For Some, Church Is the Place To Be When You're Single

Walk into any church on Sunday morning and you will more than likely find families filling up the pews.

Church is very family friendly...but sometimes those who find themselves not part of a family say it's hard to find their place.

We take a look at one local church and its efforts to reach out to single people in our community.

This is just a typical meeting of the Positive Christian Singles.

The average attendance by this ministry at 1st Centenary UMC is 60 or more.

Whether divorced, widowed or never married this group has one thing in common...they are all single.

PCS Member Mimi Hooker says, "A lot of people say in our society 'Well, phsaa...you're single, you're supposed to be married...What's the matter with you?' Well sometimes doo-doo happens (laughs)."

That's part of why this group exists.

Director Debbie Donohue says many churches don't have a lot of single people and singles can feel a little lost.

She says these ministries can help singles get their bearings.

Donohue says, "A lot of our people who are divorced or widowed used to come with their family and suddenly they feel that loss and maybe they feel like they need somebody to be with in church."

There is another benefit to being single in the church...sometimes you end up not so single.

Matt Black and Jill Murphy met about a year and a half ago thanks to Sunday School.

They were engaged in December and will marry later this year.

Murphy says, "There are certain things that you start out knowing and assume are similar. Faith is very important to me and it was a relief, actually to find someone to date in the church."

Matt's Mom and step-Dad actually met in one of these PCS meetings more than 20 years ago.

He says sometimes finding your mate in church just makes sense.

Black says, "No guess work...Hopefully."

So...whether your looking for love or just a group of good friends...visit your neighborhood sanctuary, you might find your fit...

Hooker says, "It's a rich experience and it's one that really feels like...'This is gonna work...it's okay...it's okay to be single.'"

More than half of single adults in the US claim to be of Christian faith.

However, almost two-thirds say church has nothing to offer them.