For The Joy Set Before Us

By Geraldine Fadrigon, Newcastle, Australia

I am Geraldine Fadrigon from Newcastle, Australia. I was baptised at the Sydney Church of Christ and have been a disciple for six years. In August 2019, I attended a church conference in Singapore for mature single disciples aged 35 and above. It was my first international church event. I went with pure excitement yet vague expectations. 

Prior to the event, I had been contemplating for months on how to grow in my spiritual walk with God. I wanted to serve but I did not know where the needs were or where my talents fit in the kingdom. Leadership was a scary thought for a young disciple like me at that time. Unexpectedly, the conference was God’s response. 

The seasoned singles ministry is composed of faithful, serving brothers and sisters whose work is produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:3). The conference also opened my eyes to their struggles of waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled (whether it be in relationships, career, health, etc.), which can inevitably lead to feelings of bitterness and loss of purpose. It is a growing ministry, which like any other ministries (marrieds, campus, young professionals, teens), has age-specific needs to consider and address. Often, the mature singles are blended in with young professionals and marrieds which can amplify the lack of identity and belonging. I was deeply impacted by the lessons, fellowship, and the work that had been progressing in the seasoned singles ministry across the Southeast Asians regions. I came back to Sydney inspired with a challenge to replicate what other countries had started.

Along with several sisters who attended the Singapore Conference, I formed Chara, a new group of mature sisters in Sydney. Chara (pronounced khar-ah) is rooted from the Greek word Χαρά that describes a feeling of inner gladness or rejoicing. Psalm 16:11 (NIV) comes to mind. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your hand.” It is the calm delight manifested when our hearts are deeply connected to God, the true source of joy, unwavering in the middle of a storm. Chara also means “friend” in Gaelic language.

We had our first meeting over dinner in November 2019 to chat about our needs and how we can help one another to address them. One of the most obvious needs is friendship and having someone to rely on when in need, especially when you consider that most of the mature sisters in Sydney live alone. The question can be as simple as who should I go to the movies with? Who will bother to know when I get sick? Who can I pray with when I am struggling in my walk with God? Who can encourage me when I am overwhelmed by sufferings in life? 

We built intentional friendship and devoted time with one another. As Romans 12:10-12 (NIV) says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” We strive to become women of God who find joy in His presence and laugh without fear of the future (Proverbs 31:25). Whilst the group began with few sisters in Sydney, it has expanded its reach connecting mature sisters across other states in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. We created fellowship activities, held prayers nights, celebrated milestones, went on road trips to increase the fun meter and forge a deeper bond. During the Covid-19 lockdown, the Chara women became a place of refuge for other sisters through prayer and encouragement to ease anxiety and strengthening faith in those challenging times. The Sydney Church also created lessons specific to the needs of mature disciples as part of retreats and conferences. As of today, the Chara group is a work in progress and continues to evolve in finding ways to actively serve in God’s kingdom.

I have learned some lessons along the way:

• Start serving from where you are. I was able to see the need of the mature sisters in the kingdom because I have similar experiences and struggles. Often, there is no need to look for what you do not have. I observed other disciples who actively serve in the kingdom and felt insecure of my capabilities to do what they do. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift is from above. We all receive different talents which are all important in building God’s kingdom.
• Friendship is always within reach. The church is a one big family that God has gifted us. If I seek intentionally, there is at least one person who I can relate to and become friends with. Be intentional. Find a friend and tag others along the way. Making friends is not simply an option but a command for those who claim to love God. Remember 1 John 4:7 (NIV): “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
• Getting older does not mean life becomes boring and dull. “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then” (Joshua 14:11). This verse was talking about Caleb who was already 85 years old at that time and yet remained zealous to go to war. I would say the greatest privilege of being single is having less restriction in my use of time and resources. I can either complain of getting older day by day or embrace each moment with gratitude and have fun as God has commanded us. Go on adventures and bring your friends along. If I choose, I can be like Caleb. 

As I am writing this article, I am on my flight to Cebu, Philippines, to attend the 2023 Asian Singles Conference. I am looking forward to meeting again, after four years, the brothers and sisters who inspired me at the Singapore Conference. I can only imagine even greater things ahead. 

About Geraldine Fadrigon

Geraldine was baptised in the professionals ministry in Sydney in 2017 and works full time at a major Australian bank. In January 2023, she moved to Newcastle as part of a church planting along with 12 other disciples, and now serves in that small but growing professionals ministry. In 2019, Geraldine started the “Chara” ministry in Sydney for mature single sisters.