Messaging has been going well. You want to meet in person and chat more. The classic first date is to ‘meet for a coffee’ – simple to arrange, public and low cost. It’s a great way to test your online connection and whether there’s more to develop without the pressure of a grand setting or long time commitment. But you still want it to go well. First impressions count! So, what could you do that’s a little more interesting than a couple of cappuccinos? Here are some fun, simple first date ideas that make a great alternative to coffee.

Authenticity is the path to a healthy romantic relationship yet sometimes our fear of not being enough or our deep hunger for love stop us from showing up authentically on dates. Perhaps we are scared we’ll be rejected if we reveal our true selves. Maybe we’re afraid our date won’t want to see us again if we’re honest about what we’re looking for in a relationship. How can we instead date authentically and show up as our authentic selves?

You might be forgiven for thinking Valentine’s Day isn’t meant for singles. Aren’t all the cards and flowers in the shops at this time of year designed to celebrate happy couples? Some people choose to avoid the day altogether. But here at Christian Connection, we believe in making Valentine’s Day for everyone – and what better place to celebrate love than a place people come to make important new connections? February is one of our busiest times of year! With so many members ready to meet someone new, it’s a great place to connect with others who haven’t found their perfect match – yet. Maybe this year, that perfect match could be you! So, here are five tips to help you share the love and reach out to someone new, and just maybe you’ll meet next year’s Valentine!

Most of us have some ‘bad date’ experiences and stories that we can tell for entertainment. I know that I have had my fair share of them, from being told not to wear sunglasses (despite it being sunny), to being taken to a bug taxidermy museum (I don’t like bugs!), to becoming an agony aunt on a first date and afterwards being told I didn’t give said person a chance! These dates can be added to life experience and dating experience and we can move onwards and upwards from them, but there’s always that feeling of disappointment. So, what happens if a date doesn’t go to plan? How can you move on from dating disappointment?

Matt and Vicky met on Christian Connection and recently got married. Matt said, “I figured it was time to be proactive in looking for a partner rather than just waiting around. I wanted to use a Christian site as it is in line with my faith and beliefs.” For Vicky, it was a time for change: “I had used Christian Connection previously in my 20s but had taken a number of years out to be intentionally single. I prayed a lot about rejoining CC and felt that God said the time was right.”

As we come to the end of the year you might be looking back and thinking about all the things that you hoped to achieve this year that didn’t quite work out. This is especially true if you were hoping to meet someone or start dating. If that’s you, don’t despair. A new year always brings with it chances to make opportunities for different things, and starting a relationship is one of them. The only caveat is that you would need to be open-minded, and perhaps try things that you haven’t tried before. There are many opportunities you could take hold of in the new year, and you could even make some of those opportunities yourself!

New Year. A blank page. As 2024 begins and we make plans, set intentions and prepare to write a new story, there’s a question that’s worth holding in our hearts and keeping at the forefront of our minds: how do I live authentically this year? This question could be posed in different ways: how do I stay true to myself? How do I live in alignment with my values? How do I live in accordance with God’s plan for my life? How do I live with integrity?

“I wanted to meet somebody that was a Christian. And I just felt like Christian Connection was the right place.” When Yinka set out to find a special connection, her Christian Connection profile led her to Moyo, whose friends had told him he needed “to get yourself out there… meet new people”. Find out how Moyo and Yinka went from Facetiming and mini golf to a great love story and three weddings…