How did this happen? One minute you were grabbing a quick coffee and chatting with the first-time guest next to you. The next minute, the Lord is clearly leading you to go beyond a quick “hello” and extend a genuine welcome with a conversation. Quickly, you think through what to share. Does she want to know about the worship music? Should I mention our missions opportunities?
Knowing how to navigate the “welcome-to-our-church” conversation can be challenging. But, it doesn’t have to be.
Here are three messages to communicate to singles about your church:
1. “We’re glad you’re here.” Single adults want connections and relationships are important to them. Before you get much further, be sure to vocalize that you’re glad he or she came today. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just sincere.
2. “We have opportunities to help you grow spiritually.” Single adults are looking for tools to help them grow spiritually; specifically, they’re interested in small group Bible study and opportunities to learn how God has gifted them for His kingdom. Show them where to find this information, and you’ll be speaking to one of their primary questions.
3. “You’re a needed part of our family.” A quick look around most churches reveals that singles make up only a fraction of the congregation. It’s important to communicate single adults are valuable to the work of your church. When single adults are involved in the ministry of the church, it’s a gift for both the single adult and the church.
It all comes down to this: single adults want to know if there’s a place for them to “fit” and how they can be a part of the life of your church. Send these three messages and you’ll be laying the foundation for connecting with the singles in your community.
Amber Vaden served in collegiate ministry for over 12 years before joining Lifeway to work on small group curriculum for Lifeway Groups. A graduate of Arkansas State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, she now calls Murfreesboro, TN home.