That is a question that singles event organizers often receive. Those who ask this question want to know if they will find their soulmate in this activity. An adjustment is required.
Many single people dream of meeting a life partner. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is even one of God’s plans. Some people do not dare to express their desire, while others are very proactive in their search. They want to get married quickly and don’t want to waste their time searching. Hence the questions like: “Will there be as many men as women at this activity?” “How old will the participants be?” It’s good to know what we want, but we also need to remember that we can’t “shop” for a partner like we do for a shirt. Marriage is not a business transaction, it is the culmination of a friendly relationship.
Marriage is a commitment we make before God that we will be a companion to our partner for the rest of our lives. We commit to being friends with this other person and helping them in their projects, including that of growing the Kingdom of God. If we are going to commit in marriage to being each other’s best friend, we have to start that friendship somewhere! So if we take the time to view singles activities as a place to make friendships, instead of a life partner, there will be far fewer disappointments or frustrations.
Multiplying our friendships is good for us. That’s what the Bible says! “The sweet smell of incense can make you feel good, but true friendship is better still” (Proverbs 27:9 CEV). All we need to start a friendship is something in common. On this forest hike, there is no one your age, but you all have a great love for nature. That is a common point! In an outing to the classical art museum, there is no one from your region, but you all have a passion for these admirable works. That is a common point! When watching a football game, there aren’t many women, but those who are there all have the same sporting language. That is a common point! And if you participate in a Christian activity, of course, you will have the most important thing in common: Christ! Uplifting conversations can last for several hours!
Often, we have heard married women say: “He wasn’t my type of man, but as I talked with him, I saw that we had a lot in common.” And the same comments from the men. By closing ourselves off to activities that are open to different age categories or multiple cultures, we can miss out on a rare gem. Who knows: maybe the woman you will meet at this activity is not the one you are going to marry, but you will be able to introduce her to your friend who shares so much in common. Perhaps the activity you are about to participate in will not lead to marriage, but you will receive a word from God that will answer a question that has been tormenting you for a long time. Maybe your presence will be the necessary encouragement that the organizer needs to plan more! The same goes for our local assemblies. Pastors will tell you: that they value the participation of members much more than their money!
Why participate in Christian singles activities? To glorify God, to multiply our friendships, because the activity interests us, and because we want to encourage the organizers. If we participate in these goals we will never be disappointed or feel like we wasted our time. We will also be much more relaxed during the activity because we will not have the pressure of finding a life partner! If we have this great attitude, we will also be much more attractive!