Single adults an ‘army in waiting,’ ministry specialist insists

GEORGETOWN—An army of people is waiting to do something great for God—if churches will take the time to notice them, minister to them and empower them to do so, a Texas Baptist single-adult ministry specialist said.

In most Texas towns and cities, non-married individuals make up more than half the population, but many churches struggle with ministering to them or incorporating significant numbers of them into their fellowships.

“They don’t even have an active singles ministry,” said Keith Lowry, single adult ministry specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “But if we would discover that and reach out and provide ministry to these, it’s an incredible opportunity that we have to reach people who are hurting and are hungry and need to know the Lord and that are an available force in God’s kingdom.”

Lowry believes congregations that are overlooking single adults are missing a large mission field with vast potential. This group includes young people who are delaying getting married until their older. It also includes people who have divorced. Each has ministry needs, he noted.

Furthermore, single adults often bring resources to the table that married adults do not, Lowry said. Because they are single, many times they can be more flexible in responding to God’s call upon their lives. They can react quickly and move easily.

“They’re a tremendous available army for God’s work,” Lowry said recently while working alongside single adults at a Habitat for Humanity project leading up to the annual Texas Baptist Single Adult Conference at Crestview Baptist Church in Georgetown. “When we point them in the right direction, give them a mission and enable them, equip them, encourage them to do those things, it’s amazing what they’ll do.”

Keith Lowry, single adult ministry specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, works on a Habitat for Humanity project prior to the annual Texas Baptist Single Adult Conference.

Frankie Williams, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in San Antonio, said it’s important singles understand God has made them complete and is calling them to serve. Effective single adult ministries include prayer, Bible studies and opportunities to fellowship and minister to others.

“So many singles get caught up in the fact that they are single,” she said. “You can do so much more for the Lord. I’m not saying married people cannot. As a single person, if you are called to do something, you can do it.”

Unfortunately, some congregations who offer single adult ministries undermine people’s sense of wholeness by focusing on social events, Lowry said. By leaving out ministry, churches simply are creating matchmaker services.

“A lot of times single adult ministries focus on activities for the singles —‘Let’s do something; let’s have fun; let’s have a fellowship—but when you get single adults engaged in serving others outside of themselves, it turns the whole thing around,” he said. “Single adults are less concerned about their own needs. Now they’re concerned about meeting others’ needs. It changes the whole tenor of the ministry.”

Jackie Spraggins, single adult minister at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville, said like other ministries, relationships and service are key to single adult ministry. By encouraging people to get to know one another, they help each other and help others. For Spraggins' church, this includes monthly service opportunities where single adults work together to help people who need tasks done around their house.

“The opportunities are endless in singles ministry,” she said.

“You have the opportunity to touch the lives of singles adults, someone who is hurting for some reason. People are single for a season, usually … they have so much time to give, so much more of themselves to give. They are helped through their hurting to become who they are supposed to be in Christ.”