08-21-2008, 02:48 PM
Here is an article from the Adventist World August issue of the Adventist Review. I can't find it on their website so have retyped it here. I've also included the article in the Adventist Media of this forum.
The Challenge of Singleness
By Andrea D. Hicks, coordinator, Adventist Single Adult Ministries, with Barbara Babcock, Darlene Reimche, and Delores Richardson
I left the church after a divorce,” says Carol Weir, of Grace Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida. “If it was not for the Florida ASAM, I would not have returned to church.”
Adventist Single Adult Ministries (ASAM) is a fellowship that provides opportunities and encouragement to single adults that are never-married, divorced, widowed, or single parents. It provides a platform on which adults can discuss various issues, study God’s Word, pray together, network, play, travel, and enjoy God’s great outdoors—all to enhance the quality of a single person’s life.
ASAM is a growing ministry within the North American Division (NAD). This ministry is part of the Family Ministries Department of the NAD. “Single adults are resourceful, gifted,” says Willie Oliver, director of family ministries for the NAD. “(They) have much to contribute to the mission of the church.”
ASAM is not a dating service, but a ministry to support and nurture relationships among single adults with other members of the church family. It also serves as a resource for ideas, encouragement, and materials for leaders at the local church level.
An Emerging Ministry
The committee met for the first time in October 2003, and two months later it was voted as a standing committee by the administration of the North American Division.
Barbara Babcock became its first coordinator, serving until March 2007. Last November, a biannual leadership training conferences were voted to begin in 2008, and biannual conventions to start in 2009. The NAD’s Oliver works closely with Andrea Hicks, who was appointed ASAM coordinator in 2007.
Statistics indicate that single adults are waiting longer to get married. They may be waiting until they establish their careers, or perhaps the divorce rate makes them nervous about marriage. The death of a spouse also highlights the importance of a ministry to singles. Other challenges include divorce recovery, being a single parent, being involved in blended families, concerns about dating, developing long-lasting friendships, and matters arising from pre-engagement or premarital issues dealing with second marriages.
ASAM assists in developing tools to address these needs and many others.
At the same time, single adults have what may be seen as certain advantages over their married counterparts, such as having more freedom to do ministry, financial stability, and being able to pursue their dreams without the weight of family responsibilities. ASAM is involved in a number of outreach initiatives, such as feeding the homeless; street evangelism; and mission trips, during which members assist in evangelistic efforts and help construct new church buildings.
Since 2003 a better awareness of single adult ministries has developed within the NAD. Single adults are ore accepting of their singleness, and the stigma of singleness has lessened within the church. One goal is to have an ASAM department in every local church and representation from every union conference and conference within the NAD.
Don Schneider, president of the NAD, says, “I am looking forward to thousands of lives being touched for Jesus through ASAM. I encourage every pastor, church, and conference to work together to help ASAM affect lives for eternity.”
NAD ASAM hosted its first division wide convention in July 20007. Approximately 650 single adults from the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and locations across the globe convened in Orlando, under the theme “Pursue Your Passion.” This was the first event of its kind sponsored by the NAD.
A leadership conference was held at the Florida Conference in Winter Park in May. Approximately 40 single adult leaders received practical training and resources to foster effective ministries
The next national ASAM event will be held in Newport Beach, California, July 2-4, 2009, under the theme “Go Deeper.” Save the dates and plan to participate. For more information, visit http://www.adventistsingleadultministries.org."
Adventist Review website:
The new website for "Go Deeper" is:
http://www.adventistmeetings.com/index.php
The Challenge of Singleness
By Andrea D. Hicks, coordinator, Adventist Single Adult Ministries, with Barbara Babcock, Darlene Reimche, and Delores Richardson
I left the church after a divorce,” says Carol Weir, of Grace Fellowship Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida. “If it was not for the Florida ASAM, I would not have returned to church.”
Adventist Single Adult Ministries (ASAM) is a fellowship that provides opportunities and encouragement to single adults that are never-married, divorced, widowed, or single parents. It provides a platform on which adults can discuss various issues, study God’s Word, pray together, network, play, travel, and enjoy God’s great outdoors—all to enhance the quality of a single person’s life.
ASAM is a growing ministry within the North American Division (NAD). This ministry is part of the Family Ministries Department of the NAD. “Single adults are resourceful, gifted,” says Willie Oliver, director of family ministries for the NAD. “(They) have much to contribute to the mission of the church.”
ASAM is not a dating service, but a ministry to support and nurture relationships among single adults with other members of the church family. It also serves as a resource for ideas, encouragement, and materials for leaders at the local church level.
An Emerging Ministry
The committee met for the first time in October 2003, and two months later it was voted as a standing committee by the administration of the North American Division.
Barbara Babcock became its first coordinator, serving until March 2007. Last November, a biannual leadership training conferences were voted to begin in 2008, and biannual conventions to start in 2009. The NAD’s Oliver works closely with Andrea Hicks, who was appointed ASAM coordinator in 2007.
Statistics indicate that single adults are waiting longer to get married. They may be waiting until they establish their careers, or perhaps the divorce rate makes them nervous about marriage. The death of a spouse also highlights the importance of a ministry to singles. Other challenges include divorce recovery, being a single parent, being involved in blended families, concerns about dating, developing long-lasting friendships, and matters arising from pre-engagement or premarital issues dealing with second marriages.
ASAM assists in developing tools to address these needs and many others.
At the same time, single adults have what may be seen as certain advantages over their married counterparts, such as having more freedom to do ministry, financial stability, and being able to pursue their dreams without the weight of family responsibilities. ASAM is involved in a number of outreach initiatives, such as feeding the homeless; street evangelism; and mission trips, during which members assist in evangelistic efforts and help construct new church buildings.
Since 2003 a better awareness of single adult ministries has developed within the NAD. Single adults are ore accepting of their singleness, and the stigma of singleness has lessened within the church. One goal is to have an ASAM department in every local church and representation from every union conference and conference within the NAD.
Don Schneider, president of the NAD, says, “I am looking forward to thousands of lives being touched for Jesus through ASAM. I encourage every pastor, church, and conference to work together to help ASAM affect lives for eternity.”
NAD ASAM hosted its first division wide convention in July 20007. Approximately 650 single adults from the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and locations across the globe convened in Orlando, under the theme “Pursue Your Passion.” This was the first event of its kind sponsored by the NAD.
A leadership conference was held at the Florida Conference in Winter Park in May. Approximately 40 single adult leaders received practical training and resources to foster effective ministries
The next national ASAM event will be held in Newport Beach, California, July 2-4, 2009, under the theme “Go Deeper.” Save the dates and plan to participate. For more information, visit http://www.adventistsingleadultministries.org."
Adventist Review website:
The new website for "Go Deeper" is:
http://www.adventistmeetings.com/index.php