Single Parent Family Ministry Ideas

Some churches offer ministries for single parent families.

In 2010 the New York Times reported that 25.8 percent of all children in the U.S. lived in single parent families. Most single parent families are headed by women, though men head some. Single parent families face numerous challenges, and some churches, synagogues and other religious organizations have single parent family ministries designed to support and encourage them, all in accord with their religious beliefs.

Support Groups

Churches and synagogues sometimes offer support groups for single parents. In these groups, single parents can share the joys and challenges of raising children on their own. While secular organizations sometimes offer support groups for single parents, one benefit of religious support groups is that the parents share the same faith and can offer each other spiritual and emotional support, including practical suggestions. Support group members may pray for one another during group meetings or otherwise draw upon their faith during meetings. Ministries often provide child care during support group meetings since single parents may have trouble arranging for child care.

Bible Studies

Churches may offer Bible studies specifically for single parents. While these Bible studies may resemble those offered for any member of the church, they may differ in some ways. For instance, women are more likely to be single parents than men, so the Bible study may consist of only women. In that case, the Bible study may focus on scriptures related to women's issues. Bible studies for single parents may also focus highly on scriptures related to parenting and families. Various ministries also provide child care during Bible study sessions.

Practical Support

Some churches and other religious congregations offer practical support to single parent families. For instance, men in the church may offer to do home repairs or car repairs for single mothers. Women in the church may offer to help single mothers and single fathers with child care. Ministries may offer practical support in the form of financial assistance when needed, financial counseling and other forms of education related to parenting.

Support for Children

Children in families headed by single mothers may lack positive male role models and those in families headed by single fathers may lack female role models and support. Ministries may match up men with families headed by single mothers and women with families headed by single fathers to spend time with children. They serve as role models or mentors or just provide some perspective on things from members of the opposite sex. Ministries may offer support groups or Bible studies for children from single parent families as well, although some children, particularly teens, may prefer not to be singled out from their peers from two-parent families.

References

• Mike Andrews, Pastor, Mansfield, Ohio.
• New York Times: Single Parents, Around the World
• Kentucky Baptist Convention: Single Parent Family Ministry