Welcome Ministry Leaders
Why Singles Ministry is Important!
Do you want to reach every single person you can? Then let’s talk about how to reach every “single” person. Single Adults, the Untapped People Group
Nation-wide, the single adult population is 54%* while in some cities, it’s higher and lower in the rural areas. But this is not reflected in most of our churches.
*https://www.barna.com/single-minded-church/
So, why aren’t our churches reflective of this 54%?
1. Most churches are led/pastored by married adults who often focus on similar life stages.
2. Most sermons are often geared towards marriage and family.
3. Most church events and ministries are focused towards traditional families.
4. Most leadership opportunities are often offered to married adults over single adults.
5. There is a perceived lack of need; most churches do not think there are single adults to reach out to. Or they defined singles as a particular age group that is only focused on getting married.
6. There is a perceived lack of available resources to reach them.
7. From gossip or past bad experiences, it seems to be too much work to try and reach them.
8. Lack of leadership development and continued development to grow or reach them.
So, let’s clear up a few things:
1. Like all adults of all backgrounds and ages, single adults want to feel valued, included and loved. People, for the most part, desire community and a place to serve, using their gifts.
2. You do not have to have a particular program, bible studies, or spend tons of money to reach single adults at first.
3. Most single adults (even older ones) want to be married or remarried, which is good. For those who are following the Lord, they would like to marry another Christian. If our churches do not provide a safe place for singles and single parents to come, where they feel valued and wanted, singles will look for someone outside the church.
Note: Our 2nd greatest decision in life is who we will marry. Our first is salvation.
Do you want to reach every single person you can? Then let’s talk about how to reach every “single” person. Single Adults, the Untapped People Group
Nation-wide, the single adult population is 54%* while in some cities, it’s higher and lower in the rural areas. But this is not reflected in most of our churches.
*https://www.barna.com/single-minded-church/
So, why aren’t our churches reflective of this 54%?
1. Most churches are led/pastored by married adults who often focus on similar life stages.
2. Most sermons are often geared towards marriage and family.
3. Most church events and ministries are focused towards traditional families.
4. Most leadership opportunities are often offered to married adults over single adults.
5. There is a perceived lack of need; most churches do not think there are single adults to reach out to. Or they defined singles as a particular age group that is only focused on getting married.
6. There is a perceived lack of available resources to reach them.
7. From gossip or past bad experiences, it seems to be too much work to try and reach them.
8. Lack of leadership development and continued development to grow or reach them.
So, let’s clear up a few things:
1. Like all adults of all backgrounds and ages, single adults want to feel valued, included and loved. People, for the most part, desire community and a place to serve, using their gifts.
2. You do not have to have a particular program, bible studies, or spend tons of money to reach single adults at first.
3. Most single adults (even older ones) want to be married or remarried, which is good. For those who are following the Lord, they would like to marry another Christian. If our churches do not provide a safe place for singles and single parents to come, where they feel valued and wanted, singles will look for someone outside the church.
Note: Our 2nd greatest decision in life is who we will marry. Our first is salvation.
How can Single Adults help grow your church?
Single adults matter and can help grow your church in numbers, maturity, and commitment if given a chance. Here are a few ways:
1. When you include single adults (as examples from the Bible) or remember them in your sermons, and your stories, you are saying they are essential. This alone will change the involvement in your church. If my pastor cares, then I must be of value. Then I must help the church grow. I must serve in some capacity.
2. Getting to know singles by their names, including a bit about their lives, will grow your church.
Married people rarely invite singles to lunch or dinner (or think about needs they might have at home.) Hosting a single adult in your home, including those with kids, will communicate their value.
Because single adults have a larger community than most married, words will spread fast about how much you care. Remember, too; this is a great way to find potential volunteers and leaders.
Note: You might even go through your church database to update it, contact single people, and invite them back. The more we know about single adults who come to your church and vice versa, the more significant potential we have to grow the church.
3. Singles who have never married or do not have children have the most flexible use of their time and money. However, they are the least reached in the church. It’s not to say they have more time or other responsibilities, but because they do not have a spouse, they can often serve longer, help at the last minute, and lead in multiple areas of ministry.
4. Singles make amazing greeters. We need to have greeters that reflect who goes to your church and who you want to reach. Many single adults visit your church on Sunday mornings. You can identify single people by greeting them and having a welcome center where they fill out the information. This is an excellent way to learn who they are, reach out, and involve them from the start.
5. Ask singles to serve in all areas of the church, especially in areas of leadership. Ask a single adult if your Sunday school classes or small groups need two leaders. Often, even when singles get married, they will continue even after marriage if they are invested in serving. Also, by involving singles in all areas of the church, the church grows and is a better connection.
6. Do you want more young married people with kids in your church? Please know that two young marrieds come from two young singles. The more we invest in reaching singles and growing them in the Lord, the healthier their marriages will be (including all-aged marriages)
7. Start a Bible study, small group, geared to ministering to single adults in their life stage.
For example, Boundaries in Relationships, Divorce Care, Grief Care, Jesus, Single Like Me, etc. Depending on the size of your church, it can grow into a singles ministry, but if not, it is still ministering to this group of people to ultimately grow them personally and the church.
Note: Singles ministry is not the end but a gateway to reach all people for Christ.
Single adults matter and can help grow your church in numbers, maturity, and commitment if given a chance. Here are a few ways:
1. When you include single adults (as examples from the Bible) or remember them in your sermons, and your stories, you are saying they are essential. This alone will change the involvement in your church. If my pastor cares, then I must be of value. Then I must help the church grow. I must serve in some capacity.
2. Getting to know singles by their names, including a bit about their lives, will grow your church.
Married people rarely invite singles to lunch or dinner (or think about needs they might have at home.) Hosting a single adult in your home, including those with kids, will communicate their value.
Because single adults have a larger community than most married, words will spread fast about how much you care. Remember, too; this is a great way to find potential volunteers and leaders.
Note: You might even go through your church database to update it, contact single people, and invite them back. The more we know about single adults who come to your church and vice versa, the more significant potential we have to grow the church.
3. Singles who have never married or do not have children have the most flexible use of their time and money. However, they are the least reached in the church. It’s not to say they have more time or other responsibilities, but because they do not have a spouse, they can often serve longer, help at the last minute, and lead in multiple areas of ministry.
4. Singles make amazing greeters. We need to have greeters that reflect who goes to your church and who you want to reach. Many single adults visit your church on Sunday mornings. You can identify single people by greeting them and having a welcome center where they fill out the information. This is an excellent way to learn who they are, reach out, and involve them from the start.
5. Ask singles to serve in all areas of the church, especially in areas of leadership. Ask a single adult if your Sunday school classes or small groups need two leaders. Often, even when singles get married, they will continue even after marriage if they are invested in serving. Also, by involving singles in all areas of the church, the church grows and is a better connection.
6. Do you want more young married people with kids in your church? Please know that two young marrieds come from two young singles. The more we invest in reaching singles and growing them in the Lord, the healthier their marriages will be (including all-aged marriages)
7. Start a Bible study, small group, geared to ministering to single adults in their life stage.
For example, Boundaries in Relationships, Divorce Care, Grief Care, Jesus, Single Like Me, etc. Depending on the size of your church, it can grow into a singles ministry, but if not, it is still ministering to this group of people to ultimately grow them personally and the church.
Note: Singles ministry is not the end but a gateway to reach all people for Christ.
SCS Outreach and Your Church
What can a single outreach and SCS mean for your church?
1. By partnering with SCS in providing outreach, your church will be listed on our website and highlighted in our marketing materials as a single-friendly church. This will draw interest from new single adults that may not have a church home.
2. We can help develop and increase interest among your existing single adults. Single adults who might not be involved or serving in your church.
3. As single adults ourselves, we understand the needs of singles. We can work together to develop resources to meet their needs.
How to Get Started?
1. Name a leader(s) (married or single) representing your church in the SCS partnership.
2. Have them contact us to set up a meeting (by phone, in person, or by Zoom). See the contact information below.
3. Depending on the kind of SCS Outreach event will affect how many leaders/volunteers you will need for it to be successful. This will also affect your budget, development time, marketing, etc. Don't worry; our team will work with you every step of the way, training and helping your leaders/volunteers.
4. Once we establish the date, time, type of event, etc.
What can a single outreach and SCS mean for your church?
1. By partnering with SCS in providing outreach, your church will be listed on our website and highlighted in our marketing materials as a single-friendly church. This will draw interest from new single adults that may not have a church home.
2. We can help develop and increase interest among your existing single adults. Single adults who might not be involved or serving in your church.
3. As single adults ourselves, we understand the needs of singles. We can work together to develop resources to meet their needs.
How to Get Started?
1. Name a leader(s) (married or single) representing your church in the SCS partnership.
2. Have them contact us to set up a meeting (by phone, in person, or by Zoom). See the contact information below.
3. Depending on the kind of SCS Outreach event will affect how many leaders/volunteers you will need for it to be successful. This will also affect your budget, development time, marketing, etc. Don't worry; our team will work with you every step of the way, training and helping your leaders/volunteers.
4. Once we establish the date, time, type of event, etc.
- Encourage singles within your church to take ownership of this Outreach Event.
- Encourage married couples to invite their single friends from their community and work environments.
- Make it a priority to include information about the SCS Outreach Event in all announcements.
- Reach out to local media (radio etc.)
- SCS will create a page on our website just for your event.
>SCS Website will promote your SCS Outreach Event
>SCS Website will have a link to your church website
>SCS Website will have a page to share information on the single adult ministries within your church (Bible studies, Single Mom Groups, Divorce Care Groups, Grief Care Groups, Age-specific Groups, etc.) - SCS will add your event to our SCS Meetup Group page, Facebook, and other promotional materials.
SCS Outreach Event
What does a SCS Outreach Event look like?
1. By definition, outreach is an event, Bible study, program, etc., that seeks to reach those that are either:
What does a SCS Outreach Event look like?
1. By definition, outreach is an event, Bible study, program, etc., that seeks to reach those that are either:
- Not involved in the church but attend the church;
- Not involved in your church;
- Not involved in any church. They can also be lost, young in their faith, or mature.
- Speaker/Band/Meal at the church
- Concert/Comedy at the church
- Game night/Potluck at the church or off-campus
- A way to register (This could be digital or by paper to be used by your church and SCS for future events)
- Have a social mixer to get acquainted (SCS can help with this)
- Music (this could be worship before a speaker or music videos we can sing along with) This would be a great way to show the worship music singles can expect at your church service.
- Speaker: While having a professional speaker is nice, using your pastors, leaders, and teachers and sharing testimonials can be a way you are supporting the event.
- Refreshments and small groups; purpose to allow single adults to visit and get to know each other
>Refreshments: This could be a meal, whether potluck or ordered, simple snacks or dessert bar.
>Small group discussion based on the message or theme of the night. This could be one question or several, posted on the screen or paper.
>Games
Become a SCS Partner
Want to hear more about becoming a SCS Partner?
1. Start praying to affirm that your church, your team would like to partner with SCS to develop an outreach event. 2. Contact us by filling out the form or call Donna Holmes, Director at 417-848-0360; [email protected] to set up an appointment. 3. We will work directly with you and/or a leader(s) to develop the event. When we meet, we will discuss:
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