Working the Gray Zone : A Call for Proactive Ministry by and with Older Adults

While interest in the subject has exploded, there is yet a dearth of practical and Biblical resource material available for people ministering to our fastest growing population demographic, those men and women aged fifty or older.

A message of hope and a sometimes disquieting challenge of secular and religious stereotypes, Working the Gray Zone discusses the role of older adults in God's scheme of things.

Throughout the ages, God has selected a gray-haired battalion, armed with His inspired and unique calling, a purpose that He has nurtured over a lifetime to impact every new generation with the continuing hope of Christ's sovereignty and peace. Charles G. Oakes reveals to older adults a proactive pursuit of productive and meaningful ministry in both religious and secular settings. He answers questions of how the church should minister to the elderly and how older adults can and should minister to others--in, to, and out of the church. He describes exciting older adult ministries and prescribes innovative and surprising ways to remove barriers to fulfilling purposes.

Charles. G. Oakes has a background in behavioral science and gerontology and has been studying and developing biblical applications for laypeople and the church for more than fifty years. He received the Ph.D. from both the graduate and medical schools of Emory University (Atlanta, GA), and has also done graduate study at University of California-Berkeley and Stanford University. He has served on the medical school faculties at Duke University and University of Tennessee. He is the recipient of the coveted Ross Laboratories Award for Excellence in Community-Based Long Term Care.

Oakes is founder and CEO of First Access International, applying proven integration of biblical principles and management techniques to achieve optimal human resource performance for churches and businesses. He currently manages mentor training at Christ Church of Nashville, one of Middle Tennessee's largest and most dynamic churches. He is a frequent seminar and conference speaker on mentoring and aging programs. He and his wife, Carolyn, have two grown sons.