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Issue #299
2/21/2007 |
How single adults in your church can change the world
by Clayton Coates
As I meet pastors all around the United States and around the world I ask them this question: “Do you have a good population of singles within your church and if so, how are you using them?” Many times pastors reply, “I’m glad I got a chance to talk with you, I have always wondered just what to do with my singles.”
Somewhere along the way, it seems that churches began focusing on married adults to meet all of the needs within the local church … Because of this, many single adults receive the non-verbal communication that they are somehow ‘less than’ a
married person.
Clayton Coates, pastor of single adults at Saddleback Church
Did you know that there is no other group within the local church that is able to do more for God’s Kingdom and to fulfill God’s purposes for the church than single adults? What an incredible realization. God desires to use single adults in a big way.
You may ask, “Pastor Clayton, what makes you say this?” The answer is simple. Because God says it, and you know what, God did it!
You see, when God decided to establish his Church and restore his relationship with us, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ. Now he could have said, “You know, I desire for my Son to be married. When he is married, more people will listen to him, repent, and believe.” He could have done that. He can do anything, he’s God. But he didn’t. His desire was that his Son remains single while seeking and saving the lost and leading others to repent and believe. And who did God surround his Son with? Married people? No, for all we know, according to Scripture, they were single. We know that Peter had a mother-in-law and therefore he was married, but the Bible is silent to the marital status of the other disciples. So God sent his Son who was single, and surrounded his Son with singles … and we are here today as a result of singles. Singles, just like the single adults who are in your local church. Jesus had a purpose, the disciples had a purpose, and you know what? Single adults have a purpose!
Somewhere along the way, it seems that churches began focusing on married adults to meet all of the needs within the local church. Most leadership positions with our churches are held by married adults. Because of this, many single adults receive the non-verbal communication that they are somehow “less than” a married person. In God’s Kingdom, we are all made complete, not through a union with a spouse but rather a union with Christ. We are complete only because we are joined with the one who is complete.
In God’s Kingdom, we are all made complete, not through a union with a spouse but rather a union with Christ.
Clayton Coates
Here at Saddleback Church, single adults are crucial to fulfilling God’s purpose for our church. There is not one area that can’t benefit from singles being involved. Picture the P.E.A.C.E. Plan, our missions program, full of single adults fully engaged and using their talents and availability. No one can take the P.E.A.C.E. Plan to the next level like single adults. The same example is seen over and over again in our church when singles get involved like never before.
A message that I continually communicate to the single adults in our church is this: “If you are not connected, get connected to a singles small group. If you are already connected, raise your commitment and begin to serve like never before. If you are committed, become commissioned and help us take the P.E.A.C.E. Plan to other parts of the globe. You have a purpose in God’s Kingdom and at Saddleback. We can’t do it without you. May God bless you and may you rise up and step out for the global glory of God.”
There should be no one who knows your local church better than you. With that being said, I have a few questions for you:
- First, how can you mobilize single adults in your local church to become the backbone and leaders within your church?
- Second, what should your message be to the singles in your church?
- Third, in what ways could you surround yourself with three single men who were on fire for God that would exponentially increase your individual ministry?
These three questions are good starting places for you as a pastor. Over the next few months, we will spend more time discussing how to build a purpose driven singles community. Singles ministry encompasses many life transitions and some of those transitions are tough, but never lose sight of the positive benefits that far outweigh the painful situations.
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Article by Clayton Coates
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