FAQ

I do not attend church; will this be a good place for me?

There is no prerequisite for being cared for, encouraged and supported by this ministry except that you are a single parent. Participants from all faith backgrounds receive care through the program. Although our program is based on Biblical principles, it is designed to equip and help you and your children grow through a difficult time. 

If I can’t make it every week, will I be able to keep up with the class?

Yes, you will be able to keep up even if you can’t make every class. Although there is no assigned homework, there is a work book for each program that includes the lessons for each week. You can read the lessons you miss at home when it is convenient for you. 

I share custody of my children with my former spouse; will it be a problem if they can’t attend regularly?

It is no problem at all if you share custody with your former spouse, and your children can’t attend every time. The children are welcomed and cared for every week and the lessons are fun. There are no homework and no grades and no one is penalized in any way for missing class. 

As a man who is recently divorced, how will I benefit from this program, since the ratio of women is higher than men?

We know that fathers are also disrupted when they have to deal with the pain of loss. Our goal is to help single parents become a solid and stabilizing influence in the children’s lives and our programs benefit any parent who wants to become the best parent they can be. While it is true the ratio of women is higher in most classes, it is also a safe place where all single parents are welcome and encouraged. 

I have a very limited budget, is the program expensive?

The program costs $25 per family per educational sequence. That comes to about $100 per school year for you and your children. If you participate in the Among Friends Consignment Sale, which happens twice a year, you could earn more than enough to cover the cost of programming and earn extra income as well. With the dinner portion of the Tuesday night program, we ask for a donation of $3 per person or $6 per family, which helps us to offset the cost of food, and because all the labor is provided by staff or volunteers, we are able to keep the costs very low. 

Are there activities outside of our classes to socialize with other single parents?

All of the activities and outings like the Christmas Dinner and Fishing Trip and summer camping are intended to help families socialize and have fun together. We are planning additional opportunities for parents to connect and socialize. 

I attended another church where I felt the failure of my marriage was stigmatized; will I feel welcome at this church?

The leaders at Westminster Chapel know that divorces happen for a variety of reasons, and no matter the reason, families are wounded when it occurs. We are committed to accepting and caring for those who are hurt, and helping to provide the best possible means of supporting families grow through pain and disruption, and become stabilized, thriving and confident individuals. 

I am a single parent that has never been married. Will this be a comfortable place for me?

No matter the reason that you are a single parent, we want to encourage and support you in your desire to be the best possible parent you can be for your child. We know single parenting is tough and taxing because our program was developed by single parents for single parents. You will find acceptance and care for you and your child here. 

Is this where problems are addressed in a positive way?

Yes, we are focused on helping you build skills to help you grow better, not bitter. To be sure, there is always a part of moving through difficult situations that requires some time to process what has happened. We won’t ask you to deny your feelings, but we will help you accept the situation you find yourself in, and move forward in a way that will help you keep your perspective on the end goal of raising a healthy, happy, stable family. 

Is this like a divorce recovery program?

No, it is a family-centered program for single parents. Divorce recovery focuses its programming on helping adults process and understand what happened in the marriage and moving through the grief of loss in divorce. It is an adult-centered program. While we believe it is a great program to help people recover from divorce, and we recommend it highly, it does not directly address the needs of the children. 

I’m struggling with God over the death of my marriage/spouse, is this safe place for me?

We know that there is a lot of confusion and grief surrounding any death. Whether you have a relationship with God or you don’t, there are many important questions that can really only be resolved in one’s own heart. We are open to the struggle, and view the struggle as a legitimate part of any relationship – even one with God. 

Is God the focus of your program?

Our program exists because we want to demonstrate the love of God to those who are hurting. We do not preach or expect participants to share our beliefs, but we are here because we have been touched by God’s love in the midst of marriage and relationship failures and deaths. We simply want to comfort others with the comfort we have received. We begin our meal with prayer, and we offer a Sunday morning class for those who would like to know more about God. The focus of our Tuesday evening program is to help you and your children learn skills and care to grow through the challenges of single parenting. 

Things we are:
A place to grow in our life skills and parenting skills.
A safe place to heal from our crisis.
We are a place where we take responsibility for ourselves and our children.
We are a place where we can build community and find significance and value.
We are a place to share God’s love and grace with one another.
We are SAFE place.

Things we are not:
A place where we expect other people to take care of our problems.
A place to find dating relationships.
A place to bash others.
A place to form cliques.