I recalled in churches in 1980s and 1990s that they had singles ministries all over my hometown and many singles. And I noticed many DO look for each other to date and marry. I have seen it happened quite often. Unfortunately for me at the singles ministries of all denominations I went to fellowship at their events were failure because the women were not interested. You see, I think they think I am too old. Grey hair since 18! Yes, the women told my own brother at church that they thought I was his father! And they were my age when I was 23 or 24 at the time! Terrible! Not only that, they I think not want a Deaf person. I wore hearing aid and I talked like a hearing person. My personality is Hearing and my mind is hearing with an IQ of 148 (tested in year 2000)! I am at 5 feet 2.5 inches. Come on!
Many do find each other like that in singles. Then churches in mid to late 1990s dismantled singles ministries. I was like, what was going on? Most churches I know today that used to have singles ministries no longer have their ministries. The church I used to go to still have them but I ignore those because they do not want me and want others.
Someone said in this forum about money. Maybe. I hear all the time, "Churches are like franchises" Both Christians and non-Christians say that.
Churches I believe do not understand the concept of singles lifestyle. What I am trying to point out is that they are too family oriented. Focused on families. Not singles. And their ideal of saying, "We are God's family." Yes we are God's family but that alienated singles to stay away. And I also noticed singles are upset or disappointed to see the successes of families in church. Second of all, they have no spouse to encourage the singles to get up to go to church. They live by themselves, not at some basements of their parents' home. Maybe some do! Its sad.
Singles are more likely be depressed because they lack of that love they desire for marriage other than just God. That is my opinion. If you want to disagree, fine, you do not have to tell me that.
The other thing is that sadly some churches are after money of course.. families tend to have more money than singles. Another thing about singles.. there are some singles have money!!
The other problem is that when I visited some churches back in those days in 20th Century, as I being single, they said to go join the mens group instead of singles! I noticed the pattern is same with other singles facing that. Churches forgot that singles have their need. Having exposure of themselves as single and available are hindered in churches. That presented a problem and pastors and leaders in churches need to sit down and listen to the singles and know what they need.
They focused so much on missions out of the country and they need to focus on in their own backyard meaning those homeless people, singles, poor people, legal immigrants, etc. The bible (Matthew 28:19-20) says nations does not mean country. It means ethic group. Singles group IS a nation. Deaf people is a nation, Native Americans are a nation, Blacks are a nation, etc.
Churches also should allow clean singles dances, singles retreats, singles cruises, and dinning out as part of their ministry. On TRSSS someday, my church will have a good ministry for the Singles that will allow dating, match ups, and have those functions as fellowship I mentioned such as singles dances, retreats, cruises, etc. We will encourage Singles in this manner than churches out there that are misunderstood.