Question of the Week: What's new in single-adult ministry?

What are the most recent innovations and developments in single-adult ministry?
- What churches are leading the way, and how?
- Is the current trend more toward programming specifically for singles or toward a more integrated approach, incorporating single adults and married adults together in ministry?
- What's the best resource (book, article, website, etc.) on the topic, and why?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 41% of US residents 18 and older are single. With the Christian population's marital status roughly parallel to the population as a whole, this percentage represents a huge number of people.

Warren Bird, Ph.D., is Research Director at Leadership Network, and co-author of 19 books on various aspects of church health and innovation.

Comments

[Ryan]

I was excited by this question because I'm curious about the answer. I'm sad to see that there have been no responses. Maybe that is an answer in and of itself.

[PASTOR COLIN MURDOCH]

You may be interested to know that in Australia,
Census 1986 42.6% of the population 15 years and over were either never married, separated, divorced or widowed...This had grown in Census 1991 to 47% and in 2001 it was just under 50%...
Census 2006 confirmed our worst fears and 50.4% were never married, separated, divorced or widowed, and for the first time in recent history
Single and Single Again Adults outnumbered marrieds.

The Mission field with Single and Single Again Adults here in Australia is both challenging and exciting, however, it seems strange that in Australia we spend $Billions of dollars being the Church, with some wonderful ministries to children, youth, couples and marrieds with 2.5 children, but when these children and youth that we have invested so much time,energy, prayer and money into become Single Adults or Marrieds; and find themselves Single Again often with children to raise, the Church, the Body of Christ is silent, awkward, and acts as if they have suddenly contracted a socially contagious disease like AIDS...In Australia, New Zealand, Engaland, USA, China and India, all have Single Adult and Single Again Populations nudging or in excess of 50%. We need to rethink, reprioritise, and challenge the established thinking in our Denominations and Churches, and significant dollars needs to be committed, in order to stop failing on a daily basis, in Living Out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment...
IT'S REALLY TIME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO START A REVOLUTION FOR GOD-A SINGLES REVOLUTION THAT IMPACTS THE WORLD FOR CHRIST LIKE NOTHING ELSE HAS HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH SINCE
JESUS CHRIST WALKED THE EARTH, DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO THAT WE COULD ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF ENJOYING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM-OUR LORD AND HEAVENLY FATHER...IT'S TIME!
PASTOR COLIN MURDOCH
1986 FOUNDER SINGLES FOR CHRIST AUSTRALIA
www.singlesforchrist.org.au

[Douglas Stephens]

I don't know what is new but I know that most churches are not going to staff a person just for a Single Adult Ministry but staff a person who will wear a hat for that ministry. In our church the Single Adult Minister we had was promoted to Church Growth Pastor and was unable to spend as much time with singles as had in the past. The budget was cut drastically. We had a lay ministry in our singles group anyway so we just took official ownership and do what we can without staff planning. We get staff support and minimal budget suppport for activities but we will never have it like it once was. I have heard over the last 10 yrs that large churches have abandoned the idea of a Single Adult Minister per say to just include the singles ministry into the overall education ministry. But at the same time, as adults, singles need to form teams and grow in leadership and conduct ministry at their level in meeting needs and maturing single adults. Taking full ownership is not a new idea in itself but is new to those who are new to ministry. But single adult ministry is not for the microwave mindset. You must be doing single adult ministry because you have a passion for it. Single adults demand commitment, continuity, and communication. Who will lead, who will sustain them and who will teach them how to mature as believers in Christ Jesus and develop ministry teams to meet the needs of single adults. A alot of work and time and effort is needed and the ones who want to do the ministry will gladly pour themselves out for the ministry. Those who want to do single adult ministry must have passion (heart), purpose (understand they are called to do this ministry), and mission (the great commission targeted at single adults). IT is the greatest ministry in the world as far as I am concerned. My wife feels the same calling on her life. You don't initiate and grow a single adult ministry overnight but when your willing to do it no matter how many come because you are passionate about your calling, you will be successful because it is not all about the leader it is all about reaching and teaching singles to grow God's Kingdom.