A lot of people put down the mega churches – too large or impersonal, but I find they are more like the full service gas stations that we used to have where the filling station service man checks your oil, cleans your windshield, and pumps gas into your car for you. They have more of the ministries that more people need. The small churches remind me of a self-service gas station where you have to take care of your own needs or you get with the program of doing children’s ministries. Children’s ministries are the only thing I can do at the church I used to go to. Nothing against children’s church, but after raising seven children (five of my own and two step children full time), I’m looking for some other ministry opportunities now that my youngest will graduate from college in December.
One ministry that seems to be neglected in many churches is the widow’s ministry. They spoke about this in the book of Acts:
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Acts 6:1
That we don’t neglect the widow’s ministry. The larger churches have divorce recovery, single’s ministry and usually a Steven’s or widows ministry.
Next, for my side of town (the Westside of Indy) the single’s ministry is pretty zilch. There are some people trying to make a difference, I just hope it does not turn out like most single’s ministry where it this unbalance of 40 women and 10 guys at most.
When I became widowed, which this is nothing different from being a Christian single when I first got saved and broke up with my boyfriend at 17 years old; I looked for a strong group of singles where I lived on the Westside of town at Lakeview Christian Church were more focused on teens. I ended up going into a full time Christian ministry with several singles that traveled in missionary work for two years instead of staying in Indiana. I met my husband later when I moved back to Indiana through a single’s ad, but I was attending Chapel Rock Christian Church at the time and they had a single’s leader and they had around fifty people. They had a Friday night coffee house about once a month and several Christian concerts they sponsored. My husband and I were married by the single’s pastor.
This time when I became widowed, I decided to ask different people, “What is the best single’s group as far as the most activities going.” I used to go out to eat with my husband and to movies so I was looking for something more than that in single’s group as far as a little different than two things since we were also active couple in other things. I did not want my life to die when my husband died.
I visited a few single Bible studies and groups and I was told that the Zionsville Presbyterian Church had the best single’s ministry. I became involved with their MOSIAC group for three years in helping out with worship and hosted at least 11 single social parties at my home through ZPC, but then they cut the single’s pastor. Same thing happened at E91, they had a single parent’s group I like attending, but then the leadership quit supporting it.
My husband and I attended a small church of around 100 people for several years and we were the only blended family, so we had to go for counseling outside the church for blended family issues. Our pastor only had one singleton child and never was divorced so he said he was not qualified to counsel us on blended family issues. Most of my support was through books, Internet step-family user boards and professional counseling. I did not get any help from anyone at church. That scripture that says “bear one another burdens.” I have not experienced that in my Christian walk, because I’ve not found anyone who really knows how to bear other people’s burdens. My husband and I bore each other’s burdens as far as an equal sharing back and forth of two oxen pulling a load, but I’ve not found very much burden bearing in the body of Christ yet.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. Proverbs 14:4
Now, pretty much the only group I would recommend as far as Bible study, sports ministry and active single’s group that sits together on Sunday and goes out afterwards for fellowship, camping, missions and service to the community is Indian Creek for the southside. On the northside, there is Keystone at the Crossing, Grace and Northview that has some single’s ministries.
You can’t argue with something that produces results and I got to baptize my daughter on Super Bowl Sunday and that is what I’m talking about is a single’s group that produced results. They had a wonderful music concert the single’s group hosted a few months ago.
It talks about the “passion” of Christ. I was passionately in love with my husband, and I am passionately in love with Jesus and I’m very passionate when it comes to loving and serving him to help others. The whole body of Christ is not just married couples in the church. Because of the “joy” set before him Jesus endured the cross despising the shame. (Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2)
I despise the reproach of my widowhood now, although the Lord said I don’t have to suffer shame. Jesus was stripped and almost naked on the cross to bear our shame in life.
Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Isaiah 54:4
In the same way, it’s a cross to bear in being single, divorced or widowed as far as the church caters to married couples. I’ve spoken to several singles like me and we have married friends, but there are different places in life and we don’t all fit into the same mold.
The full service stations (mega churches) seem to be the ones that are meeting the needs for singles and widows, having a Saturday service, and a few of the smaller churches are trying to “kick-start” ministries, but unless the pastors come on board, I don’t see how they will be successful.
Their church will continue to be a self-service church, until the pastors allow other ministries to come forth.
When I woke up this morning I heard this verse, “Be strong and courageous.” I believe that the Lord told that to Joshua for several reasons, but mainly because there are giants to take out to reach the promise land of our lives and that is to move forward in the ministries that God has called us to. (Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Joshua 1:6)
Most of the large churches, encourage their members to get involved in a home Bible study and that way, you can get closer to people which is what a lot of the single groups have started in a separate Bible study outside the church or more home fellowships.
I like this song by Shania Twain, It so reminds me of my relationship with Jesus right now: Jesus says, “Girl no matter what it looks like, don’t give up on Me to get you through this life and be an overcomer.” Don’t look at man standing in your way to the promise land.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBBswUTIr8
One ministry that seems to be neglected in many churches is the widow’s ministry. They spoke about this in the book of Acts:
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Acts 6:1
That we don’t neglect the widow’s ministry. The larger churches have divorce recovery, single’s ministry and usually a Steven’s or widows ministry.
Next, for my side of town (the Westside of Indy) the single’s ministry is pretty zilch. There are some people trying to make a difference, I just hope it does not turn out like most single’s ministry where it this unbalance of 40 women and 10 guys at most.
When I became widowed, which this is nothing different from being a Christian single when I first got saved and broke up with my boyfriend at 17 years old; I looked for a strong group of singles where I lived on the Westside of town at Lakeview Christian Church were more focused on teens. I ended up going into a full time Christian ministry with several singles that traveled in missionary work for two years instead of staying in Indiana. I met my husband later when I moved back to Indiana through a single’s ad, but I was attending Chapel Rock Christian Church at the time and they had a single’s leader and they had around fifty people. They had a Friday night coffee house about once a month and several Christian concerts they sponsored. My husband and I were married by the single’s pastor.
This time when I became widowed, I decided to ask different people, “What is the best single’s group as far as the most activities going.” I used to go out to eat with my husband and to movies so I was looking for something more than that in single’s group as far as a little different than two things since we were also active couple in other things. I did not want my life to die when my husband died.
I visited a few single Bible studies and groups and I was told that the Zionsville Presbyterian Church had the best single’s ministry. I became involved with their MOSIAC group for three years in helping out with worship and hosted at least 11 single social parties at my home through ZPC, but then they cut the single’s pastor. Same thing happened at E91, they had a single parent’s group I like attending, but then the leadership quit supporting it.
My husband and I attended a small church of around 100 people for several years and we were the only blended family, so we had to go for counseling outside the church for blended family issues. Our pastor only had one singleton child and never was divorced so he said he was not qualified to counsel us on blended family issues. Most of my support was through books, Internet step-family user boards and professional counseling. I did not get any help from anyone at church. That scripture that says “bear one another burdens.” I have not experienced that in my Christian walk, because I’ve not found anyone who really knows how to bear other people’s burdens. My husband and I bore each other’s burdens as far as an equal sharing back and forth of two oxen pulling a load, but I’ve not found very much burden bearing in the body of Christ yet.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. Proverbs 14:4
Now, pretty much the only group I would recommend as far as Bible study, sports ministry and active single’s group that sits together on Sunday and goes out afterwards for fellowship, camping, missions and service to the community is Indian Creek for the southside. On the northside, there is Keystone at the Crossing, Grace and Northview that has some single’s ministries.
You can’t argue with something that produces results and I got to baptize my daughter on Super Bowl Sunday and that is what I’m talking about is a single’s group that produced results. They had a wonderful music concert the single’s group hosted a few months ago.
It talks about the “passion” of Christ. I was passionately in love with my husband, and I am passionately in love with Jesus and I’m very passionate when it comes to loving and serving him to help others. The whole body of Christ is not just married couples in the church. Because of the “joy” set before him Jesus endured the cross despising the shame. (Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2)
I despise the reproach of my widowhood now, although the Lord said I don’t have to suffer shame. Jesus was stripped and almost naked on the cross to bear our shame in life.
Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Isaiah 54:4
In the same way, it’s a cross to bear in being single, divorced or widowed as far as the church caters to married couples. I’ve spoken to several singles like me and we have married friends, but there are different places in life and we don’t all fit into the same mold.
The full service stations (mega churches) seem to be the ones that are meeting the needs for singles and widows, having a Saturday service, and a few of the smaller churches are trying to “kick-start” ministries, but unless the pastors come on board, I don’t see how they will be successful.
Their church will continue to be a self-service church, until the pastors allow other ministries to come forth.
When I woke up this morning I heard this verse, “Be strong and courageous.” I believe that the Lord told that to Joshua for several reasons, but mainly because there are giants to take out to reach the promise land of our lives and that is to move forward in the ministries that God has called us to. (Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Joshua 1:6)
Most of the large churches, encourage their members to get involved in a home Bible study and that way, you can get closer to people which is what a lot of the single groups have started in a separate Bible study outside the church or more home fellowships.
I like this song by Shania Twain, It so reminds me of my relationship with Jesus right now: Jesus says, “Girl no matter what it looks like, don’t give up on Me to get you through this life and be an overcomer.” Don’t look at man standing in your way to the promise land.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBBswUTIr8
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