Google trends for “Christian dating sites” skyrocket right before Christmas. There is a significant increase in searches for: “best Christian dating sites,” “Christian dating for free,” “What is the best Christian dating site,” “Christian dating online” and on and on and on. Maybe it’s the mistletoe or the stockings hung by the chimney with care or the ball dropping at midnight, but romance is on people’s minds.
The question remains, though: Does online dating really work? You probably know people who’ve used them to go on dates, and maybe you’ve done the same, but you’re still left wondering if these so-called “Christian” dating sites will really connect you to someone you’ll actually marry.
We hear you.
We’ve shared before that we have friends who have met the loves of their lives online and are now married. And while we can’t testify that it happens for everyone, we do know that it happens for some people. (Not the author of this post, of course, but some.) We figured you might like to hear from people we know who walked this road and didn’t just end up with a bunch of bad date stories but instead ended up walking down the aisle.
Cindi Renard and her husband Steve met online and have been married for over 5 years. They have a son named Caleb and currently reside in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains. Cindi and Steve met on eharmony, and we asked them a few questions about their experience with that particular site. Here’s what Cindi told us:
SR: Did you struggle with the idea of online dating?
Cindi: Absolutely! I had been waiting a very long time, believing God would honor that commitment. I thought He would have me meet my husband through ministry, my church or at the least through a friend. However, His choice was modern technology. At first I felt almost like a failure, what was wrong with me that I had to reduce to online dating? Was I getting so past my prime that this was my only option, and if so how could it possibly be a God-ordained relationship.
SR: How long were you on eharmony before you found your spouse?
Cindi: Approximately one month. I started with the free trial weekend then signed up following it.
SR: Do you tell people you met your spouse online, or do you keep that under wraps? Why?
Cindi: No, I’m very open in telling others I met my spouse online. I hope that it would inspire hope for them as well.
SR: What was it about each of your profiles that caught the attention of the other? What made it stand out?
Cindi: Honestly Steve initiated contact with me; however I waited two weeks before responding. I hesitated in responding because he was divorced with two sons. I was not looking for a relationship where he already had children. That idea frightened me. I dreamt of starting a family with just us. But his quick wit in the wording of his profile intrigued me. I thought I would at least answer the initial questions. Those questions lead to the next steps and with each phase I discovered we had very similar views and ideologies. But it was his love for God, tenderness, and his sense of humor which kept me responding.
SR: From the time you started messaging back and forth, what was your initial dating process like? (How long did you communicate before you met in person? How many dates did you go on before you became exclusive, etc.?)
Cindi: We communicated a week before he asked to meet in person. Once we reached the open email stage and had exchanged a couple of emails, he asked if he could call me. I agreed. After our initial conversation, we texted for a few days. Steve then asked to meet 3 days after our first phone conversation. He lived approximately 1.5 hours away from me. After 3 weeks and 3 dates later, we became exclusive. He once again initiated it by telling me he stopped communication with any others and closed his profile. I quickly followed suit.
SR: eharmony is one of the higher-priced online dating sites. Do you think it was worth it?
Cindi: It was definitely worth it. There are certain things that are just worth their value like a good pair of shoes, quality mascara, and 2 ply toilet paper. You get what you pay for. eharmony has those extra security measures which I believe help to weed out those who may have less than good intentions. It’s not completely 100%, but higher than others I think.
SR: Were you pleased with your eharmony experience overall? Would you recommend it to other Christian singles?
Cindi: Yes, I was very pleased from start to finish. I have and will continue to recommend it for Christian singles.
SR: What are some tips you’d offer other Christians who are online dating? Are there things you wish you’d done differently?
Cindi: I think the best advice I could give is don’t put God in a box. Also don’t compare your path with those around you. Let God do something unique for you. His way always proves to be the best, even if it looks like the most unlikely choice. A good friend of mine said something simply profound. She said she was going to keep pushing on doors to see if any would open. Mine was at a click of a button: Sent mail.
If you find yourself googling online dating reviews over the holidays, or if you’ve just been thinking that this is the year you’re going to dive headfirst into the world of online dating, here’s a comprehensive list of the reviews we’ve done on SingleRoots.
Knowing is half the battle…
- Best Christian Dating Sites in 2016 :: How to Pick the Right One for You
- eharmony Review :: Christian Singles Tell It Like It Is
- Christian Mingle Review :: Christian Singles Tell It Like It Is
- Match.com Review :: Christian Singles Tell It Like It Is
- Christian Crush Review :: Christian Singles Tell It Like It Is
- Christian Café Review :: Christian Singles Tell It Like It Is
Check out the coupons below for a list of the deals that we know about. We update them regularly if anything changes.
Just think: if you find someone around the New Year, you’ll likely be “official” just in time for that glorious holiday we’ve all come know and love, Valentine’s Day.
Current Online Dating Deals:
Last Updated: 11/19/2024
eharmony (USA Offers):
eharmony (Canada Offers):
Zoosk:
ChristianMingle.com:
Christian Cafe:
Best Christian Dating Sites Rankings
| Monthly Price Range | Number of Members | Ease of Use | Christian Filters | Best Deal Link | |
| $19.95 to $59.95 Tip: How to Get an eharmony Free Trial | High | Simple | Excellent | 25% Off Any Membership! Use this link with this code at checkout: SINGLEROOTS25 | |
| $12.49 to $29.99 | High | Simple | Fair | Browse Zoosk for Free! | |
| $16.99 to $32.99 | High | Option-Overload | Good | Review your Christian Mingle matches for free! | |
| $8.99 to $34.97 | Medium | Option-Overload | Excellent | EXCLUSIVE 17-Day Free Trial! Use this link with this code at checkout: SINGLEROOTS17 | |
Related: Top Dating Site Reviews
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