Ministry to Reduce Stress in Single Parents: Towards a Holistic Strategy for the Assemblies of God Church in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Abstract

Single parents in the Assemblies of God Church Emalahleni, Mpumalanga South Africa experience emotional stress both in the church and at home, because there is no ministry to single parents and their children in the church. The church does not have programs to address the emotional needs of single parents and their children. As a result, single parents experience emotional stress. The objective of this study is to explore factors which affect single parents within the Assemblies of God Church in Emalahleni, and identify causes that prevent the church from ministering to the single parents. Accordingly, the study investigated the feelings of single parents in the church and further investigated pastors and the local church leadership’s understanding of ministry to single parents. To do this, the study interviewed sixty-two (62) respondents of whom thirty-five (35) were single parents, nine (9) were pastors and eighteen were elders, deacons and committee members respectively from nine assemblies of the Assemblies of God Emalahleni. The study utilized structured and unstructured open-ended questionnaires in in-depth interviews, which were scheduled for single parents, pastors and leadership members to provide in-depth information. Observation method was also used to elicit information concerning emotional stress in single parents. The study analysed data by using contents analysis which allowed the categories to emerge from the data. Data analysis began with the verbatim transcription of the transcript in isiZulu which was later translated into English. This was followed by the identification and definition of emerging themes and the development of a code list. The initial application of these themes on the transcripts was done manually to identify themes and subthemes. New themes that emerged during this process were defined and added to the code list. Transcripts were recorded if a new theme emerged or if a theme was redefined, and the final code list was then adapted. The study found that single parenting is difficult and there is no ministry catering for single parents in the Assemblies of God Church in Emalahleni, as a result, single parents experience emotional stress, and they do not communicate among themselves. Though there is no ministry to single parents in the Assemblies of God Emalahleni, single parents still survive. There is a need to teach about single parenting in the church. The study also found that single parents are uncomfortable about approaching the church leadership when they have challenges, because there is no structure responsible for single parents in the church, while on the other hand, there is discrimination and stigmatization of single parents in the church. Pastors need to use biblical principles to minister to single parents. The study further found that single parents are perceived to be a threat to married women in the church. Accordingly, the church should identify single parents in the church; the leadership should visit single parent homes and use some of the tithes offerings in the church to help single parents. The study concludes that there is no ministry to support single parents who are prone to emotional stress in the Assemblies of God Emalahleni. Therefore, the study recommends that the pastors and the local church leadership start teaching all congregants about single parenting and hold single parent services in their local churches. The study further recommends that a single parent seminar and single parent workshops should be organized at the district level to raise awareness about single parenting in the church. The findings of the study enabled the researcher to design a model called the Biblical Single Parent Ministry (BSPM) for the Assemblies of God Emalahleni.

Single parents in the Assemblies of God Church Emalahleni, Mpumalanga South Africa experience emotional stress both in the church and at home, because there is no ministry to single parents and their children in the church. The church does not have programs to address the emotional needs of single parents and their children. As a result, single parents experience emotional stress. The objective of this study is to explore factors which affect single parents within the Assemblies of God Church in Emalahleni, and identify causes that prevent the church from ministering to the single parents. Accordingly, the study investigated the feelings of single parents in the church and further investigated pastors and the local church leadership’s understanding of ministry to single parents. To do this, the study interviewed sixty-two (62) respondents of whom thirty-five (35) were single parents, nine (9) were pastors and eighteen were elders, deacons and committee members respectively from nine assemblies of the Assemblies of God Emalahleni. The study utilized structured and unstructured open-ended questionnaires in in-depth interviews, which were scheduled for single parents, pastors and leadership members to provide in-depth information. Observation method was also used to elicit information concerning emotional stress in single parents. The study analysed data by using contents analysis which allowed the categories to emerge from the data. Data analysis began with the verbatim transcription of the transcript in isiZulu which was later translated into English. This was followed by the identification and definition of emerging themes and the development of a code list. The initial application of these themes on the transcripts was done manually to identify themes and subthemes. New themes that emerged during this process were defined and added to the code list. Transcripts were recorded if a new theme emerged or if a theme was redefined, and the final code list was then adapted. The study found that single parenting is difficult and there is no ministry catering for single parents in the Assemblies of God Church in Emalahleni, as a result, single parents experience emotional stress, and they do not communicate among themselves. Though there is no ministry to single parents in the Assemblies of God Emalahleni, single parents still survive. There is a need to teach about single parenting in the church. The study also found that single parents are uncomfortable about approaching the church leadership when they have challenges, because there is no structure responsible for single parents in the church, while on the other hand, there is discrimination and stigmatization of single parents in the church. Pastors need to use biblical principles to minister to single parents. The study further found that single parents are perceived to be a threat to married women in the church. Accordingly, the church should identify single parents in the church; the leadership should visit single parent homes and use some of the tithes offerings in the church to help single parents. The study concludes that there is no ministry to support single parents who are prone to emotional stress in the Assemblies of God Emalahleni. Therefore, the study recommends that the pastors and the local church leadership start teaching all congregants about single parenting and hold single parent services in their local churches. The study further recommends that a single parent seminar and single parent workshops should be organized at the district level to raise awareness about single parenting in the church. The findings of the study enabled the researcher to design a model called the Biblical Single Parent Ministry (BSPM) for the Assemblies of God Emalahleni.