One by One: Welcoming the Singles in Your Church
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.48 (830 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 080107293X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 240 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2017-11-05 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
"With humility and goodwill, Dalfonzo seeks to expose the shortcomings of many churches' relationships with single people by humanizing the experience of so many of us, taking the single person from a caricature to a crucial member of the body." --Christianity Today
There are now more single adults than married adults in the United States, yet the evangelical church continues to focus primarily on serving couples and families with ministries geared toward their particular needs. She shows how the church of Paul, who commended those who remained single, became the church where singles are too often treated like second class Christians. This can lead, however unintentionally, to the marginalization of adults who are single by choice, divorce, or death, or who are simply not yet married. Families are a good thing, but so are all of God's people, and singles long to be lovingly integrated into the Body of Christ.In One by One, Gina Dalfonzo explores common misconceptions and stereotypes about singles, including the idea that they must be single because something is wrong with them, and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways they are devalued, like when sermons focus overmuch on navigating marital relationships or raising children. Then she explores what the church is doing right, what unique services singles can offer the church, and, most importantly, what the church can do to love and support the singles in their midst.
It did not disappoint. With a blend of traditional research and personal Read Yourself to Sleep I married young at 22, and my church attendance and involvement was touch and go for most of my college years, so I didn't truly experience adult singleness within the context of the church. Because of that, I was eager to read Ms. Dalfonzo's take on the issue. I hoped it would open my eyes and help me tune in to those with perspectives and experiences different from my own. It did not disappoint. With a blend of traditional research and personal experiences, Dalfonzo presents the problem (social stigmas/stereotypes associated with singleness within the church), the causes, and the potential solutions with page-turning fine. "A must read for the married, ill-informed pastor" according to P. K. Burns. Here is a book that not only puts a good perspective on the issues, but offers constructive ideas on how to address the concerns. This book is an honest, frank assessment on how singlehood is (or isn't) handled with in the church. Every pastor, elder, associate minister should read this book for a current perspective.. "Unlike Your Last Online Dating Foray, One by One Doesn't Disappoint" according to JB Smith. With One by One, Dalfonzo goes where few dating books have even tiptoed in the past. With refreshing boldness and clarity, she weaves together interview responses, family history, classic texts, online articles, and personal anecdotes to create a tapestry detailing where we are, where we could go, and how we could get there. But for Dalfonzo’s book to make a mark, we have to first acknowledge a foundational truth: Many churches are proudly family-centered, and while this purpose aligns well with the American dream, it does little to welcome those of us who don’t fit the same mold.We have built a church whose pro