In the Bible, Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This reminds Christians that life is filled with uncertainty, but there is always hope — even when facing the loss of a beloved spouse.
For Christian widows and widowers, survivor’s guilt is compounded by colliding emotions surrounding their loved one’s afterlife and remaining loyal to the person they lost. However, the Apostle Paul spoke on the subject in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 and 1 Timothy 5:14 and encouraged widows and widowers to remarry.
Several Christian widow dating sites and apps can help individuals move forward to find faith and love again.
Christian Mingle is among the most recognizable names in the Christian dating scene. Its faithful community houses over 3 million men and women around the world. Its powerful communication tools and inspirational blog is a source of comfort and motivation for Christians seeking a long term relationship built on shared Christian faith.
- Specializes in fostering God-centered relationships
- Over 3.5 million Christians mingle online
- Rich profiles highlight your passions and beliefs
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle is perhaps the best online dating service for Christian widows and widowers. The signup process is easy for first-time users and allows you to set up a dating profile and search filters that include religious denomination, church attendance, education level, physical traits (height, weight, etc.), and if you want or have children. Next, you can add a brief description of yourself and some personal photos to round out your profile.
It’s worth noting the more detailed your profile, the better your odds at finding the right match. So, don’t be shy, and put some effort in detailing yourself and what you’re looking for. Many people of faith turn to Christian Mingle to make a connection with someone who shares their values, so those who put in the work will likely be rewarded.
2. eharmony
Christian singles can receive valuable guidance from eharmony, the premier dating site for marriage-minded men and women. This divine dating platform creates potential matches thanks to its Compatibility Quiz, which asks singles to describe their temperament, goals, values, and beliefs. This personality test has helped over 2 million men and women fall in love.
- Christians can see compatibility scores for religious values and altruism
- Sparking over 2 million love stories
- Dashboard features profile updates and relevant news
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
eharmony is the most well-known online dating service — and for good reason. The platform’s sole mission is helping people connect and find marriage. The service stresses values over looks through a carefully researched algorithm that matches couples based on personality profiles.
It’s important that you spend time soul-searching about what you are looking for in a partner before completing eharmony’s online questionnaire. That could mean better odds at finding that special someone who is looking to spend their life with a person like you.
While eharmony offers a free version, it’s important to remember its features are limited, so you may want to consider investing in the paid version if you enjoy the dating platform.
3. Match
Match.com can assist Christian men and women seeking a partner in life and in faith. This time-tested dating site has created countless joyful relationships since its launch in 1995. The Match algorithm takes your dating preferences and lifestyle into account and searches for a perfect match who aligns with you in as many ways as possible.
- The popular dating network reaches 50 countries
- Search by age, distance, looks, interests, or faith
- Ideal for serious daters over 30
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match has been in business for more than 20 years and attracts over 39 million monthly users. The platform has also been responsible for millions of marriages, which makes Match a leader in the online dating world.
Its primary demographic is adults between 30 and 49 years old, and it has an interface finely tuned to the needs of its audience. The signup process is a breeze and offers a filter for religion, and you’re not allowed to create a bare bones profile, so prepare to invest some time.
Match offers free and paid versions of its service. You’ll find the free version has some limitations — for instance, a free member can only send messages to users in their Top Picks list. The paid version has a host of state-of-the-art features, including unlimited messaging and advanced filters. It’s a good idea for users to start with the free version and get comfortable before investing in the premium version.
4. OurTime
OurTime is a Christian-friendly dating site where singles can search, match, and meet within a few clicks. The site caters to an older crowd of seniors and facilitates love connections based on mutual interest. If you’re looking for a Christian friend or partner, you can start your search on OurTime.
- Advanced search filters by religion, smoking habits, and other traits
- Send photo likes, flirts, virtual gifts, or messages online
- Only premium members can read messages
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
OurTime is a reputable platform that is popular with adults over 50, but like most online dating services, it has pros and cons. The pros are that it allows both audio and video uploads to your profile to boost engagement from potential partners. You can also browse and search for profiles based on common interests and preferences and receive curated daily matches.
The cons are that the dating platform doesn’t offer a standard personality test, so you will need to invest more time in learning about another person early on.
And remember, when dealing with online suitors, trust is earned, not given.
5. Christian Connection
Christian Connection has a name that says it all. This Christian-owned dating platform caters mostly to women in their late 20s to early 40s, and is serious about helping users find potential marriage partners. Its users come from all church backgrounds and denominations around the world, including the US, Ireland, the UK, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
The niche site is designed for ease of use, which makes it one of the best places for Christians to make long-term connections.
“The community aspect of single Christians is something that’s at the core of who we are and what we do,” said a representative for Christian Connection in an interview with DatingNews.
6. ChristianCafe.com
ChristianCafe.com is a faith-driven dating platform that sets itself apart in the online dating market. According to estimates, the service has more than 2 million members worldwide, and it has facilitated over 25,000 marriages. A good number of members are looking for a serious relationship. The bulk of dating profiles represent older singles in the 45 to 54 age range.
The online platform allows members to ask deep questions to create a greater level of connection and fellowship with potential matches. While ChristianCafe.com has fewer users than other platforms, it focuses more on quality than quantity.
7. Widowsorwidowers.com
Widowsorwidowers.com is the longest-running service of its kind. The online dating site caters to widows and widowers who want to meet a new partner. A widowed woman founded the dating service in 2004 to help lonely adults like herself move forward and find a loving community.
This dating platform is uniquely suited for those who want support, fellowship, and online companionship while looking at another shot at love. The site doesn’t have a singular Christian focus but is inclusive to anyone who is trying to find answers on how to move forward, deal with grief, and find love.
For Christian singles, it’s important to keep this in mind so you can approach the site in a way that aligns with your faith and values.
8. The Widow Dating Club
The Widow Dating Club is on a mission to heal hearts and inspire real connections. This dating platform caters to single men and women who have lost their partners. While it is not a Christian-focused site, it does cater to widows and focuses on creating a safe space for them to discuss loss and potential love.
The widow dating platform has strong security features and screens profiles to prevent female users from scammers while they are still dealing with grief and loss.
9. Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) boasts having made more than 50 million matches and seen 10 million downloads in less than 10 years. This popular dating app came into fame through its appearance on the TV show “Shark Tank,” and its quality-driven tools continue to help serious daters to find a potential partner.
The dating app is geared toward individuals seeking relationships with a focus on quality over quantity. The CMB cap on the number of matches offered per week encourages stronger and more meaningful connections to form. However, for Christian widows, this doesn’t necessarily translate into being able to screen according to religious background or commitment.
10. OkCupid
This dating app is easy to use and has a host of functions, but you may have to do some research to identify people you connect with.
This one’s for younger widows and widowers. OkCupid is a great dating platform for millennials, Gen Z, and those with a fresh perspective on romance. OkCupid is open to everyone, and the site recognizes more than 20 sexual orientations and 12 gender identities. It also offers religious filters and values-driven questionnaires to guide matches.
Christian widows and widowers can start fresh on OkCupid and find new friends, romances, and conversations based on common interests.
If you are honest in your dating profile and focus on people whose values overlap with yours, then you can find a connection at OkCupid.
11. Stir
Many widows are also single mothers in need of emotional support. The good news is that a dating app called Stir was designed to help in these situations. The mobile app is a great place to find people with similar life experiences.
Owned by Match Group, Stir was created as a network for singles who have children or want children. The app has excellent safety protocols to protect widowed Christians, and the user interface makes it easy to find people with similar values.
The downside is that it can be rather pricey compared to other sites on the market. But, if you have kids or want to have kids, then Stir is the place to meet like-minded singles.
FAQs: How Soon Do Most Widows Remarry?
Everyone has their own time frame when it comes to grief. One widowed person may not feel ready to remarry for years or even decades, while another may find comfort in a friend and open their heart to love again more quickly. Comedian Patton Oswalt remarried within 18 months of his first wife’s passing, and he received criticism as a result. The actor has defended himself and his relationship by reminding the trolls it isn’t any of their business.
Patton and other widowers shouldn’t have to apologize for finding happiness after tragedy, and nobody has the right to criticize them for how they navigate such a painful situation.
Where Can a Widowed Woman Meet People in Real Life?
A widow may be unfamiliar with the current dating scene or modern dating apps, so our dating experts recommend starting with low-key ways to meet people in person. Joining a local gym could be a good way to improve your health and expand your social network. And singles can always search Meetup.com for opportunities to find common ground with other locals who meet regularly for book clubs, wine tastings, or other events.
Take Your Time & Review Your Options Online
Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is never easy, but having someone to share your journey with (when you’re ready) is also important. Letting grief consume you is not going to bring that lost love back — and it’s not how your loved one would want you to spend your life.
It may be a comfort to know you’re not alone in your loss. A widowed person can bond with others who have experienced that loss, and forming a new relationship based on shared faith can help the healing process.
No doubt the one you lost would want you to find companionship until you are reunited again in God’s Kingdom. Online dating can offer a step forward for widowed singles who want a fresh start on the road to love.
