25
November
2007
I am planning a new church plant for singles and families. Yes, I’m crazy. And yes, our vision is to plant a thriving church from scratch and watch God do outrageous things in the New York Metropolitan area. I am really psyched because we are now forming our church plant Core Team. What church plant Core Team you may ask? Well actually it’s just little old me so far. Funny thing is I have no idea where these people for our church plant Team are going to be coming from, but I am believing God for just the right kinds of folks. Want to join us?
Why Plant a Church With Singles in Mind?
I hear these questions often from Christians:
- Why a church plant?
- Why plant a church with singles in mind?
The answers to these questions are quite simple:
First, planting new churches is by far the most effective way to reach new people for Jesus.
Second, Jesus commands us in the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. In response to this in Acts we see the disciples witnessing and planting churches all over the place. A true New Testament church is a living organism that should be ever growing and reproducing itself. Church plants simply follow the normal pattern we see in Scripture.
Third, there are more hungry people in NJ who need to hear the Gospel than there are churches to reach them. Since our Saviour wants lost people found, and He says the harvest is plentiful, we intend to reach them, and to reach them by the thousands through church plants.
Lastly, our church plant will be focusing on singles and their families, and will be open to all people from all ethnic backgrounds. Why? As we noted earlier, singles (singles never married, single parents, divorced singles, 20 somethings and other single adults) are the most unchurched group of people in all parts of the world. In fact, one of the goals of Christian Dating Service Plus was to reach out to these souls. And take a look at these recent US Census findings on singles:
- 49% of all US homes are headed by single men (46%) and single women (54%)
- 50% of the US adult population (that’s 90 million) is single, with 60% percent of these having never been married and 30 million living alone as singles. That’s a lot of lonely singles folks!
- 15 million single parents are living with their children. 80% of the time it’s single moms with the kids as opposed to single dads. Think there’s a need for single parenting tips?
When I read these facts I not only see the many needs of singles, but also sense tremendous opportunities to spread the Good News!
Please pray for us as we begin making strategic plans for our NJ church plant. We need all the help ( spiritual, financial, physical) we can get, but we just know God will provide. Live in the NJ/NY area and want to be part of a church plant from the very beginning? Please email us.
Share your own thoughts on church plants?
David Butler, the author of this article, is the creator of Christian Dating Service Plus, and will soon be graduating from Liberty Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Church Planting and Evangelism. For more personal info see our About Us Page.
Posted: Church Plants Tags: church plant, nj church, church planting
22
November
2007
Today in the US it’s Thanksgiving Day. This is supposed to be a day to lift up thanksgiving prayers for all the blessings God has given us throughout the year. Thanksgiving prayer goes hand in hand with a positive outlook. Unfortunately many Americans have forsaken God and are not into thanksgiving prayers. While I realize that nearly half of our 100,000 (and growing fast, thank you!) monthly readers are from outside of the USA, it’s good for all of us to be in the habit of saying a thanksgiving prayer. Why? Being thankful brings glory to God and also helps us gain contentment as we live out the single life.
Thanksgiving Prayer and Suffering
I realize some of us are going through difficult times and are not in the mood for thanksgiving prayers. I know this because I personally read all the many comments and letters to Christian Dating Service Plus!, and my heart goes out to them. Please. If you are reading this right now, please pray for our dear single brothers and sisters all around the world who are going through difficult times. Some are heartbroken and lonely. Some are stressed out as single parents. Some are serving in the military. Still others are battling horrible sickness. Would you join me in a thanksgiving prayer for them right now?
My Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you that I can call you, Abba, daddy. I thank you that you love me just as I am, scars and all. I thank you for forgiving me for my terrible sins. I thank you that when I ran away, you waited with open arms for me. Thank you for all the blessings you have given me, too many to even mention. Daddy, I deserve death, but you have given me life through Jesus’ own death. Thank you! Thank you so much!
Right now my heart pours out to you for all the overwhelming needs of our single brothers and sisters. Oh Lord! You know each one by name. You know their pain and suffering. Thank you for dying for them. And we believe you for answering the specific needs of each one crying out to you right now. You alone can do this because nothing, absolutely nothing is too difficult for thee.
Thank you dear Jesus! Thank you for what you have done, and we are thanking you in advance for what you will do for these dear ones. Amen!
Bible Verse of the Day
~The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth~ Psalms 145:18
Do you have a thanksgiving prayer?
Related Article
Not sure you know God?
Posted: Thankfulness, Bible Verse of Day Tags: thanksgiving prayer
21
November
2007
Some single women wish someone had warned them: “Don’t date him girl!”, before they took the plunge into a bad dating relationship. So when is it a bad idea to date? The following “don’t date him girl tips are written in hopes of helping some of us avoid this date trap. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, please consider this advice: Don’t date him girl!
Don’t Date Him Girl Quiz
Have you or your date had a long term relationship end within the last 12 months?
Fact: You may be the victim of a rebound relationship, and the vast majority of those fail. You are in an even more vulnerable state if you are dating after divorce or have been rejected and dumped. Bottom line: Don’t date him girl! until you are over the past and have your own stuff in order.
Does your date have a history of abusing women?
How do you spell background record check? it amazes me how many women knowingly go after bad guys in hopes of “reforming” him, or simply deluding themselves into thinking that the other women were to blame. Pleeeaase! Don’t date him girl!
Has he cheated on other women within the last 2 years?
If he cheated on them…um, well, you know the rest. Maybe YOU are the other woman? Please don’t be so naive to believe your boyfriend won’t eventually cheat on you too! Our advice: Don’t date him girl! unless he has submitted to Christ as Lord and Saviour and has backed it up by repenting of his past and staying clean for over 2 years.
If a single parent dating, are your children wary of your dating partner?
Dont date him girl before understanding where your children are emotionally with your dating life. You’ll be sorry afterward if you don’t heed this single parents dating with kids advice.
Well did you pass the don’t date him girl quiz? To be honest these don’t date him girl tips can only go so far, but you humbly seek the Lord even with your dating life, how can you go wrong?
Bible Verse of Day
~He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way~ Psalms 25: 9
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Posted: Don't Date Him Girl, Bible Verse of Day Tags: dont date him girl
