As the face of the family changes, so too does the face of ministry and outreach. Although single ministries have been well received in today’s faith based community and are becoming ever more popular, single parent ministries have been slower to catch on.

Some of the hesitation may be explained by a reluctance on the part of faith based institutions to deal with the steadily increasing numbers of never married and / or divorced parents that are filling the pews. As the idea of divorce and/or children being born outside the bonds of marriage is generally frowned upon by most faiths, ministering to these families poses a special challenge.

In their article, “Why a Ministry to One Parent Families?” Tom and Helen Wheeler state, “Remember that in the term “single parent”, the word “single” is just the adjective ; parent is Who they are. This shifts the ministry emphasis to the welfare of the family i.e., the children (orphans and fatherless) instead of the marital status of the parent. By focusing on ministering to the family instead of a parent’s marital status, ministries are better able to fulfill their outreach purpose and provide the assistance single parent families need.

Can Singles Ministries Meet The Need?
Some faith based institutions have made attempts to meet this need by including single parents in their singles ministries. In most cases, the outreach effect is lost as a single parent's participating in ministries designed for single adults often end up feeling more stigmatized than if they were not a part of any ministry at all.

The reason for this is simple. Singles ministries are focused on singleness –on being a single individual and seeking wholeness as an individual. Single parent ministries are focused on equipping parents and strengthening families. In other words Singles Ministries are for individuals Single Parent Ministries are for families.

Therefore, attempts to blend these two very different ministries with very different purposes often have a disastrous effect on everyone involved.

Single parents face childcare issues singles do not. Planned activities that fail to consider this will keep single parents from being able to participate fully. Activities that either do not include childcare or allow for the participation of children exclude single parents. Additionally, as single parents face more financial obligations than singles, childcare should be free.

Because of their family obligations, single parents are not always free to be spontaneous with ministry or social activities as are singles. These same obligations also keep them from being able to commit a great deal of time to functions and activities. These barriers will bar single parents from full participation adversely affecting their attendance.

Being part of a ministry but unable to participate fully will leave a single parent feeling more ostracized than if they were not part of a ministry at all. In addition, some negative feelings could develop between the singles and single parents as the difference between the amounts of ministry participation becomes more noticeable.

What to Do?
Create a single parent ministry that addresses the various complex needs of the single parent family. Create a ministry that offers them acceptance, encouragement, spiritual development and support. Create a ministry that offers them a chance to minister as well as be ministered to as single parents have a great deal to offer in both your congregation and in your community.

What If I Need Help?
If you are a faith based leader or individual and would like to start or expand a single parent ministry at your place of worship, please contact Debbie Rauch, Faith Based Outreach Coordinator at 770-840-2200 x305.

For more information on training opportunities, please visit the Single Parent Ministry Network section of this site for the latest training schedule, registration and more information on developing a successful single parent ministry.