If you’re an unmarried man or woman looking for a church in Galesburg, IL, you may be wondering just what to look for. God’s Word makes it clear that single people play a special role in a church family, but how do you decide which church to join? After all, it’s one of the most important choices you’ll ever make. Here are a few things to look for in a Galesburg church as a single person.
Fellowship With Other Believers
If you’re a single believer who’s interested in finding a spouse, it can be tempting to choose a church based on this desire. As a single man, if you don’t spot many eligible women in the church service, (or vice versa, if you’re a woman), you may feel the church you’re visiting isn’t for you. However, it’s best to prioritize your opportunity to fellowship with all types of believers: young and old, male and female. Why?
First of all, the primary purpose of going to church isn’t to make a romantic match, but to be part of the body of Christ. In fact, if you’re focused on finding a partner at church, you may miss out on some of the blessings you could otherwise experience there. Opportunities for meeting believers of the right age and gender are slimmer these days than they used to be, but they do exist. Some Christian online communities (although you have to use plenty of discernment when joining them) can be a great way to find a like-minded partner. Singles’ retreats at Christian camps and ministries, mission trips and volunteer opportunities are all great ways to meet people.
If you’re vocal about your faith as you go about your daily life, and you make it a point to form relationships with a wide variety of people, you’ll meet potential mates organically (and fulfil the Great Commission). Jesus Himself interacted with all sorts of people in all sorts of places, and he found many of his followers in public, secular spaces. There’s no need to limit your search for a partner to your church family, or to choose a church on the basis of its marriageable members.
Furthermore, as believers, we are instructed to interact with other believers across generational, class, and cultural divides. Paul instructs older people to teach younger ones, and younger believers to seek out and learn from older ones. The Bible makes it clear that we are to actively seek out poor, sick, elderly, widowed and otherwise needy believers and find ways to serve them. It’s also clear from the Bible that race, gender, nationality, and other demographic divides are secondary; we are all one in Christ, and we can fellowship on that basis. As a single person, look for the opportunity to fellowship in a meaningful way with other believers at church–even if you wouldn’t want to date or marry any of them.
A Warm Church Family
Being single doesn’t mean you don’t have a family. You may spend lots of time with your parents and siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents, or other family members. However, as a single person, your church family is an especially important part of your walk with Christ. When a person gets married and starts their own family, they enjoy many new benefits.
First, a family provides accountability and emotional intimacy. Family members are often the first to know when you’re struggling with a controlling sin, and when they confront you, their concerns carry extra weight. Your family knows when you’re facing challenges or feeling down or discouraged, and they can step in to offer comfort and support. A godly church family can also help in similar ways, so you aren’t living the Christian life in a vacuum.
Second, a family provides the opportunity for legacy and growth. As you raise and train children, you impact the next generation, and that influence will likely last beyond your own life. As part of a church family, you have a similar chance to influence a community of believers, and help to add members to it, in ways that will impact the world for years to come. A church family isn’t meant to replace a nuclear family that forms when two people get married, but it can offer some of the same benefits.
Some single people feel out of place at a church where most members are married couples. The key thing to remember here is that everyone’s responsible to form a cohesive body. Married church members should extend warm outreach to singles, but single people are also responsible to reach out and actively form connections. In order to achieve harmony in the family of God, we all need to offer grace and understanding to those in different life stages or on different life paths.
Opportunities For Service
Single people are uniquely positioned for Christian service in ways that married people are not. Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 7, pointing out that he himself is single. Clearly, God used Paul in remarkable ways. Because he didn’t have traditional family responsibilities to a wife and children, Paul was available for Christian service in ways that a married man may not have been.
God calls many believers to marriage, but if you are currently single, you can serve in special ways. Look for a church with needs that you may have the resources to fulfil. Many churches would like to add more programs and ministries, reach more people, and serve the community in more creative ways, but time, energy and bandwidth among church members are at a premium. A single person who’s willing to devote their time and effort can do a lot to advance the spread of the gospel by partnering with their local church. It can be tempting to find churches that already have plenty of special programs and opportunities for you to enjoy. However, your opportunities for service may be greater at a church that’s seeking growth and expansion but needs more hands on deck. If you approach the full-time church staff and directly ask how you can be of help, you might be surprised what you’ll discover!
We welcome single people at Harmony Baptist Church. If you’re interested in learning more about what we believe or how you can get involved here, visit our Contact page!
