The Rev. Joan Hoffman, who received her master’s degree in Christian ministry from Alliance Theological Seminary, started the singles ministry at The Vineyard church in Beavercreek in 2005 and moved it to Fairhaven in 2008.
The name of the ministry refers to a Bible passage.
“It’s from John 15:5,” Hoffman said. “It says, ‘I am the vine, and you are the branches.’ You are attached first to Christ. And he was single, by the way!”
She said Fairhaven gave the ministry room to grow and offer a variety of programs, including dances every other month, weekend events, a divorce care program and weekly meetings.
“The Tuesday night meeting is the cornerstone of our singles ministry,” Hoffman said. “The desire is to be an inviting community of single adults. Community is our main focus.”
Hoffman said the ministry has a core of about 200, and more than 1,200 on the e-mail list.
“Our dance turnouts are as high as 450,” she said, noting that they draw singles from as far as Columbus, Cincinnati and Indiana.
The Valentine’s Day dance usually has the highest attendance, but Hoffman said the New Year’s Eve event also does well.
Hoffman, 48, added that she can relate to members of the group. She was a single mother of four when she got the job at Fairhaven. She remarried last year, although not through the ministry.
“I feel very responsible for my sheep, so I keep a pretty close eye on things,” she said. “We work hard to keep our ministry safe.”
Hoffman said people should know this is not a dating service.
“People do date and do get married, but we really focus on building friendships,” she said.
She said members also do not have to attend Fairhaven, or any church, to be part of the ministry.
For more information about Single Vine, call Hoffman at (937) 434-8627, ext. 118.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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