Broken, bruised and bored” single adults in Tuscaloosa now have a new option for a fun Friday night: The Friday Thing. About once a month, a group from the singles ministry at Calvary Baptist Church hosts The Friday Thing, which is geared toward providing single adults of all ages with a place to come and meet other singles from their community.
“The goal behind The Friday Thing,” according to Don Johnson who attends Calvary, “is to provide a safe, friendly place where people who are not regularly involved in church can investigate the claims of God on their life while meeting new friends and having an alternative to the night life available outside the church.”
The idea for The Friday Thing developed at a lunch meeting between Johnson; Timothy Plant, minister of education at Calvary; and R.G. Evans, who is a worker in the singles department at Calvary.
“We went to lunch to try to talk about a place where Don could serve in the area of singles ministry in town,” Plant said. “Don had a vision for a ministry to adults who are single again that would give them a chance to get together in a healthy environment. That vision evolved into The Friday Thing.”
R.G.’s wife, Lynn Evans, who is director of one of the singles departments at Calvary, said The Friday Thing is “a way to reach all singles in the Tuscaloosa area with the message of Christ without beating them over the head with something ‘churchy’ — something that will hopefully attract Christians and non-Christians.” The first event was held in March and revolved around a Mardi Gras theme. The April Friday Thing’s theme was Smooth Jazz Night. Johnson invited saxophonist Vann Burchfield to come play at the event.
Burchfield, who was raised in the Mormon Church, became a Christian four years ago. Since that time he has toured with Joyce Meyer Ministries and found many other avenues to use his music as a tool to share Christ.
“Vann Burchfield was contacted because of the theme we chose and his level of music excellence,” Johnson said. “The bottom line is I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for Christ,” Burchfield said. “I shared in between songs and I talked with people on the side.”
In addition to the entertainment, a drama was performed by members of the singles ministry at Calvary, followed by a brief message delivered by Johnson during which he presented the gospel and led anyone interested in a silent prayer.
Each month, everyone in attendance fills out a response card. This gives the singles ministry team a chance to make follow-up contacts with those who made decisions or are not involved regularly in church. Out of the 100 singles who attended the Mardi Gras event, Johnson estimates that 20 percent were not regularly involved in church.
“There are many single adults who feel they have been neglected by the church and don’t have a place where they fit,” Johnson said. “Being a single adult myself, I have longed for a place where other Christian singles can connect with each other and with God in a non-threatening way.”
“It is also about giving our singles an avenue of ministry,” Evans said. “The whole group comes together to do something for someone else that reaches beyond our walls and beyond our group.”
“We are only just scratching the surface,” Johnson said.
Other events planned include a Blues and Barbecue night this month and a June Beach Party, both featuring live bands. There is also a Jim Cole concert in the works for the fall. More information is available at thefridaything.com.
Share with others: