News

Adventist Single Adult Ministries Is Featured On Cover Page

Of Canadian Union Messenger, July 2009 Issue "Single In A

Couple's World"

You can view front cover and article at:

http://www.sdacc.org/en/departments/messenger.php

Minivans for Moms

Twice a year AOK (Acts of Kindness), a community program from the Aldergrove Church,

volunteers suit up for what they call Single Mom’s Oil Change. AOK partners with Fraser

Valley Adventist Academy. On a Sunday afternoon, between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m., the auto

mechanic shop sees about 25 cars come for a little TLC. A free oil change, tire pressure,

liquid level check up, car wash and detailing is the ordeal that every car must bear while

the owner fellowships with friends and enjoys a warm drink.

It is from this ministry that Darren Allen decided to go the extra mile. Darren and his wife,

Denise, run a small boat refurbishing business. With the tools, the knowledge, a little space,

and a huge heart, Darren decided to see about helping some of the single moms who came

through the free oil change service with inadequate cars, to say the least. Money came in

from individuals and from a benefit concert, while others donated their mini-vans in need

of a few repairs. This became known as “Minivans for Moms”. To date, three mini-vans

have been able to given away to single moms and a family in need. Since then, one mother,

Candice has made some serious life changes, gone back to school, and considers the

Aldergrove Church her home church. Also Leah Childs’ family has a much more reliable

van for her six-member family and is able to take on the unexpected challenge of single

parenthood with a reliable van.

The need is great as we continue to mingle with our community family and we humbly

pray that God will lead us to those who are in need around us. It’s such a joy to make a

difference in other people’s lives!

Frances Douville AOK Facilitator

North American Division Adventist Single Adult Ministries

Upcoming NAD ASAM Conventions:

2011 Denver, Colorado June 30-July 2

2013 Toronto, Ontario July 4-6, 2013

ASAM Leadership conventions will be held every other year 2010, 2012, 2014, etc.

Adventist Single Adult Ministries in the British Columbia Conference

One of the largest and fastest growing people groups in Canada and North America is

the single adult; the never-married, the widowed and divorced. As of the 2006

Canadian Census they now make up 51.6% of the adult population.

So, what is the Adventist Church doing to minister to and reach out to this fast growing

people group? What we are doing is not nearly enough.

Next year in 2009 ASAM will have been in the British Columbia Conference for

30 years. Has the ministry grown in 30 years? I’m sorry to say that we have not

grown very much. We have very few churches that are ministering to these church

members. In fact, many singles leave the church for various reasons; one of the

reasons being they do not feel accepted as they are. Marriage is the standard we

hold up. If and once you are married then you are okay. What a shame!

Yes, marriage is good for that is the way we were created but singleness is also

good. When you look in the Bible you will find many of God’s workers were single’

Daniel, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul and yes, even Jesus.

So, just what is Adventist Single Adult Ministries? Is it a place to look for a spouse?

No, it is a ministry. It is:

1. A place of ministry both for and by the single adult church member.

2. Above all a place where single adults can learn of and develop a strong

relationship with their Saviour and Friend, Jesus Christ.

3. It is a place where the single adult can receive the love and acceptance of

friends that they perhaps do not receive in their local church.

4. It is a place where single adults can recover from loss through divorce and

death of a spouse.

5. It is a place of fellowship where single adults can build good, healthy and

strong Christian friendship with other single adults.

And so, this evening, I challenge you, each church member to love and accept single

members just as they are.

I challenge each church to establish a Single Adult Ministry.

And above all, I challenge each single member to become comfortable with their

singleness and to work on their relationship with the Lord. Singleness is a gift of

time that God has given to you to work on your relationship with Him. It is a gift

of time for you to reach out to other singles to help them work on their relationship

with Him through Adventist Single Adult Ministry.

In British Columbia we have three conference-wide events each year:

1. Spring Retreat

2. Nightly meetings at camp meeting

3. Thanksgiving Retreat in October

Yes, with 51.6% of the adult population of Canada single, God has given Adventist

Single Adult Ministries a real opportunity. My fellow Seventh-day Adventist Church

member, what are we going to do about it?

The above article was presented by Darlene Reimche at the 2008 British Columbia Conference Camp

FRIDAY FAX, Special Edition
A News and Information Service for Leaders in North America

THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT
OF THE CHURCH!

How can we reach and effectively utilize the vast, untapped ministry potential

of the largest and fastest growing segment in society and in our church - Single

Adults? Too many to ignore and growing in number, Single Adults want to be

included as an integral part of our church.

WHO ARE THEY? A HALF MILLION SINGLE NAD ADVENTISTS CAN'T BE

IGNORED! They comprise nearly half the membership of the Adventist Church! That

percentage would be even higher, but a study conducted by the division found that

when an Adventist couple gets divorced, at least one of the spouses leaves the church

within one year 70% of the time!

The term 'single adult' covers a wide range of categories and age groups - never married

(age 18+), divorced, widowed, and single parents. Although approximately half of our

church is not married, most singles will tell you that there is a definite stigma associated

with being unattached. Many, especially single parents and those recently single again,

are struggling to make ends meet. Singles often deal with guilt and regret over divorce

and feel ostracized. Many times singles are overlooked by local church members and

committees.

"Jesus was a single person," says North American Division President Don Schneider.

"He understands what it is like to be alone. Obviously there must always be room for

singles in church life!

WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING FOR THEM? - Adventist Single Adult Ministries (ASAM) was

officially organized as a ministry under the NAD Family Ministries Department in 2003.

One trend is a shift from a social club to nurture and more outreach. ASAM groups

are sponsoring hundreds of short-term mission trips.

Andrea Hicks, ASAM Coordinator said "I am excited about our potential to impact our

church and world for Christ. Some of our projects for this year include: 1) development

of a Certification Pr3) production of a DVD to better educate members and leaders

at every level about ASAM."

Contact: Andrea Hicks at Ahicks@nadasam.com with ideas or questions.

Managing Editor - Lynetta Murdoch

Are you an Adventist single? Why not offer to help the Ministry in your area? You are needed! Together we we can make a difference.			Adventist Single Adult Ministries Is Featured On Cover Page Of Canadian Union Messenger, July 2009 Issue "Single In A Couple's World" You can view front cover and article at: http://www.sdacc.org/en/departments/messenger.php Minivans for Moms Twice a year AOK (Acts of Kindness), a community program from the Aldergrove Church, volunteers suit up for what they call Single Mom’s Oil Change. AOK partners with Fraser Valley Adventist Academy. On a Sunday afternoon, between 12:00 and 4:00 p.m., the auto mechanic shop sees about 25 cars come for a little TLC. A free oil change, tire pressure, liquid level check up, car wash and detailing is the ordeal that every car must bear while the owner fellowships with friends and enjoys a warm drink. It is from this ministry that Darren Allen decided to go the extra mile. Darren and his wife, Denise, run a small boat refurbishing business. With the tools, the knowledge, a little space, and a huge heart, Darren decided to see about helping some of the single moms who came through the free oil change service with inadequate cars, to say the least. Money came in from individuals and from a benefit concert, while others donated their mini-vans in need of a few repairs. This became known as “Minivans for Moms”. To date, three mini-vans have been able to given away to single moms and a family in need. Since then, one mother, Candice has made some serious life changes, gone back to school, and considers the Aldergrove Church her home church. Also Leah Childs’ family has a much more reliable van for her six-member family and is able to take on the unexpected challenge of single parenthood with a reliable van. The need is great as we continue to mingle with our community family and we humbly pray that God will lead us to those who are in need around us. It’s such a joy to make a difference in other people’s lives! Frances Douville AOK Facilitator North American Division Adventist Single Adult Ministries Upcoming NAD ASAM Conventions: 2011 Denver, Colorado June 30-July 2 2013 Toronto, Ontario July 4-6, 2013 ASAM Leadership conventions will be held every other year 2010, 2012, 2014, etc. Adventist Single Adult Ministries in the British Columbia Conference One of the largest and fastest growing people groups in Canada and North America is the single adult; the never-married, the widowed and divorced. As of the 2006 Canadian Census they now make up 51.6% of the adult population. So, what is the Adventist Church doing to minister to and reach out to this fast growing people group? What we are doing is not nearly enough. Next year in 2009 ASAM will have been in the British Columbia Conference for 30 years. Has the ministry grown in 30 years? I’m sorry to say that we have not grown very much. We have very few churches that are ministering to these church members. In fact, many singles leave the church for various reasons; one of the reasons being they do not feel accepted as they are. Marriage is the standard we hold up. If and once you are married then you are okay. What a shame! Yes, marriage is good for that is the way we were created but singleness is also good. When you look in the Bible you will find many of God’s workers were single’ Daniel, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul and yes, even Jesus. So, just what is Adventist Single Adult Ministries? Is it a place to look for a spouse? No, it is a ministry. It is: 1. A place of ministry both for and by the single adult church member. 2. Above all a place where single adults can learn of and develop a strong relationship with their Saviour and Friend, Jesus Christ. 3. It is a place where the single adult can receive the love and acceptance of friends that they perhaps do not receive in their local church. 4. It is a place where single adults can recover from loss through divorce and death of a spouse. 5. It is a place of fellowship where single adults can build good, healthy and strong Christian friendship with other single adults. And so, this evening, I challenge you, each church member to love and accept single members just as they are. I challenge each church to establish a Single Adult Ministry. And above all, I challenge each single member to become comfortable with their singleness and to work on their relationship with the Lord. Singleness is a gift of time that God has given to you to work on your relationship with Him. It is a gift of time for you to reach out to other singles to help them work on their relationship with Him through Adventist Single Adult Ministry. In British Columbia we have three conference-wide events each year: 1. Spring Retreat 2. Nightly meetings at camp meeting 3. Thanksgiving Retreat in October Yes, with 51.6% of the adult population of Canada single, God has given Adventist Single Adult Ministries a real opportunity. My fellow Seventh-day Adventist Church member, what are we going to do about it? The above article was presented by Darlene Reimche at the 2008 British Columbia Conference Camp FRIDAY FAX, Special Edition A News and Information Service for Leaders in North America THE FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF THE CHURCH! How can we reach and effectively utilize the vast, untapped ministry potential of the largest and fastest growing segment in society and in our church - Single Adults? Too many to ignore and growing in number, Single Adults want to be included as an integral part of our church. WHO ARE THEY? A HALF MILLION SINGLE NAD ADVENTISTS CAN'T BE IGNORED! They comprise nearly half the membership of the Adventist Church! That percentage would be even higher, but a study conducted by the division found that when an Adventist couple gets divorced, at least one of the spouses leaves the church within one year 70% of the time! The term 'single adult' covers a wide range of categories and age groups - never married (age 18+), divorced, widowed, and single parents. Although approximately half of our church is not married, most singles will tell you that there is a definite stigma associated with being unattached. Many, especially single parents and those recently single again, are struggling to make ends meet. Singles often deal with guilt and regret over divorce and feel ostracized. Many times singles are overlooked by local church members and committees. "Jesus was a single person," says North American Division President Don Schneider. "He understands what it is like to be alone. Obviously there must always be room for singles in church life! WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING FOR THEM? - Adventist Single Adult Ministries (ASAM) was officially organized as a ministry under the NAD Family Ministries Department in 2003. One trend is a shift from a social club to nurture and more outreach. ASAM groups are sponsoring hundreds of short-term mission trips. Andrea Hicks, ASAM Coordinator said "I am excited about our potential to impact our church and world for Christ. Some of our projects for this year include: 1) development of a Certification Pr3) production of a DVD to better educate members and leaders at every level about ASAM." Contact: Andrea Hicks at Ahicks@nadasam.com with ideas or questions. Managing Editor - Lynetta Murdoch