Kathi invited her friend Joy Beth Smith, author of Party of One, a book just releasing today, to discuss finding freedom in whatever walk of life God has us in right now. Beth is single woman living her life for the Lord, and trying to help the world reframe the language around singleness in the church.
Kathi and Beth delve into topics of singleness, online dating, weight, personalities, and our own significance when the world tells us we have to earn our space in this world. They talk about how to support our single friends or family members as well as how our churches can include our singles into our language and culture. This is such an honest conversation between two women that want the best for one another and the people listening in. Don’t miss this great conversation!
FREEBIE download from Joy from her new book (click to download the pdf):
GIVEAWAY
We are giving away 3 copies of Joy’s book, Party of One. To win, answer the question below:
(if you aren’t single) How can encourage a single person in a significant way?
(if you are single) How do you most want to be encouraged as a single person?
*Giveaway open to US citizens only.
Get your copy of Party of One here. (affiliate link)
Extra stuff mentioned in this episode:
Meet Our Guest
Joy Beth Smith
Joy Beth is a managing editor with Christianity Today and winner of the Evangelical Press Association’s Higher Goals in Christian Journalism Award. She’s been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Salt Lake Tribune, Virginian Pilot, and Christ and Pop Culture. After earning her MA degree in English Lit, Joy Beth had a brief stint as a teacher, but now she happily resides in the Chicagoland area, where she no longer has to give anyone permission to go to the bathroom.
How do I most want to be encouraged as a single woman? Here are various ideas: To be encouraged to find my identity in Christ, not in the pursuit of marriage or finding “the one.” To be invited over for dinner to a couple’s home (or invited out to dinner), even when there is not a man on my arm. To be asked to lunch or dinner w/ a family. To be with people who are genuinely curious to know what interests me, want to know what gifts and talents I have to offer the world as an individual, and who ask about those things. To not assume that I’m sad or upset about being single. Or constantly waiting for/wanting to be married. Those moments may be there at times but they do not prevail nor define my daily life. There are many single people, both men & women, who are excited about the multiple ways their lives make a difference because of the focus they have as singles to pursue what God has called them to — not to mention the time they have to pursue HIM 🙂 See 1 Cor. 7:32-35
I will show enthusiasm and interest in hearing about what my single friends are interested in most. I may also share what I’m learning about topics of interest that we both share that have nothing to do with being single or married, like books we have read lately.
Hi Erin,
Congratulations! You are one of the winners of the book giveaway! I will send you an email for your mailing address. Thank you for participating! Have a blessed day!
All the Best,
Chere
As a single, I want to be treated as an equal to my married counterparts in the church.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Invite them over to be a part of our family. I loved that when I was single. Thanks for the giveaway.
As a single woman, I want people to understand that singleness doesn’t define, it is just one aspect of who I am. Most of all, I want the church to acknowledge that God created me as a whole, complete individual. I tire of the “you complete me” mindset. That somehow, I’m not complete until I have a husband. God doesn’t make partial people.
That’s so good. Thank you for saying that. If the apostle Paul, and even Jesus, knew that marriage was essential to complete us in this life, they too would have gotten married.
I am not single..but when I was I wish I would have realized that a true relationship with God was what I needed first…before I entered a relationship with my husband..I think our early years together would have been easier and I would have learned to love myself more! Single people should be encouraged to work on their relationship with God first.
So true as a single divorced woman I realize that first I must be able to commit myself to the Lord before thinking about a relationship with a man
I’m single…and always have been. Having a basic supper with a family at home would be encouraging.
I love that Joy Beth talked about how pastors can be more inclusive by using examples from single’s lives in their sermons (referring to roommates and not just spouses, etc.)
I understand that there’s not always funding for a designated pastor for singles, but I’d be encouraged if churches of any size at least committed to gathering their singles together to ask how to best minister to them.
YES! We want sermon illustrations that include us. 🙂
Hi Deb,
Congratulations! You are one of the winners of the book giveaway! I will send you an email for your mailing address. Thank you for participating! Have a blessed day!
All the Best,
Chere
I am not single but I think I can encourage those that are by simply letting them know it is ok to be single. Our culture today seems to treat single people as though there is something wrong with them which is a shame.
I am a single woman and I would be encouraged by people NOT asking about my relationship status and asking about other important parts of my life like graduate school and my work. People always ask if I am dating and encouraging me that I will find someone, but they never ask if I want to find someone. Right now that is not part of my journey, people just assume that it is.
Hi Barbara,
Congratulations! You are one of the winners of the book giveaway! I will send you an email for your mailing address. Thank you for participating! Have a blessed day!
All the Best,
Chere