The US Census Bureau projections indicate that a least one-half of all American children will spend part of their growing years in a single parent family and that this is today's fastest growing family lifestyle.

The Rev. Joe Cal Watson, minister of Main Street United Methodist Church, Columbia, found that like many other downtown churches, the congregations are moving into the suburbs and attending neighborhood churches.

Watson knew that a new direction with a niche was needed. He believes that it has finally been found, or more correctly the niche found the church.

Recently, while attending a Sunday service, a young mother with a baby expressed her desire to join the church. She is a single parent. The niche had found the church. This church's outreach is to address and provide the unique needs of the single parent family. A single parent family Christian fellowship has truly been the forgotten and isolated family.

There are many problems in bringing up children alone while dealing with the emotional conflicts of divorce, separation, widowhood, or never being married. Watson feels the church on the corner of Main and Richland streets has the ideal environment in which to provide real help in the way of fellowship, discussions, study groups, publications, and social activities for parents and children.

On Wednesday October 29, the first meeting/kickoff celebration and dinner of the Single Parent Family Fellowship will be held at 6 pm at Main Street United Methodist Church, 1830 Main Street. All single parents and their children are welcome and are encouraged to become founding members of the Fellowship. There is no cost for membership. For more information, call 206-2610 or the church office at 779-0610.