Joshua C. Yang:

D.Min. Project ProspectusJoshua C. Yang

Title

Compassion Ministry to the Modern Day Widow and Orphan: Revitalizing the Empower

Single Parent Ministry at Rockford First in Rockford, Illinois

The Context

Rockford First is a non-profit organization that operates a church, a preschool through

twelfth grade Christian school, and four retirement centers in Rockford, Illinois. In 2013, Forbes

magazine unceremoniously ranked Rockford as the third most miserable city in the United

States. The magazine notes that “a three decade decline in the manufacturing base has hurt

Rockford’s economy and kept unemployment high. The metro’s recent 11.2% unemployment

rate is one of the highest rates in the U.S. Another burden: high property tax rates.” 1 Ranked

ninth on the list in 2012 and fourteenth in 2011, the city continues to struggle with a high crime

rate, a dysfunctional public school system, and other social and economic maladies. In the

September 8, 2013 edition of the Wall Street Journal, writers named Rockford the “Underwater

Mortgage Capital of America.”2

Despite the systemic problems in this struggling city and within Rockford First, God is

reviving a church that found itself on the brink of bankruptcy in early 2007. After the

congregation named Jeremy DeWeerdt lead pastor in April 2007, Rockford First continues an

unabated growth pattern that resulted in the church receiving recognition as the seventh fastest

1 Kurt Badenhausen, “America’s Most Miserable Cities 2013,” Forbes, accessed May 21, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45lmhg/3-rockford-ill/.

2 Conor Dougherty, “Welcome to Rockford, Ill, the Underwater Mortgage Capital of America,” The Wall Street Journal, accessed May 9, 2013, http://online.wsj.com/article/ SB1000142412788732432440457904330099-4815702.html.

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growing church in the United States in the October 2012 issue of Outreach magazine3 and the

sixty-fourth fastest growing church in 2013.4

I have served as the Marriage and Family Counseling Pastor at Rockford First since

August 2008, and I have been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois since 1999.

My primary responsibilities include providing marital, premarital, individual, and family

counseling; leading divorce and grief recovery groups; and overseeing the Empower single

parent ministry. I previously served as the Children and Family Ministries Pastor at Rockford

First from June 2006 to August 2008. Because Rockford First has seen an over 250 percent

growth in attendees during the past six and a half years with an average Sunday morning

attendance of over three thousand people, the number of individuals and families within the

congregation needing counseling, guidance, and training has grown exponentially.

During every service, visitors hear that Rockford First is not just a friendly church, but

also a family church. In late 2008, the Rockford First leadership team crafted a new

mission/vision statement for the church: “We are committed to the pursuit of God, authentic

relationships, and a life of purpose.” This expanded the church’s tag line of “Love God, love

people, love life” and gave Rockford First a target through which leaders can evaluate everything

the church does. Every decision, initiative, or shift the congregation makes is intentional, not

only to meet the needs of the church and community, but also as a direct result of the church

values and culture. The focal point of these three goals centers on the need for each individual

and family to build healthy relationships with God, with others, and with themselves. In Matthew

22:37-39, Jesus notes the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses—“You must love the

3 Cristy Scannell, “Outreach 100 Largest & Fastest Growing Churches in America,” Outreach (October 2012), 59.

4 “America’s Fastest Growing and Largest Outreach Churches, 2013,” Outreach, October 2013, accessed October 16, 2013, http://www.outreachmagazine.com/2013-outreach-100-fastest-growing-churches-america-page-2.html.

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Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. A second is equally

important: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”5 In my role as a counselor and teacher, I

see that at the core of every individual, couple, or family struggle lie problematic relationships

with God, with others, and within themselves. Many Christian individuals, couples, and families

struggle with unhealthy self-images and lack of biblical identities, often because of past traumas,

family dysfunction, and poor personal choices. They often do not seek help, because they fear

further judgment, blame, and shame.

In August 2011, Rockford First launched the Empower ministry with the mission to

empower and minister to single parents, specifically focusing on single moms, widows, and

military wives, and their children by equipping, mentoring, encouraging, and partnering with

them through the challenges of life in single-parent households. In addition, the church

purchased a three-bedroom house next door to the Rockford First campus. The church renovated

the property, now called the Empower House, to house selected single parents and their children

rent and utility free for ten-month periods of time. The first residents moved into the house in

May 2012, and I added the primary responsibility for the families, including their counseling,

education, and supervision, as well as the vetting of future residents, to my portfolio in August

2012. The church gave me the responsibility to oversee the entire Empower single parent

ministry in August 2013.

Problem

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2007 to 2011 five-year estimates for the city of Rockford6

reveal some of the city’s challenges in comparison the rest of Illinois. Only 39.6 percent of

5 All Scripture references, unless otherwise noted are from the New Living Translation Version.

6 “Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2011,” U.S. Census Bureau, accessed May 13, 2013, http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableser-vices/jsf/pages/product-view.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP02.

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Rockford family households are married couples compared to 49.0 percent for Illinois. The

number of families in Rockford led by single mothers with no husband present is 17.2 percent

compared to only 12.6 percent for the rest of Illinois. Single father households in Rockford with

no wife present comprises 4.2 percent of all households, less than the 4.5 percent Illinois

average. The percentage of nonfamily households within Rockford is 39.0 percent compared to

only 33.9 percent for the entire state. Only 46.1 percent of Rockford males fifteen years old and

over are married compared to 51.1 percent in Illinois, and only 39.3 percent of Rockford females

fifteen years old and over are married versus 47.2 percent for the state as a whole.

The percentages of separated, widowed, or divorced men and women fifteen years old in

Rockford are all higher than the Illinois averages. The percentage of separated or divorced

Rockford men is 13.2 percent and the percentage of Rockford women is 17.5 percent,

significantly higher than the 9.9 percent of total Illinois men and 12.8 percent of Illinois women.

A troubling 59.4 percent of Rockford women fifteen to fifty years old who gave birth within the

previous 12 months are not married (widowed, divorced, or never married) compared to the

Illinois average of 34.5 percent. In Rockford, 42.6 percent of grandparents living with

grandchildren under eighteen years old bear the parenting responsibilities, greater than the

Illinois average of 38.1 percent.

Educational attainment of Rockford residents lags behind the Illinois state average. Only

21.1 percent of Rockford residents twenty-five years old or older have earned bachelor’s degrees

or higher education compared to the Illinois average of 30.7 percent. The percentage of Rockford

residents twenty-five years old or older who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent is

18.2 percent, which is 37 percent higher than the Illinois average of 13.3 percent. These

educational statistics are significant, because those who have at least bachelor’s degrees are

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Joshua C. Yang:

significantly less likely to bear children out of wedlock and more likely to form stable, high-

quality marriages as compared to those with high school diplomas up to associate’s degrees and

those who are high school dropouts.7

Twenty-four million American children live in homes in which biological fathers are

absent, which is nearly one-third of the total child population. These children are almost four

times more likely to live in poverty and have higher levels of aggressive behavior, which results

in significantly higher odds of incarceration. They are at higher risk of experiencing teen

pregnancies, more likely to suffer maltreatment, and significantly more likely to abuse drugs and

alcohol. These children are also more likely to become obese and get lower grades than those

raised in two-parent homes.8 With the daunting demographics facing the Rockford area, there is

an ever-present and growing need for a substantive single parent ministry in the community.

When Empower began at Rockford First in 2011, a support staff employee held the

primary responsibility for the ministry. When this employee left in late 2012, Empower remained

without an overseer until my appointment in August 2013. In its two years of existence,

Empower has not developed beyond the Empower House, the single parenting class I teach, and

two car care events for single parents.

In August 2013, I conducted a targeted needs assessment survey to single parents of

school age children at Rockford First using both a hard copy survey and an online survey. The

survey presented 30 specific needs and asked participants to rank these needs on a five-point

Likert scale from no felt need to a strongly felt need. The survey covered the survival needs

(food, clothing, transportation, shelter, safety, etc.), practical needs (finances, parenting,

7 W. Bradford Wilcox, ed., The State of Our Unions: Marriage in America 2010 (Charlottesville, VA: The National Marriage Project, 2010), 19-24.

8 “The Father Factor,” National Fatherhood Initiative, accessed May 13, 2013, http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics.

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continuing education for parents and children, housekeeping and cooking skills, etc.), and

spiritual, emotional, and relational needs (counseling, biblical training, recovery groups, spiritual

support, life groups, etc.) of single parents at Rockford First. The 54 completed surveys

highlighted strongly felt survival needs for affordable childcare, car maintenance, and home

repairs. The surveys also showed a strong need for spiritual support, help with teaching children

biblical and spiritual values, single parent life groups and support groups, as well as

opportunities to serve others.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to revitalize the Empower ministry to single parent families at

Rockford First by creating curriculum that informs the church about the spiritual, emotional, and

relational needs of these families.

Definition of Key Terms

Single parents— Parents who come into the position of parenting alone through a variety

of circumstances, including divorce, separation, death, adoption, abandonment, legal

guardianship, personal choice, military service, and incarceration.

Widows— Refers to women without husbands due to death, abandonment, incarceration,

divorce, etc. leading to sudden, unplanned, undesirable changes of fortune, moving families from

security to uncertainty, suffering, and loss.

Orphans— Children deprived of one or both parents. The Bible equates orphans with

those who are fatherless. It also refers to people unable to help themselves because of their

physical conditions.

Description of Proposed Project

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Scope

Based upon the results of a needs assessment survey conducted in the fall of 2013, this

project will reinvigorate the Rockford First Empower single parent ministry by recognizing and

supporting the spiritual, emotional and relational needs of Rockford First single parent families

through education and advocacy. I will utilize my biblical-theological research on compassion

ministry and God’s heart for single parent families to create a ninety-minute Empower seminar

that highlights the Bible’s mandate for ministry to single parent families, raises the awareness of

their unique needs, addresses the marginalization of single parent families, and invites

participants to support the Empower ministry. I will offer this seminar once in the late spring of

2015 and once in the late summer of 2015 and invite both staff and Rockford First attendees. I

will request each attendee to complete an evaluation survey at the conclusion of each seminar.

I currently teach a nine-session single parent class twice a year at Rockford First utilizing

the Single & Parenting curriculum. I will utilize the findings from my general literature review to

revise the single parent class curriculum by providing more tools and resources that can improve

the spiritual, emotional, and relational health of single parent families. I will offer this nine-

session class to single parents in the late summer of 2015 and request that each participant

complete an evaluation survey at the mid-point and conclusion of the series.

I will determine the extent of resources, programs, and ministries currently available at

Rockford First that serve the needs of single parent families, and create a resource catalog for

these families by the spring of 2015. These resource catalogs will be available at the Rockford

First information center and main church office and distributed during the Empower seminar and

single parent classes. An evaluation survey will be included in the back of each resource catalog

with a request to return those surveys within thirty days of the receipt of the catalog.

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Although the needs assessment survey also raised the issue of survival and practical

needs of single parent families, addressing those needs is beyond the scope of this project due to

financial, space, and staffing limitations at Rockford First. Other compassion ministries at

Rockford First as well as various social service agencies within the Rockford community are

better equipped to meet these needs.

Phases (Methodology) and Timetable

Phase MM/YY Beginning

MM/YYEnding

Details/Comments

Research 11/1/13

8/1/14

10/1/14

4/30/14

11/30/14

12/31/14

Complete reading and research for biblical-theological literature review.

Complete reading and research for general literature review.

Research the resources, ministries, and programs currently available at Rockford First that serve the needs of single parent families.

Planning 2/1/15

4/1/15

1/1/15

3/31/15

4/1/15

3/31/15

6/30/15

2/28/15

4/30/15

4/28/15

Write Empower seminar curriculum.

Redesign Rockford First single parent class curriculum.

Create single parent resource catalog.

Develop class schedule for seminar and single parent class.

Develop post-class evaluation surveys for seminar and single parent class.

Writing: Chapter 2, Sources, and any appendices

5/1/14 7/31/14 Write chapter 2 biblical theological review and submit draft to editor.

Writing: Chapter 3, Sources, and any appendices

12/1/14 1/31/15 Write chapter 3 general literature review and submit draft to editor.

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Implementation 5/15/15

8/1/15

3/1/15

9/15/15

9/30/15

9/30/15

Conduct Empower seminars.

Conduct revised single parent class.

Distribute single parent resource catalog.

Evaluation 5/15/15 9/30/15 Conduct evaluation surveys at the conclusion of the Empower seminars and the single parent class.

Conduct evaluation of overall project process, from research to assessment, in preparation for writing chapter 5.

Writing: Chapter 4 and any appendices

7/1/15 8/15/15 Write chapter 4 and submit draft to editor.

Writing: Chapter 5 10/1/15 10/8/15 Write chapter 5 and submit draft to editor.

Writing: Chapter 1 10/1/15 10/8/15 Write chapter 1 and submit draft to editor.

Writing: Any additional Appendices

9/15/15 9/30/15 Write any additional appendices.

Writing: Front Matter (Title Page, Contents, Abstract, and Acknowledgments)

10/8/15 10/15/15 Write front matter and submit draft to editor.

Biblical-Theological Literature Review

I will review key biblical texts and theological works in the following categories:

The Heart of God for Compassion Ministry(Lev. 19:9-18; Ps. 72:12-14; Prov. 19:17; Isa. 1:17, 58:10,11; Matt. 9:35-38, 25:35-40; Luke 10:30-37; 2 Cor. 1:3-5; Heb. 13:3; James 2:1-13; 1 John 4:9-12)

The Heart of God for Widows and Orphans(Gen. 21:10-18; Exod. 22:21-24; Deut.10:18-20; 1 Kings 17:13-24; Lam. 5:3; John 4:1-30; James 1:27)

General Literature Review

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Joshua C. Yang:

I will review key contemporary literature works in the following category:

The Spiritual, Emotional, and Relational Needs of Single Parents

The Spiritual, Emotional, and Relational Needs of Single Parent Children

The Church and the Single Parent Family

Contribution to Ministry

During the 2011 Global Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels reiterated his belief that “the

local church is the hope of the world.”9 Rockford First is positioning itself to extend its impact

well beyond the city of Rockford and its surrounding communities. However, this goal begins

with Rockford First equipping those who attend the church to become spiritually, emotionally,

mentally, physically, and relationally healthy.

This project will prove helpful on several levels. First, the research will help clarify the

biblical reasons why churches must develop a focused ministry to single parent families. Second,

the literature review will help church leaders learn how they can serve single parent families in

their churches and communities by understanding their spiritual, emotional, and relational needs

and better utilizing church resources to meet these needs. Third, raising the visibility of a single

parent ministry can help churches embrace single parent families as an integral part of the Body

of Christ rather than marginalizing them. Fourth, by providing single parent families with

spiritual guidance and mentorship, emotional support, and relational opportunities, churches can

equip these families with the tools they need to have an abundant life in Christ.

It is my hope that this project will transform Rockford First into a church that takes James

1:27 seriously and will potentially become a model for other churches to follow. As Hybels

9 Bill Hybels, “The Local Church is the Hope of the World” (Lecture, Global Leadership Summit, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL, August 12, 2011).

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noted at the Summit, “Vision is the picture of a future that creates passion in people. It propels

people forward who would normally be comfortable with the status quo. It puts a bounce in your

step when you’d normally be dragging your feet.”10 Local churches are indeed the hope of the

world.

10 Ibid.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

General Literature Review

Adams, Janis. A Complete Guide for Single Moms: Everything You Need to Know About Raising Healthy, Happy Children on Your Own. Ocala, FL: Atlantic Publishing Group Inc., 2011.

Aldrich, Sandra Picklesimer. From One Single Mother to Another. Rev. ed. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2005.

“America’s Fastest Growing and Largest Outreach Churches, 2013.” Outreach, October 2013. Accessed October 16, 2013. http://www.outreachmagazine.com/2013-outreach-100-fastest-growing-churches-america-page-2.html.

Armstrong, Brenda. Financial Relief for Single Parents: A Proven Plan for Achieving the Seemingly Impossible. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2007.

———. The Single Mom's Workplace Survival Guide: A Practical Guide. Ann Arbor, MI: Regal, 2003.

Badenhausen, Kurt. “America’s Most Miserable Cities 2013.” Forbes. Accessed May 21, 2013. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45lmhg/3-rockford-ill/.

Balswick, Jack O., and Judith K. Balswick. The Family: A Christian Perspective on the Contemporary Home. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007.

Barna, George. Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions: Why Children Should Be Your Church’s #1 Priority. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2003.

Birdseye, Sue. When Happily Ever After Shatters: Seeing God in the Midst of Divorce and Single Parenting. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013.

Brott, Armin A. The Single Father: A Dad's Guide to Parenting Without a Partner. New York, NY: Abbeville Press, 1999.

Buchanan, Bay. Bay and Her Boys: Unexpected Lessons I Learned as a (Single) Mom. Edited by First Da Capo Press. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2012.

Campbell, Ross. How to Really Know Your Child. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987.

———. How to Really Love Your Child. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992.

Canfield, Jack, Mark Victor Hansen, Laurie Hartman, and Nancy Vogl. Chicken Soup for the Single Parent's Soul: Stories of Hope, Healing, and Humor. Deerfield Beach, FL: HCI, 2005.

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Chisholm, Dana S. Single Moms Raising Sons: Preparing Boys to Be Men When There's No Man Around. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2007.

Cline, Foster and Jim Fay. Parenting With Love & Logic. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress Publishing, 2006.

Cloud, Henry, and John Townsend. Boundaries with Kids: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Help Your Children Gain Control of Their Lives. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998.

———. Raising Great Kids: A Comprehensive Guide to Parenting with Grace and Truth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

Colopy, Elsa Kok. The Single Mom's Guide to Keeping It All Together. Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H Revell Co, 2010.

Cooke, Shae. The Single Parent's Guide to Raising Godly Children. Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2010.

Coroy, Carla Anne. Married Mom, Solo Parent: Finding God's Strength to Face the Challenge. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2011.

Deal, Ron L. Dating and the Single Parent: Are You Ready to Date? Talking with Your Kids, Avoiding a Big Mistake, Finding Lasting Love. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2012.

Dinkmeyer, Don, and Gary D. McKay. The Parent's Handbook: Step, Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service, 1989.

Engber, Andrea, and Leah Klungness. The Complete Single Mother: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Concerns. 3rd ed. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2006.

Ellis, Carolyn. The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting: What to Avoid to Help Your Children Thrive After Divorce. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc., 2007.

Farber, Edward D. Raising the Kid You Love with the Ex You Hate. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2013.

Floch, Carol. The Single Mom's Devotional: A Book of 52 Practical and Encouraging Devotions. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2010.

Frisbie, David and Lisa Frisbie. Raising Great Kids on Your Own. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2007.

Gibbs, Eddie, and Ryan K. Bolger. Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005.

Ginsberg, Barry G. 50 Wonderful Ways to Be a Single-Parent Family. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, 2002.

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Hall, Gina Panettieri with Philip S. Hall. The Single Mother's Guide to Raising Remarkable Boys. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2008.

Hawkins, Greg L. and Cally Parkinson. Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

Hertz, Rosanna. Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice: How Women Are Choosing Parenthood Without Marriage and Creating the New American Family. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Hoerner, Thomas. The Ultimate Survival Guide for the Single Father. Richmond, VA: Harbinger Press, 2002.

Holyfield, Lori. Moving Up and Out: Poverty, Education, and the Single Parent Family. Philadelphia, PA: Temple Univ Press, 2002.

Jakes, T. D. Help! I'm Raising My Children Alone. Rev. ed. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2001.

Johnson, Rick. That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2005.

Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

Klumpp, Mike. The Single Dad's Survival Guide: How to Succeed as a One-Man Parenting Team. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press, 2003.

Leman, Dr. Kevin. Single Parenting That Works: Six Keys to Raising Happy, Healthy Children in a Single-Parent Home. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2006.

Lynne, Cecilia. After...Happily Ever After: Finding Contentment as a Single Parent. Amarillo, TX: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2009.

Maggio, Jennifer Barnes. Kids and the Single Mom: Real-Word Guide to Effective Parenting. Stone Mountain. GA: CarePoint Ministries, 2012.

———.Overwhelmed: The Life of a Single Mom. Mustang, OK: Tate Publishing, 2010.

———. The Church and the Single Mom. Stone Mountain. GA: CarePoint Ministry, Inc., 2011.

McCarney, Stephen B., and Angela M. Bauer. The Parent’s Guide: Solutions to Today’s Most Common Behavior Problems in the Home. Columbia, MO: Hawthorne Educational Services, 1989.

McGhee, Christina. Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids. New York, NY: Berkley Trade, 2010.

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McKenna, Theresa. The Hidden Mission Field: Caring for the Widow and Orphan in the 21st Century. Mukilteo, WA: Winepress Publishing, 1999.

McLanahan, Sara, and Gary Sandefur. Growing up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps. Reprint ed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994.

Meyer, Nancy Sebastian. Spiritually Single Moms: Raising Godly Kids When Dad Doesn't Believe. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2007.

Minirth, Frank, Paul Meier, and Stephen Arterburn. The Complete Life Encyclopedia: A Minirth Meier New Life Family Resource. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995.

Moore, Derrick and Stephanie Perry. Raise Him Up: a Single Mother's Guide to Raising a Successful Black Man; Taken from the Book of Acts. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

Nelsen, Jane, Cheryl Erwin, and Carol Delzer. Positive Discipline for Single Parents: Nurturing Cooperation, Respect, and Joy in Your Single-Parent Family. Rev. 2nd ed. Rocklin, CA: Harmony, 1999.

Noel, Brook with Art Klein. The Single Parent Resource. Beverly Hills, CA: Champion Press, Ltd, 1998.

Passley, Dr. Josef A. Single Parenting in the 21st Century and Beyond: A Single Mother's Guide to Rearing Sons Without Fathers. Victoria, BC, Canada: Trafford Publishing, 2006.

Pedro-Carroll, JoAnne. Putting Children First: Proven Parenting Strategies for Helping Children Thrive through Divorce. New York: Avery Trade, 2010.

Peterson, Marion, and Diane Warner. Single Parenting for Dummies. New York, NY: For Dummies, 2003.

Rainer, Thom S. & Eric Geiger. Simple Church: Returning to God's Process for Making Disciples. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2006.

Rainey, Dennis, and Barbara Rainey with Bruce Nygren. Parenting Today's Adolescent: Helping Your Child Avoid the Traps of the Pre-Teen and Early Teen Years. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.

Reed, Bobbie, ed. Baker Handbook of Single Parent Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Pub Group, 1998.

Reynolds, Susan, and Robert A. Bexton. The Everything Guide to Personal Finance for Single Mothers: A Step-by-step Plan for Achieving Financial Independence. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2007.

Ricci, Isolina. Mom's House, Dad's House for Kids: Feeling at Home in One Home or Two. New York, NY: Touchstone, 2006.

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Richmond, Gary. Successful Single Parenting. Expanded ed. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998.

Riggins, Mary Beth. Saving Our Singles-101 Ways the Church Can Reach the Single Parent. Nashville, TN: Published by Westview, 2008.

Rosiak, Luke. “Fathers Disappear from Households Across American.” The Washington Times, December 25, 2012. Accessed May 13, 2013. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec /25/fathers-disappear-from-households-across-america/?page=all.

Scannell, Cristy. “Outreach 100 Largest & Fastest Growing Churches in America,” Outreach, (October 2012).

Schiller, Barbara. Just Me & the Kids: Building Healthy Single Parent Families-the Complete Resource Guide for Your Church. Elgin, IL: Singles Ministry Resources, 1994.

“Selected Social Characteristics in the United States: 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2011.” U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed May 13, 2013. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP02.

Shimberg, Elaine Fantle, and Michael Shimberg. The Complete Single Father: Reassuring Answers to Your Most Challenging Situations. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2007.

Single & Parenting Participant Workbook. Wake Forest, NC: Church Initiative, 2011.

Stanley, Andy. Deep & Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love to Attend. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.

Stewart, Scott Philip. Single Moms Care Ministry Start-Up Guide: The Complete Guide to Planting and Growing a Church-Based Single Moms Care and Support Ministry. Stone Mountain, GA: CarePoint Ministries, 2012.

“The Father Factor.” National Fatherhood Initiative. Accessed May 13, 2013. http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics.

Thomas, Angela. Single Mom Life: True Stories & Practical Lessons for Your Journey. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007.

———. Single and Parenting Leader's Kit. Wake Forest, NC: Church Initiative, 2011.

Townsend, John. Boundaries with Teens: When to Say Yes, How to Say No. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006.

Turansky, Scott and Joanne Miller. Parenting is Heart Work. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2005.

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———. The Christian Parenting Handbook: 50 Heart-Based Strategies for All the Stages of Your Child's Life. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2013.

Turner, Janine. Holding Her Head High: 12 Single Mothers Who Championed Their Children and Changed History. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

West, Michelle D. Still Standing: Single Mothers on the Front Line. Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2011.

Whitehurst, Teresa. God Loves Single Moms: Practical Help for Finding Confidence, Strength, and Hope. Grand Rapids, MI: Revell, 2010.

Williams, Kelly. Single Mamahood: Advice and Wisdom for the African-American Single Mother. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel, 1998.

Wright, H. Norman. The Power of a Parent's Words: How You Can Use Loving, Effective Communication to Increase Your Child's Self-Esteem and Reduce the Frustrations of Parenting. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1991.

Wright, H. Norman, and Gary J. Oliver. Kids Have Feelings Too! Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993.

Yates, Cynthia. Living Well as a Single Mom. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2006.

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