Ministering to Single Moms in a Post Roe v. Wade World

 “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion 

is surely the ugliest thing in the world. ”  Francis Schaeffer

 
  Friday, June 24, 2022, will be a date long remembered as the nearly 50-year precedent of upholding abortion as a constitutional right in the United States was overturned. 50 years. That’s a long time. It was so long that most of us who are pro-life doubted that it would ever change.
  Christ-followers have gotten what we prayed and worked for, but we will fail if this is the end. God has called us to so much more. Now we must walk the talk and show the love of Christ to those whom we claimed that we loved and cared about. The world is watching. Will we prove it now?
  It is and never has been enough to be opposed to abortion. While it is vital to save a life, it’s more important to see a soul saved and come to Christ. The greatest need of everyone in this world is to trust the gospel and to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
  Yet, 67% of single mothers do not go to a church of any kind. Sometimes they feel judged or inadequate. Either they became pregnant outside of marriage or are divorced. Many have a sense of shame and don't feel like they deserve or even want to be in church. Some are young and have no interaction with Christ-followers. Some have a distorted caricature of what a Christ-follower is of someone hateful, mean, bigoted, and out of touch. Sadly, some who profess to know Christ are like that.
  67% is a heartbreaking number! Not  only does that mean those moms aren’t being exposed to the gospel or mentored, but neither are their children. Single mothers are one of the most unrecognized, hurting groups in our culture. The vast majority have been thrust into a role they never intended to be in and often feel trapped in it. Frequently, they feel judged by Christians, the very ones who should be bringing God’s love, hope, and grace to them. So what can we do?
  Be their friend. How many single moms do you know? There are nearly 16 million families in America headed up by a single mom. 57% of the babies born to Millennials are being born to unmarried mothers.
  Single Moms face the same issues that households with two parents face but do it alone – a house that needs to be cleaned, meals made, groceries bought, homework checked, birthdays celebrated, sick kids to care for, etc.
  Often they’re economically challenged and must come up with creative ways to cover all of the expenses of a family but on one income. Most parents know what it is to feel exhausted but imagine that same weariness doubled by having to work full-time, and care for kids, only to put them in bed and realize that the house is a disaster.
  A sick child for a single Mom isn’t an inconvenience, it’s a crisis. While most employers will seek to be understanding, if there is a long-term or chronic illness, care for a child can cost them their job.
  While most of them do not live in your neighborhood, particularly if you live in a subdivision where people own their own homes, their children attend school with your children. Often the simplest bridge into their lives is by opening your home and life to their children. Perhaps offer a ride if you see a need. If your children are involved in youth sports, their children may be the ones dropped off by a grandparent because Mom has to work.  
  If you engage with individuals in your day-to-day life, they’re often your server or bartender. They may be that clerk where you buy gas. Maybe they cut your hair or do your nails. This is why it’s so important to see every transaction as a gospel opportunity.
  As Christians, we don’t believe in accidents. We must see life as a series of continual divine appointments. So, learn names. Ask questions. Go out of your way to greet and engage them even if it’s for a few moments. Be encouraging and affirming. Every person we meet is Imago Dei. They’re designed by God, He loves them and has a plan for their lives.
  Include them and their children. At Grace, without making someone feel weird, we don’t want anyone to sit alone. Please include single parents in your social circles. Learn their children’s names. Go out of your way to make them feel comfortable. Most young parents feel some level of anxiety about their child’s behavior with those they don’t know. Help those parents feel at ease. Let’s let children be children. Single Moms need to feel that our church has dozens of aunts, uncles, and grandparents for their children and that we accept where they’re at. We want to be Jesus to them!
  Include them on holidays. Think about it. Who prepares Mother’s Day for moms? Their spouses, usually not their children. When a single mom has young children and doesn’t have a spouse, she’s often forgotten on Mother’s Day. For a mom working double-time, it can be a heartbreaking moment. So how much work is it for us to include a few extra at our home on Mother’s Day or Labor Day, Thanksgiving or Christmas? And what is relatively small for us, can be huge for a single Mom and her children.
  It can be something as simple as going out for lunch after church or for ice cream. Small pleasures that most of us take for granted can be enormous for a single Mom with limited discretionary money.
   Be her companion if she has to go to Court. For most single moms, going to court is an unavoidable reality. Being in court with their child’s other parent can be one of the scariest and loneliest times in a single mom’s journey and most spend it completely alone. So offer to go to court with her. If additional people are not allowed in the courtroom, offer to wait for her outside and meet her for coffee afterward.
  Godly men can step in the gap. You want to be appropriate and wise, yet many single Moms don’t have a godly man in their lives. They can be taken advantage of by a mechanic or a repairman. Simple maintenance like a leaky faucet or changing the oil in a car can be huge for them.
  Their children need to see godly men who don’t see their Mom as sex objects. A godly man can teach a child how to fish or throw and catch a ball. Having a man pray for the food at a meal can speak volumes in a child’s heart who has never seen a man who loves the Lord and loves children.
  A cruel world needs to see the Church being the Church. They need to see Jesus in us. Jesus loved and cared for children and parents, and so must we! Being pro-life means being Jesus to those who most need His care! 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.