Dating & Relationships

From fun ideas for original first dates to encouraging stories from couples who met on Christian Connection, the CC blog contains a wealth of inspiration and practical advice for single Christians. Drawing together dating and relationship experts and wisdom from real life stories, these are the posts that have resonated with you this year.

Whether the weather is making you wish for a date that doesn’t go outside or you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve a lot of travel, you might be wondering whether to choose an indoor location for your next date – and one that isn’t just your local coffee shop. While we’ve got plenty of date ideas for those who like to escape into the great outdoors, here are some suggestions for those who like their dates to be more hygge than a hike!

“I have now been happily married for 10 years with the first man I met on Christian Connection. It was obviously meant to be,” wrote Roz, as she shared the story of how she met her husband Kelvin and their life together since they first connected. We know that single Christians who join CC are looking for someone who shares their faith and values, that will give them a strong foundation to build a lasting relationship. Their stories and experiences are full of tried and tested guidance for making connections that go the distance – each one starting with being brave and becoming a member!

“I’ll start dating when I’m the perfect weight or shape, or when I’ve landed my ideal job, or when I’m perfectly healed emotionally.” If this sounds familiar and you’re delaying dating until you’re in a ‘perfect’ space, it might be time to let go of the fantasy of perfection and embrace progress instead. If you need some encouragement to get started, here’s a checklist that will give you the confidence and the motivation to let go of the ideal and embrace imperfect dating.

Staying spiritually full can be challenging when you’re single. Dating itself can be full on, and whilst you’re busy planning dates and organising meet ups, it can be difficult sometimes to stay on track with your spiritual walk. Seeing friends and others couple up and get married can stir up unwanted feelings and emotions which if dwelled upon, can impact one’s spiritual life negatively. So, what can you do?

Perhaps you’ve been on the dating journey for a while and you’re thinking, “What has dating ever done for me?” Don’t give up just yet! You may not have found ‘the one’ so far, but did you know that there are many skills you can develop during the dating process? You may not have thought about it like that, but even if your journey hasn’t connected you with the perfect person just yet, you are developing life skills that will benefit you, both inside and outside of the dating world.

One question the Christian Connection team is often asked is: “I’m an older person. Is online dating really for me?” The answer to that is a resounding yes! More and more mature daters are getting online to connect with potential new partners, using technology to make lasting connections. If you’re thinking about trying out online dating at a later stage of your life, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help.

In Romans 12 verse 10, the Bible says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves”. Paul was talking to the church in Rome, but this also applies to us as Christians, and I believe can also be applied to dating relationships. The word ‘honour’ means to hold in high respect, or with great esteem. It might sound like something we reserve only for God (whom we should of course, honour), our parents or spiritual leaders. But we can see from Paul’s letter that it is meant for the rest of us as well. So, how do we show honour in dating?