The New Singles Phenomenon

Did you know that there are more single people (26% of US population) in the United States than there are married people with children? (25%) (See “More Americans Than Ever Are Making The Most of Being Unmarried and Independent" by Pam Kelley in the Charlotte Observer on Feb. 9, 2004)

What are the implications of this fact? Below are several facts that I believe should draw the attention of Christian leaders and churches:

• If current trends continue, many people will enter their golden years without ever having been married.
• Given the absence of marriage many current singles will experience, the importance of platonic and non-romantic relationships becomes even more important. To replace the emotional support and nurturing usually provided by husbands and wives, what is the quality of our platonic relationships?
• Families, friends and churches will be taking on an increasing role in the support of elderly unmarried people. In the absence of this support, the government will be challenged to step in. Will the churches and the goverment appropriately respond to this call?
• Our churches will see its membership rolls to be comprised of more and more elderly never married people. Progressive churches will find ways to better minister to this growing population and these same churches will also find ways to benefit from this phenomenon.
• If the saying that two incomes are better than one holds true, a growing number of churches will see their tithing/offering income decline as the percentage of never married elderly people increases in these churches.
  

Each of the factors listed above can pose problems to be dealt with or opportunities to grow from for many local churches. For Christians everywhere, we have been given many gifts and talents and now is the time to apply them in turning this new singles phenomenon into blessings.

God would expect nothing less from us.