Krysta Miller of Winona Lake started The 8:24 Singles Collective Facebook group to help create “community” among Christian singles 30 and older. She hosted a weekend meet-up for group members in November in Winona Lake, with attendees shown in the photo. Photos provided.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — Krysta Miller of Winona Lake noticed a problem with churches.

Single people like her in their 30s and above didn’t seem to have a unique way to connect with each other in them.

That led to her founding the Facebook group The 8:24 Singles Collective. It’s meant as a way for those falling under the above description to interact with one another.

The nondenominational group was started in 2022, gained 1,000 members in just four months, and now has 3,000, said Miller. This number includes those across the U.S. and internationally.

As stated in its description, the group’s name is based off Romans 8:24, and its purpose is to be “a collective of hopeful people looking forward to not just a future on earth but our eternal future.”

“We were created for community and this is our chance to let the Light shine,” the description also reads. “We aim to be a group of like-minded Christians in their 30s and above, growing in community, supporting each other, and sharing the love of Christ along the way.”

Miller said she had been involved with online groups before meant to reach Christian singles, but the groups didn’t fit the needs of those who have been single for a significant period of their adult lives.

She remembers one such group where a 40-something commented on their own singlehood, with a 20-something chiming in that they understood.

“It’s not quite the same,” said Miller.

Miller noted The 8:24 Singles Collective isn’t made to be a dating service, but rather foster “community” for those who’ve “needed connection.”

It has led to a few romantic relationships though, she said.

Miller hosted an in-person meet-up for the group in November in Winona Lake. Seventy people came out for it, with people from Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Canada present.

“It ended up being such an impactful weekend,” said Miller.

The weekend included a scavenger hunt and other fun interactions as well as a chance to volunteer to pack food for Feed My Starving Children at Nappanee Missionary Church.

Miller said her brother Eric Miller, who’s a pastor, addressed attendees at one point. She said Eric admitted to her he’d only before spoken to single people who were teenagers.

Eric, who has a podcast with an audience of 200 pastors, invited Krysta to speak on it on the necessity for churches to meet the needs of older single people.

As for future plans for The 8:24 Singles Collective, Krysta hopes to have more in-person events as well as a virtual conference next year.

People may visit the private group’s Facebook page to ask to join.

The 8:24 Singles Collective founder Krysta Miller, center, is shown with meet-up attendees Joanna Chase, left, and Katie Newell.

Some of the attendees are shown during the weekend. In the front from left are Liz Donovan, Valerie Maust, Miller, Nicole Camden, Jessica Orr and Leon Mullet. In the back are Chris Dominy, Waylon Zook, Jake Stichter and Natalie Presley.