One-Parent Families and the Local Church
Why a ministry to One-Parent Families?
As Christians, we are called upon to help those in need—not indiscriminately, but thoughtfully and with discernment
at work to determine the most appropriate way to help. According to Brenda Armstrong and Larry Burkett in Single Parent
Family Ministry Training Manual, we are to keep the following injunctions in mind when we contemplate whom we are to help:
- Our own families;
- Our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially the widows and orphans among us;
- the poor the stranger and the alien (the unbelievers).
One might ask “how we can look at helping single parent families when the adults are not widows nor are the children orphans?” According to Armstrong and Burkett, if one looks at all the definitions of widows, it includes the ancient concept of the Grass Widow (or widower) that includes a woman (or man) who is divorced or separated or temporarily away from his/her wife or husband. In scripture, the Greek word chera is used in this context and is interpreted as “the idea of deficiency; a widow (lacking a husband), literal or figurative”—which would include the concept of the grass widow.
In addition, the definition of an orphan can include those who are deprived of some protection or advantage, usually offered by a parent. Another interpretation of this is the use of the term “fatherless” which occurs no less than 39 times. Remember that in the term “single parent”, the word “single” is just the adjective; parent is Who they are. This shifts the ministry emphasis to the welfare of the family i.e. the children (orphans and fatherless) instead of the marital status of the parent. It then is easy to see that there are many biblical injunctions to take care of the widows, orphans and fatherless. This is family ministry.
What Does Scripture say about One-Parent Families?
Exodus 22:22-24: You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry and my wrath will become hot.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates…. the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Psalm 68:5: A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.
Psalm 82:3: Defend the poor and the fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and the needy.
Psalm 146:9: The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the Fatherless and the widow…
Isaiah 1:17: Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
James 1:27: Pure and defiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…
Why don’t single parents fit into my singles’ ministry?
Changing Families can help you answer that important question. Some of the issues involve:
- Traditional singles ministry focuses on singleness and finding wholeness as a single.
- There is much emphasis in singles’ groups on ministry in action as well as social interaction.
Social events and ministry in action present problems for single parents because:
- There is a different social focus for singles and single parents.
- There are childcare concerns that singles do not face.
- Single parents are faced with many more financial obligations and restrictions than singles deal with. Indeed, 45% of one-parent homes headed by moms have an income below the poverty line.
- There is a lack on spontaneity that singles are not facing.
- Single parents are also unable to commit large blocks of time to social events or ministry functions, such as mission trips, etc.
- Because of these problems, single parents are unlikely to attend on a regular basis.
What would it take to minister to single parent families in MY church?
Very simply: a new approach to doing ministry. Changing Families can help you with the answers to these and other questions:
- How do I handle the issues of the Bible and divorce?
- How can I attract single parents to my congregation or fellowship?
- How are practical ministry needs best met?
- What does socializing look like for single parent families?
- What about the kids???
- How can I incorporate single parents within my congregation?
- How can we reach out to heal the pain caused by death, divorce, or disappointment these families have experienced?
How do I bring a One-Parent Family ministry like Changing Families to my home church?
When you contact Changing Families we can help you through:
- Phone and/or e-mail consultations
- In-person consultations with your congregational leaders
- An in-person seminar by the Changing Families seminar leadership team
Take Our Interactive Quiz |
Resources for additional reading:
Single Parent Ministry Training Manual. Larry Burkett and Brenda Armstrong. Crown Financial Ministries. P.O. Box 2377 Gainesville, Georgia.
Building Blocks of Recovery for Children in Single Parent homes. Training Leaders and Equipping Parents to Help Kids Heal. Gary Sprague. Kids Hope. Woodland Park, Colorado. (four audio-tapes)
The Financial Guide for Single Parents. Larry Burkett. Moody Press.
