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February/March 2007 Issue |
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Just jumping from a college classroom
to a cubicle after graduation can be overwhelming.
Add bills, relationships and
work pressures to the mix, and it’s easy
to understand why young adults fi nd it
easy to stray from their faith.
Jarrett Stephens, Minister to Young
Singles, sees beyond those complicated
layers to what makes this group
of believers so special.
“They are not tied down, but they are
ready to do ministry,” Jarrett said. “Our
ministry gives young adults the ability to
put their faith to work. It’s awesome to see
lives changed, community developed and
ties formed.”
Living for Christ in a secular workforce
Monday through Friday is diffi cult in this day
and age. But when Sunday comes along, the
singles at Prestonwood have their faith rekindled
as they worship through the services
and experience community in their Bible
Fellowship classes.
“To see our ministry reaching over 300
young singles on any given weekend amazes
me,” Jarrett said. “You can feel the energy
when you walk into a standing-room-only
crowd. It is apparent that we are going to
have to do something soon to accommodate
the growth that God is granting.”
Mindee Way said the class she attends, Reality,
has recently grown by about 20 people.
“We also have become united as a class
and have been ‘deepening the stakes of our
tent,’ just as Pastor Graham has encouraged
us to do,” Mindee said.
There are nine Bible Fellowship classes
offered each week, giving young singles the
opportunity to grow together through the
study of God’s Word in a small group setting.
“Even though there are hundreds of
singles in attendance each week, it’s great to
find a close-knit community
of true believers,”
said Heather Adams.
Young Singles have
drawn closer to Christ and
one another while sharing
His love beyond the walls
of Prestonwood. Their
heart for missions is seen
through servant evangelism
projects, which include carwashes, free gift
wrapping and helping new residents move
into apartment complexes. In addition, the
Young Singles are involved monthly in H.I.S.
BridgeBuilders, a transformational ministry to
the city of Dallas.
Janet Hamilton, a staff member in the
Young Singles Ministry, shared her
experience with a class member
who trusted Christ last year and
soon after began volunteering
with BridgeBuilders.
“On Christmas Day this
past year, she spent the
entire day loving on and
ministering to women
in South Dallas,” Janet
recalled. “It’s neat to see
how new believers get involved.”
The young singles also partner with Hope Fellowship
church in Cambridge, Mass. , four times
each year and are planning a trip to India as well.
“Through the outreaches we are involved
in, we want to tangibly show the love of
Christ,” Jarrett said. “We love to see our
young singles grow in their faith and then
plug into a ministry and serve.”
This will be a memorable year in the Young
Singles’ Ministry, with plans to launch small
groups that will meet south of Interstate 635.
“We are fi nding that a lot of young singles
live in the Downtown Dallas area, and our
plan is to take the
church to them,”
Jarrett explained. “We
will do this by offering
them an opportunity
for community and
spiritual growth at a
time and place that
is more convenient.
Our goal is to reach
more young singles for Christ in an area that
is beyond the normal commute. Essentially,
we are trying to build the future of the church
and continue the expansion of Prestonwood
beyond the walls of Park and Midway.”
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