I’ve been tweeting quite a bit about single men in missions, and picking away at this “problem.”

At first, it seemed more an intellectual exercise than anything else: most agencies seemed to have very few single males (or at least very low percentages).

I have discovered there is indeed a disparity between couples and singles (there are many more couples in mission than singles), and among singles, there are many, many more women than men.

As I have thought further about this, a question began framing itself: if the mission enterprise as a whole lacks single men, what are the implications? Are there places “we” cannot go? Are there things we cannot do?

Secondarily, why is there such a disparity?

Is it because single males are disinterested in missions? Is it because there are few single males in venues where recruitment happens? Is it because single males opt to get married before entering missions? Do mission agencies discourage singles?

I have begun thinking about this in terms of the “lifetime history of choices” that the single male makes:

At age 10, young males are not making a lifetime commitment to missions that can be immediately implemented. At age 15, young males might be going on short-term trips, but not making life-time commitments. At age 18, a young male is making his “first” lifetime choices (about this age, anyway): many are entering the workforce or going to college. A YWAM DTS might be around here. Is he making a choice for missions now? If so, why? If not, why not? At early 20s young males are making further lifetime choices (esp. after graduating from college). When do young men enter the mission force? Why?

By thinking through the number of males in the population at each of these stages, and the number that are in venues to be recruited by missions, and the numbers entering short-term missions, mission internships, and long-term missions, and pastorates… we might get a clearer picture.