Understanding the Population Shift in Today’s Congregations

This article is part of The Third Third of Life Toolkit—a collection of resources for ministry to and with people ages 55 and over, brought to you by two ministries of the Christian Reformed Church in North America: Disability Concerns and Faith Formation Ministries.

For the past few decades, the church has placed a strong emphasis on ministering to teens and children. And these groups will always be important in the church! But it’s also vital for churches to understand what changing demographics tell us about the shape of today’s congregations.

Interesting facts about the populations in Canada and the United States are outlined in the links below.

• Canada: What the Canadian Census Tells Us about the Aging Population in Canada

• United States: The Growth of the U.S. Aging Population

FOR THOUGHT OR DISCUSSION

• What percentage of your congregation is in the third third of life?

• How have you adapted your ministry to meet the needs of this growing demographic?

QUESTIONS?

If you’re part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America and you have questions about how to strengthen your church’s ministry to and with people in the third third of life, one of Faith Formation Ministries’ Regional Catalyzers would love to talk with you about ideas and strategies.