What do you expect to get???

[S.T.A.R.S.]

When you hear that a church has a Singles Ministry, what do you expect to gain from that ministry? What do you expect the ministry should be like? What should it provide rather it be spiritually, personally, emotionally or mentally?

 

[Brutus/HisCatalyst]

I've never been a part of one, so I don't know really what to expect. Except a love of Jesus in the group.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Since you never been apart of one and it was introduced to you, what would entice you to join? What would encourage you to continue on attending and fellowshipping within this ministry?

 

[caitlincares]

Here is a thread talking about Singles' Ministries from awhile back.

 

[fishstix]

When you hear that a church has a Singles Ministry, what do you expect to gain from that ministry? What do you expect the ministry should be like? What should it provide rather it be spiritually, personally, emotionally or mentally?

If all I hear is that there is a singles ministry, it makes me think dating service, 'meat market', matchmaking, church trying to set people up with each other, and basically a focus on having a significant other or the lack thereof. And thus I would stay away from it. Unless it was made very clear that it was not a dating service, I would want nothing to do with it. If it was a young adults or college and career ministry then I would expect that it would be about a variety of spiritual topics geared towards the average 20 something - possibly including but definitely not focussing only on romantic subjects. I would also expect that there would be some fellowship opportunities including stuff like pizza nights, sporting events, activities, and that sort of thing. I would attend something like that.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

If all I hear is that there is a singles ministry, it makes me think dating service, 'meat market', matchmaking, church trying to set people up with each other, and basically a focus on having a significant other or the lack thereof. And thus I would stay away from it. Unless it was made very clear that it was not a dating service, I would want nothing to do with it. If it was a young adults or college and career ministry then I would expect that it would be about a variety of spiritual topics geared towards the average 20 something - possibly including but definitely not focussing only on romantic subjects. I would also expect that there would be some fellowship opportunities including stuff like pizza nights, sporting events, activities, and that sort of thing. I would attend something like that.

Thanks for your comments fishstix because it exposes a whole lot in how tainted that portion of the ministry is. It is so tainted that churches do not have them. I've started a Singles Ministry in my church and I made it real clear that it's not a dating ministry. See, I became a minister at a church a few months back and they expressed things to me because I too was Single. They told me that most of the Men and Women Fellowship geared towards the married. Most of the Sunday messages usually have some hint of "married couples" involved.

I used to think that most Youth Ministries were just for horny little kids to get their groove on every chance the teacher or leader wasn't around to see them. Believe me, it happens. Fortunately that's not true for all of them. That goes the same for Singles Ministry.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Caitlin,
That was an interesting thread. I like your first experience with a Singles Ministry too.

 

[Grunt]

Well my only experience with what could be a singles group would be at my church, so from it I'd have to expect:

-People who aren't interested and don't even try to show up
-A program that barely, barely exists
-A church that, for the most part, doesn't seem interested in providing anything for the young adults/singles

But hopefully things are better most other places.

Yeah, I'm just a little bit frustrated with the situation.

 

[S.T.A.R.S.]

Yeah, I think that the Singles Ministry/Group has failed many people. With all that made it disappointing to you, how what must be done for it to be a successful one.