Ministering to the Young Single Adult - Elmer Towns

Helping Young Single Adults Solve ProblemsHarry left a small southern town and moved to Washington, D.C., four years ago.He lives with a college student in a walk-up flat. The roommates spend late eveningsdiscussing evolution, Bible authority, and the “God is dead” movement. Harry regularlyattends the morning service of a downtown metropolitan church. During the week, heworks as an order clerk in an auto parts warehouse. “I really don’t believe in Christianityor Christ,” said Harry. Yet, he is not antagonistic to the gospel. “I attend church becausemany young people go here. The worship service is refined and the pastor seemsintelligent, not like the minister back home who was always yelling.” Harry was reared inan evangelical church but now is slipping into “contemporary agnosticism.” His mainproblem seems to be academic, but perhaps he has a deeper need. If we are going tominister to Harry, we must relate the gospel at the point of his need.Martha, a young single adult, moved to Cleveland seven months ago. Her first jobin the big city was the same as she had had back in her home town, a car-hop in a drivein.After three weeks she landed what she thought was a stable job as an elevator operatorin an office building. The corny jokes about the “ups and downs of life” along withboredom soon got to her. She found a job “where the action is.” Martha became a hatcheck girl in a nightclub. The tips were good and flirts were always asking her for datesafter working hours. This job was exciting, yet her conscience bothered her, so she quit.A week ago she became a file clerk at the City Gas Company. Here her salary will be aslarge as any of the previous jobs, and the fringe benefits promise some stability. Yet, sheis looking in the want ads for another job. Nothing has made Martha happy yet. She is notsure what she is to be in life. Her main problem seems to be a “purposeless” life. If weare to help Martha, we must relate the gospel to the point of her need.Sandy is a claims agent at a mail order house in downtown St. Louis. She hasbeen employed at the same company for twelve years and has lived in three differentapartments during the time. Each time she has received a raise in pay, she has moved to amore expensive apartment. She enjoys sophisticated living. The company has told Sandywhat they expect of her as a claims agent. She must be “honest yet firm.” Her sixth sensesnoops out fraudulent claims. Because of her ability to deal “briskly” with the public, shesaves the mail order house more than the price of her salary each year. Sandy’s mainproblem-her briskness is carried into every area of life. She treats people as things. Shedoesn’t have any close friends because she seems to “talk down” to everyone. As a result,she is extremely lonely. She has been drinking since her sophomore year in high schoolbut only socially.Lately, she has a drink before breakfast and usually two martinis during lunch.Sandy won’t admit to herself that she might be an alcoholic. She has many problems.Each problem is related to other problems; all contributing to her spiritual need. If we areto minister to Sandy, we must relate the gospel to the point of her need.I. COUNSELING YOUNG SINGLE ADULTS