Most of us have witnessed a divorce within our congregations; many of us have seen it up close and personal in our own families. It doesn’t matter how big or small the church is, divorce goes well beyond affecting just the parents and children involved. It affects their extended family, it affects all the people they are serving with, and it affects the people they may be … [Read more...]
I don’t want Mommy to date anybody!
Imagine this: Sunday morning after the service, a church member, Amber, approaches you for some advice. She’s been a single mom of two young children since her divorce a few years ago. Recently, she’s started dating again and is interested in pursuing a relationship, but she doesn’t know if that’s the right decision with two kids at home. What counsel can you offer Amber? … [Read more...]
Single parents: Is your church meeting their unique needs?
Download the book today! And if you need even more help creating a viable ministry to the single parents in your community, consider Single & Parenting, a video-based curriculum from the editorial team behind CareLeader.org. Regarding Single & Parenting, Angela Thomas says, “I think this program is so powerful for the church for several reasons: it meets an immediate need of … [Read more...]
Caring for the fatherless
Growing up without a father There’s the seven-year-old boy who spent a couple of weeks with his father, who wants to be a player in Las Vegas. The boy comes back totally confused, talking crazily about women, and saying he wants to be like his daddy. There’s the kid who’s acting out in school. Or the fourth-grader who is participating in a school assignment that … [Read more...]
Single-parent families: The mission field in Sunday pews
In the early days of my being single again, friends said, “Call me if you need anything.” But I didn’t call anyone for several months. Why? Because I had so many needs I didn’t know where to begin. Then one Saturday morning, a flat tire forced me to into the unfamiliar world of car maintenance. My husband and I had settled into traditional roles: I took … [Read more...]