developing a singles ministry

Developing A Singles’ Developing A Singles’ MinistryMinistry

Presented By:Elder Linda HillmanSingles PastorVictory In Praise Church -

Stockton

SingleSingle

Not Married (Divorced, Widowed, Never Been Married)

Someone Who Is Celibate Young Unmarried Adult

SinglenessSingleness

The quality of state of being single

Some StatisticsSome Statistics

46%-50% of the population is single adult. (Currently, over 82 million unmarried adults live in the United States, constituting the highest percentage of single adults than at any other time in history.)

Why the Recent Why the Recent Explosion in the Explosion in the Number of Singles?Number of Singles?Young people are postponing marriage as social values change. There is a small increase in the number of individuals in our society who have chosen to remain single permanently. The number of divorces in America continues to rise.

Power of SinglenessPower of Singleness

SINGLE ADULTSSINGLE ADULTS represent more than $600 billion in purchasing power, although little is written about this large group of purchasers.


Single adults display more impulsive purchase behavior than the married. Single adults view television more often than the married.

Single adults are less price-conscious than the married. Single adults are more innovative than the married. Single adults are more brand-conscious than the married.


Single adults are more convenience-seeking than the married. Single adults are more variety-seeking than the married. Single adults are less averse to risk than the married.

The Truth of the Matter The Truth of the Matter Is…Is…

Singles never-married are the largest group. They have the most money and have the most flexible use of time but are the least used in the body and the least reached.

Single-parent families have the least money and have the least flexible time but typically have the most needs.

Single Ministries Will Single Ministries Will Fail If:Fail If:

The church are not called to have singles’ ministries (Note: Every church is called to minister to singles).

They imitate other church programs that are not necessarily workable at your church.Leaders get overworked and overcommitted, trying to do it all in 6 months.Leaders forget to delegate and forget to wait on God; as a result, they get burned out.

Single adult ministries have to continually be poured into as they change. Discipleship is critical. It’s better to pour yourself into a few people who will duplicate themselves rather than trying to do it yourself.

Note: So, what if the ideas Note: So, what if the ideas and plans you have do and plans you have do not get done? Whose not get done? Whose ministry is this?ministry is this?

Reasons Not to Start

To give singles a social club.Because other churches have one.Because of the need or want to help our singles get married.Because singles have demanded the leadership in the church to have one.

Reasons To StartTo develop an effective outreach in the growing number of single adults in your church and community To enhance church growth To help fulfill the Great CommissionTo help renew the vision and purpose of your congregation.To meet the needs of single adults who want spiritual growth, healing opportunities, and social fellowship.

Before You BeginBefore You Begin Ask yourself… Is God leading ME to start a Singles’

Ministry? Why do I want to start a Singles’ Ministry? Does our church have a need for a Singles’

Ministry? Will the pastor support the ministry? Will the people support the ministry?

Singles Married couples

Is ??? Church called to have a Singles’ Ministry?

Developing a Singles’ Developing a Singles’ MinistryMinistry

Prayer/fastingSpeak with your pastorChoose leadership teamDevelop a vision statementDevelop a mission statementPlan! Plan! Plan!

Important note: Singles have more

time and money than any other group in the church.

Single parents have less time and money than a single with no kids but still can be an effective tool in the ministry.

Prayer & FastingPrayer & Fasting

Men should always pray and faint not (Luke 18:1-2)You will pray alone then recruit church leadership Pray for direction/guidance Pray for vision Pray for help

Fasting Removes flesh Clears up vision

Prayer & FastingPrayer & Fasting

Gather Data (needs, interest, demographics and other ministries)

Call other churches with a similar church size and demographics. You could start a support group where ideas and obstacles can be discussed and this will become a support to you in addition to the leadership team of your church.

Speak To The PastorSpeak To The Pastor

Need to have pastor’s support Need to have pastoral staff support Singles’ needs addressed Guidance/instructions Be open to his/her suggestions Get his/her heart and pulse Align vision with church vision

Develop Leadership Develop Leadership TeamTeam

What kind of leader are you? True Colors Exercise

Gold Orange Blue Green

What are your weakness/strengths


Know who you are working with Working Styles Exercise

Analytics Thoroughness

Drivers Action

Amiables Process

Expressives Vision


L.E.A.D. Training Listen to what God is saying about

your abilities Empower/equip yourself for success Attain an attitude of passion for your

purpose Develop disciplined behavior to reach

your destiny

Characteristics of a Good Characteristics of a Good LeaderLeader

Content/secure in their singlenessFaithfulDependableTimelyTrustworthyIntegrityBe real/honestConfidentiality

Request From Your Request From Your LeadersLeaders

One year commitment Support in all events/activities Availability/vulnerability Prayer/fasting Confidentiality Integrity Wisdom/discernment Friendship Be vocal

Give Your LeadersGive Your Leaders Respect – share all information Support in all events/activities Availability/vulnerability Prayer/fasting Confidentiality Integrity Wisdom/discernment Friendship Be vocalBe on time always

Develop A Vision Develop A Vision StatementStatement

Is a vivid idealized description of a desired outcome that inspires, energizes and helps you create an enticing mental picture of your target.

What would the Ministry look like without any hang-ups, problems, or failures.


Summarize your statement in powerful phrasesTake as much space as you needShould describe the best possible outcome Use Present Tense


Use Emotion Add Sensory DetailsReview Your Vision Every 26 days or once a month

Update Your Vision at least once a year But no more than quarterly

Extra Advice on Extra Advice on GuidelinesGuidelines

Develop Governing guidelines Governing values are the current

guidelines that direct your ministry behavior and actions.

Developing governing values for your ministry can help identify the values that are most important to your ministry.

Governing values will help your ministry be accountable for its conduct.


List things that your ministry values (group) Then choose the top three to four (individual) Compare with other leaders

If they have different ones as a group choose top three to four

Write down two sentences why these are important

Write down one way your ministry is living up to each value.

Then write how these values will assist in achieving your ministry’s desired outcome.


Think about your vision and write down at least six specific ways your ministry plans to live up to each value. This is called an Action Plan!

Using your Values, write your mission statement. Your three to six-sentence Mission Statement should

include your Values and summarize how these Values fit with your Vision for your future.

Together, your Mission Statement and Action Plan make up your Governing Values. Date Review three to six months

Develop A Mission Develop A Mission StatementStatement

A paragraph that captures the essence of what your Ministry is about – the core. It accurately explains what your ministry does and what it hopes to achieve in the future. It articulates the essential nature, its values, and its work.


The Purpose Statement an infinitive that indicates a change in status,

such as to increase, to decrease, to prevent, to eliminate

an identification of the problem or condition to be changed.

What should be in your statement What is the purpose of the ministry What your ministry does The values of your ministry


Your Ministry Mission Statement Should: Express your ministry purpose in a

way that inspires support and ongoing commitment

Motivate those who are connected to the ministry

Be articulated in a way that is convincing and easy to grasp


Use proactive verbs to describe what your ministry does

Be free from jargon or slang Be short enough so that anyone

connected to the ministry can readily repeat it.

Difference Between Difference Between Vision and Mission Vision and Mission StatementsStatements

Vision statements describe your ministry’s unique vision of what an ideal experience in each of your ministry areas would be like.

They tend to focus on the distant future looking forward five to ten years. They represent an ideal outcome.

Vision statements are passive, focusing mostly what your ministry wants to experience.


Mission statements are based on your ministry’s current situation and what your ministry needs to focus on in the next one to three years to move closer to the long-term vision.

Mission statements are active focusing on your actions, behaviors, habits and character.


Mission and vision statements are complementary to each other. Vision statements show you an

idealized description of your ultimate destination,

while mission statements represent your chosen path to get you there.

Plan! Plan! Plan!Plan! Plan! Plan!

One year in advance When presenting the ministry to the church

have a calendar that will catch the attention of those you are trying to reach.

Know your church If you can get stats on the singles in your

church. How many never been married, single parents,

divorced, engaged, dating/courting, widowed etc… You may also want to know about those in school,

what careers etc…


Know your community Same as the church but you will want to

add what the community does for fun. This will help you attach them to your events.

In-reach (Church) Minister to the needs of the house.

Singles Retreats Conferences Small groups, etc…


Out-reach (Community) Opportunity Unity Training Research Extend Activities Community Help


Determine your Facility needs Where you will have meetings,

fellowships, and etc… Is Childcare needed?

Who How How Much Where


Determine your Budget What is available

Is Church funding? Will it be self-funded?

How much is needed Can Church supply Fund-raisers Major Donors Contributions (such as dues, offering, gifts)

What’s Next…What’s Next…

Start small, build a core group Start with a Singles Sunday School/Small Group/Bible Study Address the REAL issues…

Certainty of Salvation Divorce/Death of spouse/Desire to be

Married Single parenting/ Dating/Courting/Lust/Love Boundaries/Relationships Loneliness/Contentment

What’s Next…What’s Next…

Have A Luncheon Open house Monthly fellowship

This is IN-reach with a goal of OUT-reach.

Have an OUT-reach once a month Go on a Retreat, Conference or recreational event sponsored by your church or join other

local churches.

Resources

VIP Singles Ministry www.myspace.com/

vipsinglesministry The Singles’ Network

www.thesinglesnetwork.org

Crosswalk.com www.crosswalk.com/

singles

Today’s Single Christian

www.christianitytoday.com/singles

Single Parenting www.christianitytoday.com/

parenting/features/single.html

Christian Single Resources

christianity.about.com/od/singlesresources/Christian_Singles_Resources.htm

Christian Singles Blog single-

christian.blogspot.com

Purposefully Single www.singleness.org

Resources

Passion for Purity www.passionforpurity.o

rg

Passion for Dating www.robeagar.com/

pages/page.asp?page_id=2704

Living Single Again www.livingsingleagain.

com

Center For Single Parenting

www.spfm.org

Cook Publishing www.davidccook.org

CCN Online www.ccn.tv/index.php

Family Life Today www.familylife.com

Focus On The Family www.focusonthefamily.co

m/

Resources

“Common Mistakes Singles Make” (Paperback)

by Mary S. Whelchel

“I Kissed Dating Goodbye” (Paperback) By Joshua Harris

“Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship” (Paperback) by Joshua Harris

“When God Writes Your Love Story: The Ultimate Approach to Guy/Girl Relationships” (Paperback) by Eric Ludy and Leslie Ludy

“No More Sheets: The Truth About Sex” (Paperback) by Juanita Bynum

“The Truth About Sex: What the World Won’t Tell You and God Wants You to Know” (Paperback) By Kay Arthur

“My Life as A Chrsitian Single: How I Survived” (Paperback) by Prophetess Rochell Lee

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