There is Silver In Those Hills
In every generation the Church has arisen to the opportunities to affect generations. Each time business men and women have partnered with the Church to enable it to accomplish the task at hand.
Living Water Communities exists for that very purpose. There is a wave, to be exact an “age wave” breaking upon America that is going to cause a tremendous shift with unprecedented opportunities for the Church. Opportunities that Living Water Communities and its Joint Partners have spent more than 30 years
preparing for.
Many believe that this shift within our society, the “Age Wave” will impact us just as the dawning of the industrial age or the invention of the microchip.
In October of 1998 a media event took place that lends to illustrate what is happening before our eyes.
The space shuttle Discovery launched on October 28, 1998 with a seven-member crew. One of them, John Glenn, was 77 years old. John Glenn wasn’t new to space 36 years prior, at the age of 36 he became the first American to orbit the Earth.
To give a perspective, the last time John Glenn blasted into space, the towering political figures were Khrushchev, the Leader of Russia and John F. Kennedy, President of the United States. The medium-priced home in America was a whopping $17,000 and the minimum wage was only $1.17. And now, at the age of 77, John Glenn is going to be the oldest man in the history of the World to go into space!
What makes this even more amazing is that Time Magazine released an article at the same time entitled:
“This is no country for old men.”
This was a turning point in the face of media. America was on the verge of becoming just that, a nation of “old men” known as The Baby Boomer Generation!
Who Are the Baby Boomers?
Baby boomers are generally defined as people born between the years of 1946 and 1964, beginning at the end World War II. Following the war, there was a large “boom” of babies as soldiers returned home. As the boomer generation aged, they fought for civil rights, gender equality and saw the world change as a result. Now, the boomer generation is growing up and looks different than any generation before.
- The boomer generation is highly educated. In 1965, only 5% of people over the age of 65 held a Bachelor’s degree. By 2014, this number has risen to 25%.
- They are living longer.
- And they are wealthier than previous generations.
But there is more:
- The senior-citizen population is growing three times faster than the rest of the American population.
- U.S. citizens over age 65 outnumber the entire population of Canada.
Of all those who have lived to age 65—in the history of the world—two-thirds are alive today.
Each day 10,000 are turning age 65 in America
What Does It All Mean?
- By 2030 all baby boomers will be older than 65 years of age.
- And in 10 years, older people are projected to outnumber children for the first time in the history of the United States.
- In fact, by 2035, there will be 78.0 million people 65 years and older compared to 76.7 million under the age of 18.
- BABY BOOMERS CONTROL 70% OF THE DISPOSABLE WEALTH IN AMERICA
- You may be asking about this time, “What is going to be the affect of all of this and what is the opportunity at hand?”
Most churches in America are following a course that will miss one of the greatest social changes—and greatest opportunities—in American history to impact the largest segment of America: the coming age wave. Like beach residents who are unaware of the approaching tsunami, many congregations seem to assume the future of the church is only in its youth. When the reality is that there is Silver in those hills.
Of course, most churches have a senior adult class, a monthly potluck, or field trip for older adults. Such approaches, however, are woefully inadequate for the task of reaching and ministering to the rapidly growing community of persons over 50.
And while the Church has been extremely affective ministering to families, building Child Care Facilities, Schools, and redesigning their facilities to attract and impact Generation X, Y and Z. Over the past 20 years only a handful of Churches have considered looking at the Senior Generation and expanding their ministry to include Senior Communities where these active, forward thinking, energetic, health conscience Seniors could find new meaning for their lives as well as utilize their wealth of knowledge and finances to train and empower the younger generations.
To my knowledge there is no other company offering what Living Water Communities is offering to the Church. We work specifically with Faith Based Organizations and deliver turn-key project development and construction as well as implement our own, in-house Property Management/Operator. We provide a complete solution from market and feasibility analysis, planning and design, both construction and financing through to total day to day operations.
Planned Community
Selected qualified church partners will have an opportunity to share and grow their senior ministry programs with residents, resident’s families and their community.
Revenue is generated through industry standard fees from the senior housing project. Church partners share in project revenues and have equity ownership in the projects. There is no capital campaign or involvement on the part of the Church enabling the local Church to never divert from their current ministries or projects.
Living Water Communities and its Joint Partners have negotiated the Capital to build, the teams to Operate day to day business, the relationships to tap into communities to raise and train volunteers, working with Vocational Institutions and Colleges to meet the professional needs, developing and the integration of technology for Smart Living and Smart Health. And we are ready to step alongside Congregations across America.
I am certain that you have questions and I would be glad to set up a time where we can speak, and I can answer your questions.
Take a step forward, be proactive to lead and set the example within your community. God has placed you strategically within your community and we want to empower you to impact your City at the perfect time as the Age Wave is building.
Alan Kelso
CEO – Living Water Communities
www.LivingWaterCommunities.com
(904) 377-0494