This week God has been in my face about more time praying. Prayer is something I struggle with...not so much praying or speaking to God but with not allowing everything in the world to distract me. As a singles leader, trainer, director, and all the other things I do, I know how critical it is to have a consistent prayer life. I know the enemy doesn't want me to succeed. He will through so many of his darts at me. He will whisper lies. He will thwart my efforts.

But my victory and my strength is IN the prayer life we are all called too. So if today the enemy managed to distract you. If your morning quiet time became your time in the car driving. If your time allowing God to speak to you competed with your boss telling you what to do, then stop now, go to the bathroom, sit in your car, turn off the phone and talk to God.

It's never too late for prayer. But don't forget to listen.
Exodus 9:29
Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.

Is it possible to have a singles ministry in which there are never any storms? Where everyone gets along, there is no drama, no one is sleeping with anyone else, no cohabitation, and no argueing. Where everyone is growing in their relationship with Christ. Where everyone shows up each Sunday morning. Where everyone is prepared because they have done their small group lesson. Where everyone can't wait to tell you what God has done in their life that week.

Well, it could happen but probably not on this earth. How do I know this? Well, if you have ever served in singles ministry in any way, you know its an on-going ministry to the healthy and unhealthy. To the saved and unsaved. To the high on Jesus and near suicidal. Bottom line, its a storm. And with a storm you never know where it's always coming from and where its going. You aren't sure if it will bring the cooling temperatures needed so much on a hot summer day or the disaster from a tornado. You aren't sure if its the kind of storm that will water the dry land full of crop or create a tidal wave and destroy everything in its path.

But even with knowing this, I thank God for the storms in my ministy as well as in my life.  Even though storms can sometimes bring distruction it can also brings change. And some of us need change. Change in our attitudes, change in our professions, change in our focus, and change in our obedience.

What storm do you need God to bring in your life?
Job 40:6
Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:

This question was recently asked of me. Below is my basic answer without having too many details.
Question: Why don't other singles ministries (churches) promote events that other churches for doing for singles.
Answer; Some churches do feel you might steal their singles and as a result do not tell their singles about other events going on in other churches.
Answer: Some churches/pastors/leaders forget to promote due to their plate/calendar being full
Answer: Some churches are not as concerned for singles being connected as others.
Solution:  You have to build a relationship with each pastor/leader from each church so there is a mutual relationship and understanding of the vision of the ministry. If you simply, have an email agreement or surface relationship, then there is no buy-in or ownership of the city-wide ministry emphasis. The more you are connected to these other pastors/leaders, the more likely the will help get the word out, as well as be apart of the event. Also, think about rotating event locations to various churches as well as having the pastors/leaders of these churches be the host. Why invent a new event vs. supporting an existing event at one church.

I was recently going through some old photo's when I came across one of me doing some comedy at Singles Source, First Assembly in Concord, NC. Singles Source as well as a few other ministries are still going strong, reaching the lost, growing the saved and equipping the leaders. But some have fallen by the wayside. Whether its because they forgot to build their leaders, build their leaders, or build their leaders. Or, forgot to pray regularly, resulting in loss of focus and direction.

Recently I was on the phone with Christian Happenings. I had put the Navigate Retreat on their calendar. Of course, within minutes they called me trying to solicit additional business including selling tickets for me.  I proceeded to tell her how singles ministry as a whole doesn't have a large enough event out there to require tickets sold by an agency. She then ask me why? Of course, I told her my 2 cent worth. I shared with her about the old days of huge conferences, magazines and resources for leadership, large retreats and concerts and how they were all pretty much gone. That yes, there are a few spots here and there bringing in numbers over a hundred. I also told her about social media, dating sites, the mega church, small groups (deleting Sunday school) and their affect on singles ministry. And of course the lost of singles pastors or the added responsibilities.

So, what is in the future for singles ministry? Well, until God tells me to stop, I am going to keep doing what he wants me to do. I am going to keep reaching the singles, growing the leaders and encouraging the pastors.  I know our country is growing every day in the singles population. Maybe some of the old ways don't work anymore. Maybe God wants us to try some new ways. Remember, its not the message that has change but the methods.

I would love to hear from you. How have your methods had to change to meet the challenges of reaching today's single.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” -
2 Thessalonians 1:3

Thanks to each of you who are committed in praying for this ministry. Please know I need each of you.