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Misc.Resources (books, manuals, etc.)

Some years back the (Southern Baptist) Convention Press produced several booklets in their Family Enrichment Series that deal with singles. They would be appropriate for Sunday School or mid-week support sessions.
    The first of these is entitled Helps for the Single-Parent Christian Family by Charles E. Smith. This booklet offers practical help for single-parents related to self-esteem, building a new identity, dating/relating, and parenting. (Published in 1978, 50 pages, $2.95)
    The second is Singles: Wants vs. Shoulds by W. Douglas Cole. This booklet deals with spiritual growth, time management, sexuality, money management, relationships, marriage, and remarriage. (Published in 1980, 50 pages, $3.95.)
    The third is My Life: Joy in Being by Jim Towns. This booklet is designed to help singles learn more about how to develop and maintain as better relationship with themselves and others. (Published in 1981, 48 pages, $3.95).
    To order any of these booklets, contact any local Baptist Book Store or Convention Press, Mail Order Center, Box 24420, Nashville, TN 37302. (Add $1 for postage/handling on mail orders).
The Ever-Kare organization has developed the following materials that should be helpful to use in times of bereavement. First, they have published a series of 5 brochures that are written in a question and answer form and give concrete solutions to common bereavement problems. The titles are: Social Life for the Widowed; Grief: How to Cop with it; Death of a Spouse; Explaining Death to Children; and Death by Suicide. These brochures sold for $44.95/100 (any mix).
    Secondly, there is a cassette tape (50 minutes) that is to be listened to by the bereaved in the privacy of their homes. It talks about the grief process, offers solutions to the 12 common problems in bereavement, and encourages the building of a new social life. The tape sold for $15.95.
    And finally, they have a bereavement manual which is a practical guide to the everyday problems facing bereaved families. This manual includes legal guidelines, financial planning advice, job counseling guidelines, and much more. The manual, which complements the tape and serves as a handy reference, sold for $21.95.
    For more information or to order the above materials, contact Ever-Kare, Inc., Box 12, Quakertown, PA 18951. Telephone: (215) 536-9229.
The Family Service America organization, a private, non-profit voluntary movement dedicated to helping families in crisis, has a publication division "whose mission it is to provide timely, up-to-date information for social work professionals" and other human service practitioners.
    Some of their book titles that relate to singles ministry are: Children of Divorce ($14.95), Leading Self-Help Groups ($7.50), The Remarried Family ($16.95), Exploring Marriage ($15.95), Parenting Children of Divorce ($14.95), Separation and Divorce ($15.95), and The Single Parent Experience ($15.95). They also have some video tapes on such subjects as Single Parents and Their Children ($340), Single Parents ($420), and Stepparenting Issues ($340).
    For information on these and their other publications, send for their catalog: Family Services America, 11700 West Lake Park Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53224. Telephone: (414) 359-2111.
Doorways by Cokesbury Publishing House. This is a set of curriculum materials offered by Cokesbury, the publishing arm of the United Methodist Church. This series is designed to help formerly married persons to examine themselves, their relationships, and their life situation. The materials urge them to call on their faith for support and direction as they live through the crisis, adjustment, and living stages of being single again.
    There are three separate topics covered in this series, each with its own materials: "Living through Divorce," "Living through Death (of Spouse)," and "Living through Separation." These materials may be used for personal reading or in church-based support groups.
    Each participant book is divided into three major sections, of three lessons each, which reflect the stages of each life situation: crisis, adjustment, and living. By looking at the experiences of others--in both good times and bad--persons can examine themselves and begin to figure out one step at a time what they want to do next. Throughout, the resources urge that despite the loss, a person's relationship with God can grow ever stronger.
    The 64-page student manual sold for $1.80 and the 32 page teacher's guide for $1.90. They may be ordered from any Cokesbury Book Store or call 1 (800) 672-1789.
An Evaluation of Selected Divorce Recovery Programs by Stanley Hagemeyer. In his research, Hagemeyer contacted over 40 organizations and professionals involved in divorce recovery programs. His report describes seven of the leading programs available at that time: The Beginning Experience, A Fresh Start, A Divorce Adjustment Seminar, Beyond Divorce, Rebuilding, A Divorce Recovery Workshop, and Coping with Divorce. In addition to his thorough evaluations of these programs, the report also has an annotated listing of 20 other useful sources of program materials, books and magazines.
    For a copy of this report, published in 1984), send $5 to the Good News Community, 4319 Bryon Center Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49509.
Single Again: Survival Kit for the Divorced and Widowed by by Stephen M. Miller (See under Bereavement)
SinglePlus: Guidebook & Modules by Lily J. Corsello. This is a manual on how to start a single adult support group program in local areas. The workbook is divided into two parts. Part One deals with the formation of a SinglePlus support group chapter: how to begin, the basic ingredients, and the organizational structure.
    Part Two provides 20 different outlines that are designed to be used as teaching units for the support group sessions but they can also be good material for any discussion group with singles. Some of the titles are: Single Point of View, Body Life, Be All that You Can Be, Successful Stress Management, Time Management, Creative Singleness, Coping with Loneliness, True Friendships, Developing Intimacy, Divorce Recovery, Adult Dating, Recognizing Genuine Love and Remarriage.
    This 67-page manual was published in 1994 by the author (Box 3248, Pompano Beach, FL 33072, 954-783-3460). It sold for $15.
Supper Club by Michael Kendrick. This book provides ideas of fellowship themes that can be done at small dinner parties of 6 to 10 adults. The book suggests themes, decorations, dress-up possibilities, music, mixers, games, discussion starters, and even recipes. Some ideas may seem outlandish, but all have been used successfully.
    Some of the 15 innovative themes include: Medieval Quest, The '50s, Walt Disney, International Flavor, High School Reunion, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Sports, Star Trek, Totally Tacky, and TV Trivia.
    Published by Baker Books in 1994, this 119-page book sold for $7.99 (trade).
Vacations with a Purpose by Chris Eaton and Kim Hurst. Though not strictly a book that deals with singles issues, it is an outgrowth of two singles leaders who took their singles on short-term missions assignments. The book describes how other groups can plan and promote such mission trips. It contains lots of practical material to be used before, during and after the trip, such travel tips, a sample packing list, pointers on how to write a fund-raising letter, and how to say your good-byes.
    Some of the chapter titles are: Why Go on a Vacation with a Purpose?, Financing Your Trip, Team Preparation Sessions, Language Learning, On the Field, My Journal, The Good-Byes, Debriefing, Back-at-Home Study Material, Communication the Experience. There is also a companion manual for leaders.
    Published in 1991 by NavPress, the 120 page book sold for $5.99 (trade) and the 220 page leader's manual for $19.99 (trade).