For Some, Church Is the Place To Be When You're Single
From: wdef news
By: Reneé LaSalle
Published: January 9, 2008
 Walk
into any church on Sunday morning and you will more than likely
find families filling up the pews.
Church is very family friendly...but sometimes those who
find themselves not part of a family say it's hard to find
their place.
We take a look at one local church and its efforts to reach
out to single people in our community.
This is just a typical meeting of the Positive Christian
Singles.
The average attendance by this ministry at 1st Centenary
UMC is 60 or more.
Whether divorced, widowed or never married this group has
one thing in common...they are all single.
PCS Member Mimi Hooker says, "A lot of people say in
our society 'Well, phsaa...you're single, you're supposed
to be married...What's the matter with you?' Well sometimes
doo-doo happens (laughs)."
That's part of why this group exists.
Director Debbie Donohue says many churches don't have a lot
of single people and singles can feel a little lost.
She says these ministries can help singles get their bearings.
Donohue says, "A lot of our people who are divorced
or widowed used to come with their family and suddenly they
feel that loss and maybe they feel like they need somebody
to be with in church."
There is another benefit to being single in the church...sometimes
you end up not so single.
Matt Black and Jill Murphy met about a year and a half ago
thanks to Sunday School.
They were engaged in December and will marry later this year.
Murphy says, "There are certain things that you start
out knowing and assume are similar. Faith is very important
to me and it was a relief, actually to find someone to date
in the church."
Matt's Mom and step-Dad actually met in one of these PCS
meetings more than 20 years ago.
He says sometimes finding your mate in church just makes
sense.
Black says, "No guess work...Hopefully."
So...whether your looking for love or just a group of good
friends...visit your neighborhood sanctuary, you might find
your fit...
Hooker says, "It's a rich experience and it's one that
really feels like...'This is gonna work...it's okay...it's
okay to be single.'"
More than half of single adults in the US claim to be of
Christian faith.
However, almost two-thirds say church has nothing to offer
them.
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