I am asking for
your help to think outside the box as we typically think in church relating to
our culture. Most of what we program, talk about, emphasize with great value is
married adults with families. We should continue to minister to this important demographic,
however, we should also acknowledge with great value and importance of that
“invisible” enormous multitude of unmarried adults. Over a third of the
population of Lincoln (our mission field) fits into this category. But do we
intentionally value them? I am asking you to make greater effort in this
important segment of our city.
Recently, I read an article written by Brandon Cox giving churches some helpful tips for loving and ministering to single adults who are members or guests at church. As I list the tips, ask yourself “How and I doing in reaching adults who are unmarried?” Let’s strive to see them. Pray for them. Love them wholeheartedly as God does.
Here are the tips:
1. See each single adult as a valued individual, ready to meet God and serve Him with or without a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, spouse or children.
2. Greeters and Ushers be sensitive to what you say. “Are you alone?” or “It’s just you?” may indicate that he or she is incomplete.
3. Acknowledge single adults as full-fledged participants, not just as sideline people. Let’s plug them into leadership and ministry roles to fit their gifts.
4. Invite them into your life groups even if it is made up of couples. Offer choices to them to choose a group they would enjoy.
5. Encourage them to make the most of their singleness. Recognize the extra gift they may bring to the church such as more freedom to serve, travel and give.
6. Don’t be a “matchmaker.” Avoid communicating “It’s God’s will that you find a mate.” Paul taught singleness as a gift. (1 Corinthians 7) They are here to worship, to serve, to support.
7. Include them in worship, service and church events as you would anybody.
8. Provide them quality and unique single events to their specific life circumstances.
9. Be a friend with singles. Invest in them. Invite them to dinner. Encourage them.
10. Be constantly aware of single adults all around you at work, in the grocery line, at the ball game and in your neighborhood. Invite them to First Free.
Blessings,
Recently, I read an article written by Brandon Cox giving churches some helpful tips for loving and ministering to single adults who are members or guests at church. As I list the tips, ask yourself “How and I doing in reaching adults who are unmarried?” Let’s strive to see them. Pray for them. Love them wholeheartedly as God does.
Here are the tips:
1. See each single adult as a valued individual, ready to meet God and serve Him with or without a boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé, spouse or children.
2. Greeters and Ushers be sensitive to what you say. “Are you alone?” or “It’s just you?” may indicate that he or she is incomplete.
3. Acknowledge single adults as full-fledged participants, not just as sideline people. Let’s plug them into leadership and ministry roles to fit their gifts.
4. Invite them into your life groups even if it is made up of couples. Offer choices to them to choose a group they would enjoy.
5. Encourage them to make the most of their singleness. Recognize the extra gift they may bring to the church such as more freedom to serve, travel and give.
6. Don’t be a “matchmaker.” Avoid communicating “It’s God’s will that you find a mate.” Paul taught singleness as a gift. (1 Corinthians 7) They are here to worship, to serve, to support.
7. Include them in worship, service and church events as you would anybody.
8. Provide them quality and unique single events to their specific life circumstances.
9. Be a friend with singles. Invest in them. Invite them to dinner. Encourage them.
10. Be constantly aware of single adults all around you at work, in the grocery line, at the ball game and in your neighborhood. Invite them to First Free.
Blessings,
P.S. Feel overwhelmed, overworked, overscheduled? Feel that your pace of life is out of control? Need answers to the stress? Come this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 and discover what the Bible has to say about Simplify: Making Life More Manageable.
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