April 19, 2024
Dear Radiant,
Singleness is growing.
The statistics are really eye-opening. Political scientist and statistician, Ryan Burge writes:
a 40-year-old man is nearly twice as likely to never be married in 2022 compared to 2008. For women, there are also huge differences. In the 2008 data, about 12% of women had never been married by their 40th birthday. In 2022, that share had increase to 26%. In other words, a forty year old woman was twice as likely to be unmarried in 2022 vs 2008. That’s just a 14 year window of time, not decades.
These are massive changes for society and for the church in very short period of time.
As disciples of Jesus and as a church family, how do we respond to this?
The church’s response, typically, has been to encourage marriage. And that’s a noble response. Marriage is good! We need to encourage it!
But, unfortunately, it is only a partial response and inadequate if left on its own.
We’ve missed helping people thrive in their singleness. Not just as a temporary stage before marriage, but as a status that is good in itself.
Remember, Jesus was single. Paul was single. In fact, they recommended it to those who felt called to it.
So this Sunday is about singleness — providing a biblical and practical basis for flourishing as a single person and disciple/apprentice of Jesus.
I’m excited to some feedback received from a cross-section of single folks at Radiant — as they share the joys and challenges of singleness.
Like I said for single folks last week when we talked about marriage — this is relevant for married folks too. For starters, there’s a chance you will be single again (unless you die before your spouse. Sorry to bring that up!).
Secondly, we need to know how to support, encourage, and celebrate our single brothers and sisters. Not only, we have much to learn from them!
See you Sunday at 5PM at ELC!
EVENTS CALENDAR
Home Churches are now going! Jump in one!
4/24 – Women’s Gathering 6-7AM at ELC
4/19-21 – Men’s Conference
4/27 – Love Modesto Service Day
4/28 – Bike to Church Sunday
5/5 – Baptism Service
5/12 – Guys Serve Dinner at Second Sunday Supper
5/17 – Line Dancing Social at Dying Breed
LOVE MODESTO SERVICE DAY – 4/27
Let’s love our city and our neighbors by participating in Love Modesto on 4/27. Some of us are going to join in on the Youth for Christ project in South Modesto. You can sign up for that project here or find a list of projects here.
BIKE TO CHURCH SUNDAY – 4/28Time to bust out the bicycles and cruise over to church on 4/28. Rumor has it we will have Paletas for Pedalers (and everyone else). Some might meet at the Virginia corridor at O’Brien’s at 4:30 and cruise over from there.
BAPTISM OR RE-AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM Baptism is a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ. We are planning a baptism service in early May. I also mentioned the opportunity to re-affirm your faith in Christ through a public declaration before the church. If you sense God leading you to either of these — I’d love to connect with you. You can fill out this form in response.
MOTHER’S DAY SECOND SUNDAY SUPPER – 5/12
We are doing something a little special. In honor of Mom’s and ALL women we are gathering for dinner together — and the guys are going to be in charge of putting it on!
LINE DANCING AT DYING BREED – 5/17
Friday, May 17 at 6PM at Dying Breed Brewery in Oakdale! No experience necessary — come enjoy some community and try your hand (feet?) at some line dancing. Sign up here we can plan accordingly. Questions? Contact Ellen Howell (209) 652-9332.
HOME CHURCHES ARE GETTING AFTER IT!
Radiant Home Churches are communities of discipleship in the way of Jesus and are foundational to our life as a church. If you are not currently in a home church, or would like to try a new Home Church, please fill out this interest form, and we’ll follow up with you! Groups has just recently started, so it’s an optimal time to jump in.
BAND APP
One way to connect at Radiant is to join our BAND APP group. Think of this as a sort of Radiant message board — our own little social media space. People can extend invites, share about needs and opportunities.
GIVING
Thank you for your generosity and partnership in Radiant’s ministry!
Here’s the link to online giving.
Grace and Peace,
Zach
