Monday, August 26, 2013
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
NEW & FREE! - 4 TRAINING VIDEOS FOR MINISTRY TO/WITH SINGLE ADULTS
These 4, 21 minute discussion - format videos feature our national team, single adult ministry leaders in various areas of the country.
Sessions include:
Video 1 - Ministry to All Types of People / Teaching Topics / Meeting Diverse Needs
Video 2 - Misconceptions of Single Adults & Single Adult Ministry / The Meet/Meat Market Mentality
Video 3 - Recruiting, Training & Motivating Workers & Leaders
Video 4 - Beginning A Single Adult Ministry / Attracting & Retaining Men
• Watch them online now!
• Use them for training with your workers/leaders!
• Discuss the relevant issues!
• Discover answers to problems in your ministry!
http://singles.ag.org/leadership/mediadownloads/video/
Sessions include:
Video 1 - Ministry to All Types of People / Teaching Topics / Meeting Diverse Needs
Video 2 - Misconceptions of Single Adults & Single Adult Ministry / The Meet/Meat Market Mentality
Video 3 - Recruiting, Training & Motivating Workers & Leaders
Video 4 - Beginning A Single Adult Ministry / Attracting & Retaining Men
• Watch them online now!
• Use them for training with your workers/leaders!
• Discuss the relevant issues!
• Discover answers to problems in your ministry!
http://singles.ag.org/leadership/mediadownloads/video/
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ministry Job Descriptions
Within a single adult ministry there are many types of tasks that need to be done. All of these are important and contribute to the health and effectiveness of the ministry to attract, retain, and disciple single adults. The goal of a leader should be to recruit others to "do the ministry." The various ministry group(s) should not owned and run only by the leader, but owned and run by the people also. We have compiled about 30 job descriptions for many types of ministry tasks within a single adult ministry. These 1 page titles and descriptions can be used as a starting point. Use them to generate ideas for involvement. Modify, change, add to them etc to fit your situation.
For sample job descriptions click here.
For sample job descriptions click here.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
How I Started in Single Adult Ministry
Check out this 3 minute video about how I started in Single Adult Ministry years ago.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Defining Single Adults, Young Adults and Determining Ministry Groups
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| Let’s talk basics... Who are included in the category of "single adults," and where/how do young single adults fit? I like to specify the different people groups this way...never married, divorced, widowed and single parents of all ages. Simply put, single and single-again people. There is some potential overlap between single adult and young adult ministry. A not-yet married person in his/her early twenties or even thirties could, technically, fall into both groups, but in reality, would only want to be part of a young adult ministry group. People usually relate best to others in their same general age group, whether single or married in the young adult years (19 - mid 30's). When married adults begin having children, however, life circumstances, needs, and challenges change. That's when a young married ministry proves to be beneficial. Generally, our ministry here at the AG National Office targets leaders of young adults who minister to/with all, or part of the age group of 18-35 years old, single and married. Our ministry also targets leaders of single adults who minister to/with all, or part of the age group of 35-60 years old, single and single-again. In both young adult and single adult ministry there are people outside of these age groups, either younger or older, but probably 80-90 percent of those attending one of these ministries across the country will fall into these age groups. In Young Adult Ministry There are several possible age groups/ministry groups. Probably most young adult ministries contain more single adults than married adults. Some young adult ministries have BOTH in the same group, and some have two separate groups, one for single adults and one for married adults. Also, some churches have an 18-24 year old ministry, some have a separate mid-20’s and 30’s ministry, and some put them all together and have an 18-30 or up to 35 year old ministry. In Single Adult Ministry There are several possible age/ministry groups in single adult ministry also. Some churches have only one age group, usually 30 or 35+ and up. Some ministries have two age groups, 30’s and 40’s, and 50 +. A few have 3 or more age groups. Single parent families, divorce care, divorce care for kids, and widowed care are four other common groups that single adult ministry may target. These three ministries usually include all ages because of their common life issues and situations. Whatever the case, it's important to find what works for you in your specific situation. Factors such as past history, vision of the pastor or leader, size of the church and community, strategy, amount of involvement by the single adults and young adults, and others, affect these ministries. |
Friday, September 30, 2011
Leadership Trends Affecting Single Adult Ministry Today
Recognizing and understanding trends is important in any ministry, and these observations about the following trends deserve to be mentioned:
A. Times change….Single Adult Ministry is always evolving.
B. Trends may influence potential ministry needs.
C. Trends may determine potential ministry direction.
D. Trends may vary by area of the country due to cultural differences, ministry styles, and development of the ministry.
There are many leadership trends in the country affecting single adult ministry today. Among them are….
A. Credibility issues of leaders - Single adults want leaders who are credible, knowledgeable, and experienced when possible; or at least willing to learn.
B. Crucial need to cast vision – This is a needed element for single adults, leaders in the single adult ministry, and church leaders/pastors.
C. Move from official leadership to gifted leadership – Many churches are using gifted and/or passionate people from the inside of the church instead of hiring a credentialed person from the outside.
D. Larger churches are seeing the need of SAM again -This may be due to the numbers of single adults in their congregations, some of whom are vocal about their needs.
E. Development of leadership training in SAM groups – Leaders are seeing and meeting the need of training others to lead specific areas of the ministry. More priority is being given to training than in the past.
F. Still a void of men in leadership in single adult ministries – Men are slower to attend and commit to a ministry group. Some think they are admitting a need by coming (and they are), and many men are reluctant to admit needs.
G. Eliminating paid Single Adult Pastors positions (or changing their ministry portfolio) and going with a volunteer - led SAM. This is mostly due to financial reasons, but also the unspoken, understood “hierarchy” of ministry focus: children, youth, music/worship, married, etc.
H. Few churches looking to hire a Singles Pastor. There are less churches in the U.S. of any denomination that have a “dedicated, hands on” person to oversee single adult ministry. There are more who oversee an aspect of single adult ministry (small group, divorce recovery, single parent group), but their title doesn’t reflect it.
A. Times change….Single Adult Ministry is always evolving.
B. Trends may influence potential ministry needs.
C. Trends may determine potential ministry direction.
D. Trends may vary by area of the country due to cultural differences, ministry styles, and development of the ministry.
There are many leadership trends in the country affecting single adult ministry today. Among them are….
A. Credibility issues of leaders - Single adults want leaders who are credible, knowledgeable, and experienced when possible; or at least willing to learn.
B. Crucial need to cast vision – This is a needed element for single adults, leaders in the single adult ministry, and church leaders/pastors.
C. Move from official leadership to gifted leadership – Many churches are using gifted and/or passionate people from the inside of the church instead of hiring a credentialed person from the outside.
D. Larger churches are seeing the need of SAM again -This may be due to the numbers of single adults in their congregations, some of whom are vocal about their needs.
E. Development of leadership training in SAM groups – Leaders are seeing and meeting the need of training others to lead specific areas of the ministry. More priority is being given to training than in the past.
F. Still a void of men in leadership in single adult ministries – Men are slower to attend and commit to a ministry group. Some think they are admitting a need by coming (and they are), and many men are reluctant to admit needs.
G. Eliminating paid Single Adult Pastors positions (or changing their ministry portfolio) and going with a volunteer - led SAM. This is mostly due to financial reasons, but also the unspoken, understood “hierarchy” of ministry focus: children, youth, music/worship, married, etc.
H. Few churches looking to hire a Singles Pastor. There are less churches in the U.S. of any denomination that have a “dedicated, hands on” person to oversee single adult ministry. There are more who oversee an aspect of single adult ministry (small group, divorce recovery, single parent group), but their title doesn’t reflect it.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Loners, Lovers, Losers, Leavers & Livers
There are many common myths, misunderstandings and biases about some single and single-again people today. Because of these biases people sometimes give labels pertaining to single adult ministry and some of the people who attend. These labels can be summarized into five categories which I refer to as the five L’s. The first four express a negative connotation and seem to be verbalized more in the church than in society.
The ministry/group The people
1. “Lonely hearts club”……………………………………………………..."Loners"
2. “Dating Market”……………………………………………….…………"Lovers"
3. “Hospital”…………………………………………………………….…."Losers"
4. “Church”……………………………………………………….………...."Leavers"
5. “Place of/for ministry”………………………………………………........"Livers"
These labels express what some individuals perceive a ministry to single adults to be. They are biased, and when verbalized tend to discourage some people from visiting a ministry. I would be the first to admit it is true there are lonely people that attend groups for single adults; it is true there are people looking for dates in a ministry group for single adults; it is true there are hurting people that attend single adult ministry groups; and it is true there are individuals who consider their single adult ministry group to be their church and do not involve themselves in any other area of the church, including the Sunday service.
I would be quick to point out, however, it does not take being single to be lonely! The loneliest person in your city/town tonight is not a single adult, but a married adult who is in a horrible marriage. This person is wondering, “Lord, can it get any worse than this?” This married adult knows what loneliness is.
A person does not need to be single to be hurting. Many married adults are hurting from the pain of rejection, misunderstanding, lack of affection, verbal and physical abuse, pornography, adultery, and many problems that can be part, although sometimes a hidden part, of a Christian marriage.
It is also true that some single adults are looking for a date or mate in a single adult ministry. As was stated earlier, however, I would rather a man or woman look for a date or mate in a Christian group, where the chances of relating to Christian men and women with biblical morals and values is, hopefully, higher than places the world offers!
Considering the label “hospital and losers”, it needs to be understood that we are all losers without Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Singleness certainly does not necessitate the word loser.
People who use the labels “loners, lovers, losers, or leavers” concerning single adults, and/or use the labels, “lonely hearts club,” “dating market,” “hospital,” or “church,” do so out of fear, insecurity, ignorance, pride or disrespect! In reality, everyone, Christian or non-Christian, has areas in their lives that are weak and lacking Christ-likeness. The same exact labels could be used for some of the people in almost any church today.
The ministry/group The people
1. “Lonely hearts club”……………………………………………………..."Loners"
2. “Dating Market”……………………………………………….…………"Lovers"
3. “Hospital”…………………………………………………………….…."Losers"
4. “Church”……………………………………………………….………...."Leavers"
5. “Place of/for ministry”………………………………………………........"Livers"
These labels express what some individuals perceive a ministry to single adults to be. They are biased, and when verbalized tend to discourage some people from visiting a ministry. I would be the first to admit it is true there are lonely people that attend groups for single adults; it is true there are people looking for dates in a ministry group for single adults; it is true there are hurting people that attend single adult ministry groups; and it is true there are individuals who consider their single adult ministry group to be their church and do not involve themselves in any other area of the church, including the Sunday service.
I would be quick to point out, however, it does not take being single to be lonely! The loneliest person in your city/town tonight is not a single adult, but a married adult who is in a horrible marriage. This person is wondering, “Lord, can it get any worse than this?” This married adult knows what loneliness is.
A person does not need to be single to be hurting. Many married adults are hurting from the pain of rejection, misunderstanding, lack of affection, verbal and physical abuse, pornography, adultery, and many problems that can be part, although sometimes a hidden part, of a Christian marriage.
It is also true that some single adults are looking for a date or mate in a single adult ministry. As was stated earlier, however, I would rather a man or woman look for a date or mate in a Christian group, where the chances of relating to Christian men and women with biblical morals and values is, hopefully, higher than places the world offers!
Considering the label “hospital and losers”, it needs to be understood that we are all losers without Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Singleness certainly does not necessitate the word loser.
People who use the labels “loners, lovers, losers, or leavers” concerning single adults, and/or use the labels, “lonely hearts club,” “dating market,” “hospital,” or “church,” do so out of fear, insecurity, ignorance, pride or disrespect! In reality, everyone, Christian or non-Christian, has areas in their lives that are weak and lacking Christ-likeness. The same exact labels could be used for some of the people in almost any church today.
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