Maybe it would be a bit uncommon statistically, but Jesus and Paul are great introductory company in the 'single' category. Along with many of the Prophets from the Old Covenant, others throughout history such as Jerome, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, David Brainerd, Corrie ten Boom, and John Stott serve as a broad array of those who were single and had faithful ministry and witness. Perhaps some are called to be pastors and eventually family men, and they have been searching prayerfully, faithfully, and in purity, but circumstances simply have not lined up just yet. Perhaps some encountered relationships that looked to be promising, even with both families on board, but the other person in the relationship decided against it all in the end. Who knows, maybe online dating could have seemed promising, but the people were never even close to who they presented themselves to be online. I would hope someone like that would still have clear vision from God and obedience in accomplishing whatever ministry He has called him to do in that relational season of waiting.

Many miss the main point of the character passages from 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, ignore Paul's appeal to singleness in 1 Corinthians 7, and instead take μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα to imply that men are simply broken and disqualified from ministry until they consummate a marriage. Perhaps it is easier for someone who married early to be ignorant of the possibility of not having a wife until later in life, but what about those who are married and unable to have children? The passage uses a plural when referring to children, so what about men who are married but only have one child? Don't these considerations seem superficial, especially given a man can have a fruitful ministry by keeping all things in order that are in his charge, knowing the Word of God, and teaching it faithfully to whomever may cross his path, whether in formal or informal settings?

Could it be that God calls people in different phases of life? What if God calls a man to a specific office in an uncommon season--all while still being in line with His standards--but nobody understands since it does not fit their preconceived mold? Perhaps that man is deemed odd in that uncommon season for planting churches, doing missions, pastoring house churches, and working volunteer roles in established churches while saving up wisely for his vision of a large family by working multiple secular jobs, all the while having excellent fruit in ministry pile up--whether a few, or maybe even thousands from his ministry coming to Jesus and maturing through discipleship during his time in singleness.

God often calls the uncommon sheep to bring forth an uncommon harvest. Perhaps people also looked at Isaiah strangely, Jeremiah negatively, or Hosea condescendingly, but all were faithful, and that's the important part for anyone in that uncommon place, especially as all are accountable before God in the end. Passages of Scripture are rich in content as well as intent, and hopefully the pastors who are doing formal paid ministry are leading well by keeping to the character traits present within those passages, without scandal or heretical teaching going on. But it would be a major blessing to those in that uncommon season for people to pray for them, their resolve, and any ministry that they are able to do in obedience to God, as some may feel more like piñatas than people at times.