Teaching

We have run “Personal Development” courses in the past and plan to do a Myers Briggs Workshop in Feb 2009. We also offer seminars to local churches on the topic of Christian Singleness and hope to increase this area of our service to churches.

Aquila exists to support people who are experiencing problems following marriage breakdown (however recently or long ago).

A group of Christian facilitators run 8 week self help groups twice a year in Bristol or alternatively there is a residential weekend run in Tiverton.

Clearly not a singles organisation! However they do run some events and publish articles relevant to single Christians and single parent families in particular.

There is an online support site which includes a couple of articles about recovering from divorce.

They are also launching a new site aimed at people in their 20s and 30s which is not specifically for singles but may be of interest.

This site is “for friendship, dating and matchmaking for likeminded Christian singles” so it’s included in our dating page. However they are also in encouraging churches on how they might better serve their single members since many churches don’t recognise that it is an issue for them or have little idea where to start.

They are currently (June 2007) running a poll asking how your church could better encourage its single members.

To cast your vote go to www.christianconnection.co.uk/philos. From this page you can also view discussion boards, including what your church does right or wrong for singles, but you need to be a member to add your own views.

“DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone”.

Carmel Christian Centre (817A Bath Road, Brislington, Bristol, 0117 977 5533) ran their 12 week course starting in April 2007.

“The Harnhill Centre exists to bring the healing of Jesus into the lives of His broken people”.

This organisation runs some events specifically geared to singles.

The last one was on 24th March, entitled “On Your Own!” covering different aspects of singleness and acknowledging the consequences of the single state, including: Dealing with grief and loss, the reality of difficulties, the truth of God’s presence, enjoying the positive

This is a UK site with lots of interesting articles in their archive, including:

• Getting Married in No-Man’s Land (July 2007)
• A Match Made in www (January 2007)
• Single Minded (July 2006) by Allison Dorricott

This site comes under the media centre for Saddleback church, USA.

It has links to a several singles related talks such as “Stress-Free Dating” and “Soul Matters for Single Women”.

Rick is the senior pastor of Saddleback church. This collection includes a series of articles on singles ministry:

• How single adults in your church can change the world
• How to get a singles ministry off the ground
• Transitions in your singles ministry
• Possible ministry opportunities for a successful singles ministry

Gary Chapman, with years of experience as a counsellor, realised that people experience and express ‘love’ – or affection and friendship, in different ways. This book simply goes through the 5 different ‘languages’ as he percieves them and is a real eye opener to personalities other than your own. It can open up a whole new world of expression and explain why you relate more sucessfully to some people but not others.

A simple, easy and effective tool in understanding how to relate well in all relationships.

This book comes recommended by one of our members.

Published by Zondervan ISBN-10:0-310-26265-8

Ian wrote this book because of his own frustrations at being a single Christian. It is full of emotion, energy and experience which reflects his character. The latter part of the book also includes objective views and practical tips and ideas. Well worth a read.

Since writing the book Ian has matured and spoke to us of this, and his more recent experiences, in January 2007 (See Ian Gregory Event).

This book provides a systematic and objective view of Christian singleness. It is an excellent and thorough look at all the issues and is highly reccommended.

Most of us have grown up with fairytales and myths about marriage and dating. J John takes a practical approach to redressing the balance by adding a little thought and consideration into the mix. He gives ideas about what questions you might want to ask yourself. For example, do you actually want your relationship to go from something ‘low level’ to something more serious? Do you feel respected? what do you like about their character? Where do you clash? Is that important? He then writes very practically about what the answers might mean. If you’ve not much in common, you might expect trouble, but not as much as if she/he is very critical of you, or doesn’t appear to trust you or you don’t trust them or respect their opinion.

It is a quick and easy read, simply written and a good beginning if you have never really stopped and given any thought to what makes a relationship work well, not so well, or not at all.

A thoughtful book dealing with loss after both bereavement and divorce

Some very good advice for those considering a new relationship after divorce

– Published by Friends First.