Churches are being challenged to provide greater assistance and support to the single parents in their congregations, Christian Today has been told.

The call is being made by Triumph Ayo-Isegun, founder of The HELP (an acronym for Healing and Empowering London Parents), a Christian-based organisation set up in 1998 to work alongside churches, policy makers and service providers to provide relevant support, information, care and services for lone parents.

Triumph stated, "It's important churches counteract the negative views propagated about single parents - views they sometimes contribute to, by making people feel bad for having children outside of marriage. This is not the only reason for lone parents. Marital breakdown, the death of a partner, rape are also reasons."

She continued, "Most single parents live productive lives and do a great job raising their children amidst great personal stress. This is rarely acknowledged because all too often, the media denigrate t lone parents efforts and blames them for society's ills. If there is anywhere lone parents get support it should be from the church.

"Furthermore, one third of families are now headed by a lone parent. If the church is serious about its mission to share the gospel it needs to meet the needs of this grouping."

In its efforts to support single parents, The HELP organises events in conjunction with churches specifically aimed at the single parents. These events give them the opportunity to attend practical workshops that provide information on key issues of concern, talk openly and share their experiences with others and acknowledge their achievements in a special celebration.

"Single parents find these events very beneficial," explained Triumph, "and as a result of attending them they often feel empowered to be better parents, and pursue their own professional and personal goals. We are keen for churches to partner with us in organising these events."

Some church leaders have given their support to The HELP and its aims, including Rev David Shosanya, Head of Missions for the London Baptist Association.

He commented, "The HELP has the potential to assist in reaching the significant and important single parent constituency within society and the church and is already doing effective work. I wholeheartedly commend this initiative. How we serve single parent families goes to the very heart of our faith - it is, in James words, an expression of true religion."

Triumph, a committed Christian, became a single parent following the breakdown of her marriage when her children were aged 5, 4 and three months. It is due to her own personal experiences that she is making a call for the church to be more proactive in its support of lone parents.

She said, "Depending on the circumstances on why we've become single parents, we sometimes feel vulnerable, unloved, rejected and totally unequipped for the responsibility of raising children. The stigma society and the church attaches to single parents adds to our vulnerability. Churches should be at the forefront of showing the love, compassion and support a single parent needs. In doing so they demonstrate the love of God for the vulnerable in our society."