Ministering to the Young Single Adult - Elmer Towns

young persons. The college student feels alienated because he cannot get involved, andtends not to return. Also, college students tend to want more intellectual topics dealingwith problems of the academic community in the program. The career young person hasprobably chosen not to attend college. Academic topics remind him that he did not go,and make him feel more inferior.4. A strong leader can overcome the college-career polarization. When a youngsingle adults meeting is based on worship, fellowship or Bible study there tends to be apolarization between the college and career members. However, a strong leader canbecome the catalyst, attracting and keeping both college and career young people. Withan aggressive personality, the program may be worship, Bible study or an aggressiveservice ministry, but strong leadership attracts visitors and becomes the basis on whichattendance is based.5. Fellowship is the most needed ministry for a young single adult group. Thetotal ministry of the church includes evangelism, Bible teaching, worship and training.The young single adult department will not always be able to duplicate these ministriesbecause the singles are involved in the total church program. However, fellowship is theone ministry most difficult to provide for singles. The phrase that would best characterizeyoung single careers today is “becoming human through significant relationships.” Thedeep-seated need of personal identity and direction in life can be provided by the totalchurch ministry, but is best accentuated through fellowship with other young singleadults.Remember, however, that single people have diversified interests, just the same asmarried people, and cannot be fitted into one neat group and be expected to be delightedwith the opportunity to “belong” and participate in the general idea of what “all” singlepeople enjoy doing.Also, single people can enjoy the company of their married counterparts . . . thefellowship of their homes and children. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that meetingsand programs designed for married people are not interesting to those who are notmarried simply because they are single.6. Programs for young single adults should go first class. Lyle Schaller reportsthe average church attendee in America gives $157 per year. This average is figured fromall who attend, averaged over the entire church year. In a study of fourteen churches, theyoung single adult gave $287 each per year to the church. First, they gave almost twice asmuch and second, they have less financial burdens than their married counterparts.Therefore, they have money available and are attracted to activities that are first class.This generalization will not apply to all career singles, but most seek a quality of life anddesire quality in Christian activities. They still have financial problems, but can pay theprice when their tickets help meet a need. The obvious weakness in the above comparisonis that $287 is averaged only among single people, each one a breadwinner. The otherfigure, $157, is averaged among babies, wives, teenagers and fathers who bring home apaycheck. Obviously, the single adult should be figured into the total church givingaverage. But, when isolated into a young single adult group, their giving power is greater.