Dating can be difficult for people of any age. It’s often difficult to meet people and get to know them, while societal pressures push people to make decisions about who they want to date at an increasingly fast pace. For Christians-especially those who want to start a relationship in which they emphasize their morality and faith-it can be even harder.
In recent years, a number of Christian dating websites have launched that make online dating-long a popular option for singles who are fed up with the traditional singles scene-an option for Christians. Thanks to Christian dating websites, Christians can find potential mates who value faith in a comfortable atmosphere.
The best websites for Christian online dating include:
ChristianCafe.com– ChristianCafe.com claims to have the largest database of Christian singles online. A quick search for my area found a number of potential matches. The listings were easy to navigate and sort through and the profiles include multiple photos. As a bonus, there are profile questions that allow users to write about importance of faith. They also have a monthly collection of testimonials from couples who have successfully used the site to find each other. They offer a free seven-day trial (ten-day if you submit a picture) and after that there a variety of different plans that get cheaper the more months you buy. The price ranges from $34.95 to one month to $89.95 for a full year.
ChristianMingle.com – ChristianMingle is one of the better options for Christian online dating. It’s free to browse and they have an easy to use search interface, which includes a lot of detailed options that allow you to search using an almost unlimited number of criterion. In addition, they have message boards and various quizzes that can help you find potential mates. Unlike some other Christian dating sites, they have a “Statement of Faith” that outlines their commitment to God and makes it clear that they aren’t just trying to cash in on a niche market. They also boast an extensive collection of over 1,800 success stories. Membership options are also easy to understand with only “Free” and “Paid.” Like most sites, you can browse for free but if you want to use the more advanced features-like chat-it will cost you $29.95 per month.
BigChurch – BigChurch’s slogan is “people together in love and faith” and the comprehensive Christian dating site largely delivers on that slogan. In addition to its dating listings-which are easy to navigate and quite extensive (342,000 as of this writing)-the site offers a lot of bells and whistles including video, blogs, and an online magazine. These all go a long ways towards building a unique and vibrant community. The site offers a free standard membership, but it is restricted in many ways and doesn’t allow you to view pictures. Membership fees vary depending on the perks you want, but they have a handy chart that compares the options. Membership starts at $5.55 per month.
ChristianCupid.com – ChristianCupid is a well-designed site that offers free membership that allows you to get started quickly by adding photos and answering a basic set of profile questions. Their testimonials section is quite inspiring and can renew even the most frustrated single’s faith in dating. I found the stories of couples who found love-and later got married-are heartwarming. The only downside is that the profiles (at least on the free version) are less detailed than what you see on other sites. To get more detailed profiles, you need to upgrade to the paid membership which will also give you increased searching capabilities.
ChristianDatingForFree.com – Unlike other sites in this list, this Christian dating site is completely free. There is no paid option; instead the site is run solely on ad revenue. While this is nice in that it offers you the ability to test the online dating waters with ease, the site isn’t is well-designed as others. The ads tend to distract from the content and it has a somewhat outdated feel. Moreover, there are less listings than on other sites. Still, the major benefit is that it is free, which still makes stand out among Christian dating sites. I would definitely try this site before putting down money for one of the pay sites.
While the aforementioned Christian dating sites can be safe to use, it is always a good idea to be smart and to consider online dating safety. You should only meet people for the first time in public, should use common sense, and should proceed slowly. It is also helpful to be somewhat guarded about your personal information such as your address and phone number.
