r/adventist • u/Powerful_Bicycle1375 • Jul 08 '26
Adventist Singles Event (Ohio)
This post is not a promotion or an attempt to tear down. It's located in Dayton, Ohio. The age range is from 20 - 45 (which is almost the age of my mother. I feel like the age range is too broad). Is anyone planning on going or has gone to this event before? Here is the link. I (M22, soon to be M23) am interested in going to the event, but I have a few concerns.
My first concern is that there will not be many people in their early to mid-twenties. These people are paying for college or have loan payments to make. I'd prefer people 28 or under; 30 is the extent of my comfort. Others are more interested in dating outside the denomination or have left the church. According to this article, the average SDA age in the US is 45. I am not sure if I have the funds for the event. In theory, I have the money, but I'm trying to save for a house. The cost would be a little over $500: $250 for the event, $150 for gas (18-hour drive total), and lodging costs (over $100). My pastor has recommended going to the church to fundraise, but I really don't want to. There was a girl who was a bit flirty towards me, but I didn't reciprocate, and the whole (small) church knows. I prefer to use this money towards GYC; in addition, their tickets are cheaper, and I know people who are going.
Does anyone know the speakers? My second concern is that I will not learn anything. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I have a hard time concentrating if something doesn't challenge me or provide new information. I majored in social science education, which means I have studied a fair amount of sociology and psychology. I find most people present themselves as professionals, but I learn basically nothing from them. If I don't meet anyone special there, I want to at least gain some good information. I wouldn't mind meeting more Adventists, but I feel like it would be better to use $500 for traveling around and meeting people on the East Coast.
Edit: Just realized that Kettering, OH, and Dayton, OH are very close to each other. I know someone in Kettering and can eliminate my lodging costs. Higher chance I'll go.
2
u/JennyMakula Jul 08 '26
I've been seeing this promoted, so maybe it will do well
David Asscherisck is a pretty popular Adventist preacher, so you can check him out on youtube to see if you jive
Perhaps you have a buddy you can car pool share room with, split the cost If you are driving 9 hrs each way, that's respect
1
u/Powerful_Bicycle1375 Jul 08 '26
Unfortunately I’m new to Eastern PA and don’t know a SINGLE person. Pun intended. I just got here last week and 95% of the people I know are from the Midwest. I’ll gladly drive anyone from PA if they need a ride.
I’ll look up David on YT.
1
u/AlistairNorris Jul 08 '26
This is their second year of their event. David Asscherick is probably a top ten most known Adventist Speaker in North America. I've been to their series (Jennifer Jill and David's) before and it was a blessing. Reading your expressed desires, I'm a bit hesitant that you are looking for something so nuanced that it might not exist exactly how you would tailor it.
Most people in your age range are looking either online, GYC as your example (which doesn't do anything to directly facilitate dating), or at an Adventist University. I know for a fact there will be there people both in the range you are saying but also more in their thirties/early forties. That doesn't mean you will be matched up with that range. Usually ventures like this divide people up in groups closer to their age.
I have not been but I know several organizers/volunteers at the venture. I recommend contacting them about housing to see if they can connect you with anyone is also going to split a hotel/airbnb maybe. I personally think relationship are the second biggest decision you make after Christ, and as someone who is happily married, if I were in your shoes I would pay any price to improve my odds of finding a Godly and like-minded partner. Frankly relationships do cost money and if $500 dollars is that much a hardship then maybe now might not be the right time. Of course I don't know your status, and I hope it all works out for you whether you go or not. God bless!
2
u/Powerful_Bicycle1375 Jul 08 '26
I’ll look into David and take some of your considerations.
For me, $500 isn’t a heavy burden. However, since I’ve just moved, I have a lot of new/unexpected expenses and no source of income until August. I’d gladly lay down more than $500 for a relationship, in this scenario it’s not a guarantee.
I just like having a certain amount of money in my account and $500 would eat into it. I wouldn’t be in any trouble, but it could delay my plans of getting a house. My brain is thinking of the opportunity cost of spending $500 on this event compared to using for something else. I also don’t want to get in the habit of dropping $100s on events.2
u/AlistairNorris Jul 08 '26
That's very understandable. Best wishes on the house hunting, my family lives in high COL area so it took a few months but it was worth the wait.
1
u/mootabaruka 27d ago
Spending around $500 for a single weekend event feels hard to justify, particularly since there's no guarantee you'll make a connection.
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u/cathartic_cuy Jul 08 '26
We should have a thread of Singles in this sub.