Pastors, spiritual leaders, church small group organizers, etc. Just a loving tip from one of many whose house doesn’t have a spouse—because I’ve seen it more often than not over the last five years [and I truthfully, therefore, refer to no specific church in particular]:
When listing what your church has to offer, remember that in listing “Couples/College/Teens/Children” as the headings for what you offer in the way of small groups on Sundays, you are unintentionally but specifically omitting many who fit into none of those categories. You do the same by using the title “ADULTS” and then offering only courses on parenting, marital relationships, etc.
Yes, having classes and courses for couples is imperative. But I implore you to please understand that the majority of your singles* are not single because they chose it but because God chose that for them for this time, and they are choosing to rejoice in His choosing and in Him.
Please don’t make that so hard for them.
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*I use the term “singles” here as a generic term for those without a spouse in the house, whether never married, divorced, or widowed.
As someone who has not been blessed with children, we have OFTEN been left out at church whether it’s a topic on parenting or many years ago, being excluded from gatherings geared for young parents… as we battled infertility~ We didn’t choose this.
Thank you! It is hard at times to be a single person in the church. Where God has me right now, puts me in an even more challenging spot at times because I have a 4 year old, yet no significant other. I know I am where God wants me right now, but you are right that there are times that I feel lost in the shuffle.
So true.
You’d think it would be obvious….