase in living alone among the 65-and-over population, will likely alter the social support needs of aging baby boomers.

     • Rates of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have declined among those 65 and older, but the percentage of overweight and obese people has increased. Between 2003 and 2006, 72% of older men and 67% of older women were overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with increased rates of diabetes, arthritis, and impaired mobility, and in some cases, with higher death rates.

     • Research based on NIA’s Health and Retirement Study suggests that the prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, increased among older people between 1998 and 2008. For example, in 2008, 41% of the older population had three or more chronic conditions, 51% had one or two, and only 8% had no chronic conditions.

     • The cost of long-term care varies by care setting. The average cost of a private room in a nursing home was $229 per day or $83,585 per year in 2010. Less than one-fifth of older people have the personal financial resources to live in a nursing home for more than three years and almost two-thirds cannot afford even one year. Medicare provides coverage in a skilled nursing facility to older and disabled patients for short time periods following hospitalization. Medicaid covers long-term care in certified facilities for qualifying low-income seniors. In 2006, Medicaid paid for 43 percent of long-term care.

 

All of this begs a question used often in Luther’s Small Catechism:  What does this mean? For those of us who are interested in the church’s role in a changing world, a variation of this question is: “What does this mean for the Christian church as it reaches out in Christ’s name with health and hope to people in need?” I’m pondering this and hope to share some thoughts in future installments of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, I’d welcome your comments, whether you are a fellow boomer or a person from another generation who has to put up with us boomers. Blessings!

Fathers and Families

Like other fathers across the United States, I enjoyed being honored by my family again this year on Father’s Day. While my cynical side likes to take jabs at “Hallmark holidays,” I admit that I look forward to the special attention of this day. This year, Father’s Day was especially great since it arrived just a couple weeks after the wedding of our daughter and I’m thrilled to be a father-in-law for the first time! I’m also blessed that my own father is still alive and doing well. I called him on Father’s Day at his home in North Carolina. He’s 91 years old and refuses to resort to hearing aids, so our conversation was brief (and loud!). Just long enough to get a health update and let him know that we love him.

Those of us who are blessed with the God-given privilege of being a father know that it’s an awesome gift and we also know that fatherhood carries with it awesome responsibilities. Fortunately, there are millions of wonderful, fathers who love, care for, and serve as positive role models for their children. I’m blessed to have such a father in my life. Unfortunately, though, there are also far too many dads who, for whatever reasons, have not been present in the lives of their children, have not been a significant caregiver or provider, or have behaved in ways that have had a damaging impact on their family’s wellness.

There are many varieties of family units these days. They all exist to provide love, care and support for adults and children of all ages. The family is the basic unit of caring community in every culture. And, for those of us who recognize God’s creative power, caring for family is our way of responding to and sharing the story of God’s love for us.

At Wheat Ridge Ministries, we are blessed to know and support leaders and organizations dedicated to helping families be and become healthy and whole, no matter what shape or makeup they take. Our website directory shares the wide variety of programs geared to families. It’s amazing to see the church at work through such a wide range of projects and initiatives.

Praise God for the gift of families and for those who help families be all that God created them to be!

Thanks John!

One of the great blessings of serving at Wheat Ridge Ministries is meeting and enjoying relationships with so many inspiring, interesting and unique people. Across the breadth of our constituency of project leaders, recipients of services provided by ministries we assist, donors who support our work, and colleagues from other organizations, there is an amazing variety of people who have many different stories to tell. I’ve met some real “characters” over the years. I’ve listened to and learned from some really wise and intelligent people. So many individuals who exemplify Christ-centered living have encouraged my faith-journey.

Someone who fits into all of these categories was my good friend, John Walz. John passed away recently. He was 76 years young when the Lord took him to heaven following a bout with cancer and subsequent medical challenges.

My predecessor, Rich Bimler, recruited John to the Wheat Ridge staff as Director of Finance not long after I joined the team as Vice President for Programs in the early 1990s. He served in this role until just a few years ago. 

John Walz (center), pictured here with wife, Donna,
and Dave Siebert at a President's Circle Retreat, 
was a great friend of Wheat Ridge Ministries and a
devoted churchman who will be greatly missed!  

John just couldn’t seem to get enough of being involved in the work of the church. Prior to coming to Wheat Ridge, he had a long history of involvement and leadership in the Walther League, a youth and young adult organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. He was also extremely involved in his home congregation. I recall John coming into the office on many occasions extremely excited about some new strategy or structural change that he felt was going to make the congregation more effective in its outreach. I also remember him expressing his frustration when many of these efforts didn’t pan out the way he had hoped. But the frustrations never led him to “throw in the towel.” He was always convinced that he could contribute to making his church more effective.

The same was true at Wheat Ridge Ministries. One of the things I respected the most about John was his ability to combine his expertise as a “numbers guy” and his ability to be comfortable in the messiness and imprecision that is often a part of ministry efforts. While many finance and accounting types seem most comfortable with black and white objectivity, John worked well with “shades of gray.” He did a great job of keeping those of us on the team who always wanted to pursue a new idea mindful of the financial realities and consequences of our activities, but his main objective was to see as many people as possible served by our ministry efforts and he recognized that this often involved more than having good numbers on a financial report.

Up until the time of his death, John remained committed to using his gifts and abilities to serve the Lord through organizations he loved. In addition to sharing their time and talent, he and his wife, Donna, have been generous supporters for the ministry of Wheat Ridge for many years and they have regularly attended our annual President’s Circle Retreat. John was also a great blessing to other ministries including Lutheran Life Communities, Lutheran Education Association, and Bright Stars of Bethlehem, serving on boards and committees and providing accounting services. As John’s pastor quipped during his sermon at John’s funeral, “John never met a meeting he didn’t like!” I will say, however, that I saw John on a many occasions find a way to blend his love for meetings with his need for a nap!

I am deeply grateful for John’s assistance and strong encouragement. He consistently expressed his support and confidence in me. He was always curious about what I was doing or thinking, and often his inquiries led us to engage in great conversations about the mission of the church. I always knew I could count on John if I needed his help.

Thanks, John, for your friendship, encouragement and example! I’m one of many, many people who thank God for the privilege of knowing you and working with you. We celebrate your life and we celebrate that you are now experiencing the joy of your heavenly home at the feet of Jesus!

Be Not Afraid

The women who went to Jesus’ tomb on the first Easter heard the words, “Be Not Afraid” twice that morning, according to the account in Matthew 28. These were the same words the shepherds who were “abiding in the fields by night” heard at the time of Jesus’ birth.

I’ve tried to imagine what it would have been like to see an angel or to see Jesus alive after observing His crucifixion. Be not afraid – are you kidding me?! How could these women and these shepherds not have been afraid? After all, God created us with survival mechanisms to protect us from harm. Fear is one of them. To not be afraid at a strange site, an unusual noise, or a life-threatening situation would be abnormal.

Recently, Wheat Ridge Ministries hosted a convening of church leaders in Chicago who are trying to address violence in their communities. Just a few days later, on Easter day, we were reminded once again of the reason their efforts are so important as nine children who were playing in a Chicago park were shot by a spray of gunfire. A carefree afternoon turned, without warning, into an experience of fear and terror. 

The message to “Be Not Afraid” in the Easter Sunday Gospel lesson caused me to think about the projects seeded around the world by Wheat Ridge Ministries. I guess it would be true that these new ministries are assisting people who are afraid. The ABAN project in Ghana helps young women who were homeless and living in fear in the streets of Accra. The Noah Project in South Carolina encourages the development of respite programs for caregivers who are afraid of the toll of aging on their frail elderly loved ones and who are afraid of the effects on their own health resulting from serving as a full-time caregiver. The Bridges to Hope program in Nebraska helps men who fear the challenges of re-entering society after years in prison.

Be not afraid! These words were spoken by Christ and His angels not just to the women at the tomb, or those facing special challenges, but to all of us. What a great opportunity we have to be Gospel messengers by reminding ourselves and others that these are not a reprimand for being afraid, but words of comfort and hope. They are a reminder of Christ’s presence even as we are afraid. They remind us that the sources of our fears pale in comparison to the fullness of God’s love for us in Christ. And, they remind us that because of Christ’s Easter victory we are headed for an eternal future without fear. The apostle Paul assured us that we can “be not afraid” in these beautiful words:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.   (Romans 8:38,39)

Christ is risen! Be not afraid! Alleluia!!

By the Time We Got to Phoenix …

I admit that my reasons for looking forward to a recent trip southwest on behalf of Wheat Ridge Ministries included the hope of relief from this year’s endless Chicago winter.  Phoenix, Arizona in March.  No snow.  No sub-zero temperatures.  Clean cars.  No potholes. No heavy coats.  Sunshine.  A parting blow as Deb and I made our way to O’Hare airport was yet another “snow event” that resulted in a two-hour flight delay.

Fortunately, once we arrived in Phoenix, it didn’t take long to remember the real purpose of our trip and experience the joys of this journey to the Grand Canyon State.  I was so pleased to be part of two great gatherings there - our Board of Directors meeting and our annual President’s Circle donor retreat.  Here are just a few “snapshots” from these meetings:

Kathy Anderson, Executive
Director of Survivors of
Torture International

• Getting to know Shahzad, an amazing young man from Pakistan, who is bringing the concept of parish nursing to his home country in spite of the many risks involved.  Shahzad’s story of faith and courage is amazing!
• Receiving a report from Susan Work, CEO of Holy Family Ministries in Chicago, that posted the first successful project on our new WeRaise crowdfunding platform for the “Peace Exchange” project, an innovative effort to teach and promote peace and end violence in urban neighborhoods.
• Touring the Christ Cares Clinic, an amazing new ministry developed by Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix that is already serving hundreds of uninsured and underinsured people.
• Learning about the important work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services to train volunteers who provide a caring presence for refugees who often must live in prison-like conditions in U.S. detention centers before they are allowed into our country.
• Getting updated on the important work of Survivors of Torture International, an organization in southern California that received seed funding from Wheat Ridge a number of years ago. They continue to share health and hope with people struggling to recover from the trauma of physical and emotional torture that resulted in being forced to flee their home country.
• Being inspired, challenged, and encouraged by excellent speakers and resource people who joined us for these meetings, including Paul Miles, VP for Development for the Make A Wish Foundation; Dr. Don Christian, Dean of the College of Business at Concordia University in Austin, Texas; and Dr. Rich Bimler, past President of Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Dr. Rich Bimler with
Jan and Dale Van Wulfen

During the retreat, Rich Bimler suggested to us that the letters ‘WRM’ not only stand for Wheat Ridge Ministries, but also for Where Relationships Matter.  These gatherings in Phoenix of our board and other key supporters of our mission are great examples of the immense blessing of significant relationships that are so much a part of our ministry.  It is wonderful to gather with such caring and generous people, to be honored by their friendship and support, to learn from them, and to be inspired by their spirit of generosity in response to the Good News of Jesus Christ.  This spirit of generosity was especially evident in the testimony that several of our President’s Circle participants provided as they shared with other attendees what motivates their generosity and why they continue to make our work a priority in their charitable giving.

Deb and I are back in Chicago.  It’s only snowed twice (so far) since we have returned!  In spite of the weather, we returned warmed by great relationships and the reminders of how people around the world continue to be moved by God’s Spirit to initiate and support new ministries of health and hope that are offered in the name of our healing Christ.

Blessings as you visit the empty tomb this Easter season to celebrate Christ’s ultimate act of healing!

Olympic Spirit

Perhaps you enjoyed watching the Winter Olympic Games like I did during the past couple of weeks. While I’m not a fan of all the sports featured (I wish I could warm up to curling), it is always impressive to see the level of skill and fitness that the athletes possess. And, it is inspiring to hear the stories of athletes whose extreme commitment and sacrifice have helped them reach their goal of making the team.

Of course, possessing extreme skill, effort and dedication is not limited to athletes. I was reminded of this as I traveled during the weeks of the Olympic games and visited with leaders of some of our Lutheran social service agencies.

I was fortunate to participate with CEOs of many of these agencies at the annual retreat of Lutheran Services in America. While the Lutheran church is blessed with many, many talented leaders in its congregations, schools and church body offices, I’m confident that none surpass the talent pool of this great group of “Olympic-caliber” church leaders. Effectively operating a social service agency, large or small, is a complex business these days. The agencies these CEOs represent make a huge impact in the lives of thousands of people. Did you know that 1 in 50 Americans is touched directly by the services of an LSA organization each year?! These CEOs “bring it” everyday, providing leadership in organization and fiscal management, human relations, board governance, development and marketing, social enterprise, etc., etc. And they do so with a deep commitment to sharing the healing touch of Christ with people in need.  

On the heels of the CEO retreat, I had occasion to get a closer view of a couple of these leaders on their home turf during a trip to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. 

Building Hope in the City is a 10-year-old organization birthed out of Trinity Lutheran Church, a 150-year-old congregation near downtown Cleveland. This organization exists to strengthen urban ministry and mission in northeast Ohio and beyond, pursuing the mission of “restoring the city to God by developing and linking people, communities and churches.” Brian Upton is a gifted leader who has been at the heart of this ministry since its inception and recently was named executive director. 

The staff and volunteers of Building Hope in the City are passionate about acting on God’s call to welcome new refugees from around the world who come to Cleveland. They assist in the resettlement and help make others aware of the many gifts and assets these new arrivals bring to their community. During my visit with Brian, it was my privilege to present him with the initial grant check for a new initiative being seeded by Wheat Ridge Ministries. This new program will provide culturally-sensitive counseling for refugees who are coping with and trying to recover from the trauma of violence, abuse and rejection from their countries of origin. They will train and equip volunteers from the refugee community in basic counseling skills. I’m very pleased that Wheat Ridge can assist in the initial development of this important health and healing effort!

Just a few miles down the road from Building Hope in the City are more outstanding leaders! Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) was established in the 1960s by revered founding executive director Dick Sering. LMM has been serving the needs of the underserved in Cleveland in powerful ways ever since with a focus on housing and shelter, community re-entry and support for at-risk youth.

Under the leadership of current President and CEO Andrew Genzsler, LMM is developing some very exciting and impactful new social enterprise ventures, including a metal works shop and what they call “Central Kitchen.” The Central Kitchen program provides food service training for unemployed and underemployed people in Cleveland. Many of the graduates of the program are employed by LMM. They prepare and deliver meals using food provided by local food banks to feed those living local shelters, including the men’s shelter operated by LMM and others who are living on the streets. Talk about a win, win, win, win plan! A very talented young man, Brian Mauk, directs the social enterprise program at LMM. If you are in Cleveland, stop by and see this wonderful program for yourself!

Praise God for the talented leaders in our church agencies who, through their heroic efforts, serve people who are so often forgotten and underserved. They are not driven by the Olympic spirit, but rather by God’s spirit working in them. Most likely there is a Lutheran social service agency in your community or somewhere nearby. Stop by sometime – you’ll see gold medal quality ministry in action!