The Christian dating scene in West Virginia is ripe with possibilities, and that’s because a huge swath of the residents living in the Mountain State identify as Believers, and there are many of them living all around you. With a population of nearly 1.8 million, nearly half the men and women here are single, meaning there are quite literally hundreds of thousands of viable prospects living here. What’s even better news is that 78% of these individuals are Christ followers, which leads us to approximate upwards of 700,000 Christian single spread across the state.
If you’re a Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, or a member of any other denomination looking to get into Christian dating, West Virginia singles have found Christian Mingle to be the best spiritually-focused matchmaking platform to unite all Mountaineers through their love for the Gospel. When you join this tailored service, you’ll quickly begin to see how many people in your surrounding community share the same beliefs and values as you, making your connection with a love interest through God even more of a blessing.
Historical Perspective
Christian dating and West Virginia have historical ties dating back to the early years of the United States, and this is largely due to the quest for religious freedom during this time period. As more and more people began to settle in the Appalachian Mountains, Christian churches began to arise, establishing significant congregations across the mid-Atlantic region and particularly in areas such as present-day Morgantown and Harpers Ferry.
Today, nearly four in five West Virginians are highly devoted Christians, and the Church still plays a prominent role in the daily lives of residents in communities all over. Although some traditions and practices have evolved to adapt to the modern day, the spirituality of folks who call this place home has never been more vibrant.
Importance of Faith in Relationships
Any devout Christian will be adamant about the role Christ plays in every part of your life, and dating is not an exception. Many spiritual individuals have deeply held beliefs, and no man or woman of God who considers themselves saved will ever be willing to compromise these values for a relationship built on lust instead of love. Searching for a lifelong partner who has a similar commitment to their faith as you do will not only strengthen your bond with each other but will also help you grow in the Lord’s word together.
Faith is undoubtedly the most important foundational pillar for the vast majority of Christian couples, and failing to see eye-to-eye on the Gospel and the role of Jesus Christ as our savior is more or less a deal-breaker for most. This mutual outlook proves you both are committed to following the plan God intended for you and that you’re willing to do so in a way that extends praise and glory to His name. Putting the Lord first is a key component of all successful, long-term relationships for Christians everywhere, and in West Virginia, it’s no different.
West Virginia’s Christian Dating Scene
As we touched on earlier, there are likely thousands of single Christian men and women in your area right now, and we know this because 51% of the whole state’s adults are currently unmarried. And while about half of these people are divorced or widowed, the remainder are hopeful Believers who are searching for their ideal companion who shares the same passion for the Lord that they do.
Certain cities around the state have quality social scenes that make dating much easier than for those who live in more rural areas, but who’s to say you will run into the love of your life simply by chance? Sure, you may anticipate meeting someone new through your church or at a local coffee shop, but how will you know they’re genuine about their faith, or share similar interests and the same life goals as you? With Christian Mingle, we’ve erased the chance factor and incorporated a focus built on spiritual compatibility above all else, making us the most comprehensive and respected Christian dating service available in West Virginia.
Incorporating Faith in the Dating Process
It’s one thing to claim you’re being guided by divine intuition during the dating process, but it’s another to fully exhibit how you’re practicing your faith over the course of your endeavor. The most prominent way to ensure your eyes are focused on the Lord is by first establishing your own solid footing in the word of the Bible, forming a clear understanding of the Gospel, and your role as a messenger of God’s graces. When this becomes routine, you’ll have a distinguished relationship with Christ, equipping you with the tools to be able to share this message with a prospective partner.
Once you feel confident you can share these awesome truths with a companion, you’ll want to ensure you pray diligently, not just before you set out to find someone, but every step of the way throughout the duration of your dating endeavors. In fact, even when you reach the long-term stages of a serious and meaningful relationship, this continuous prayer will give you the confidence and clarity you’re looking for to feel solace in your partnership.
The greatest fulfillment comes when you’re able to share your love for Christ with a dating interest, and the ability to bond over your individual walks, convictions, and goals for serving in your respective church can be incredibly reassuring. If you feel a mutual connection developing, take things to the next level by attending sermons, participating in group Bible studies, and volunteering at Christian events. This will give you a better look at your significant other’s faith in action, allowing you to see how they engage with others in their community and be able to witness their fruits for yourself in a spiritual setting.
Unique Challenges in West Virginia Christian Dating
It may not come as a surprise to those who live here, but with such a small state and population, West Virginia is one of the least dense places in the country. Some of this is in part due to the geographical makeup of the land being so mountainous, but it also hasn’t seen the same type of industrial boom and establishment of metropolitan centers as in surrounding states. Ultimately, West Virginia is the 12th least populated in the nation, but even more staggering is that its largest city is Charleston, with a population of only around 48,000 residents.
All this to say, it’s widely apparent that people are spread out and most likely only dating in their local communities, where there’s already a fairly limited selection of singles depending on your location. Only the 12 biggest cities have more than 10,000 inhabitants, meaning that if you live in Oak Hill, Dunbar, Hurricane, or somewhere smaller, you’re likely going to have trouble finding viable prospects you connect with in not only your religious views but your actual lifestyle.
West Virginia also has a heavily caucasian demographic, with over 90% of the people classifying themselves as white, and an additional portion who are mixed with another background. This acknowledges the fact that dating as a minority in the state is even more difficult than it would be in many other places, so the advent of online dating has especially helped these individuals who are searching for someone who talks, looks, and acts like them, in addition to sharing the same beliefs.
Testimonials and Success Stories
Christian Mingle wouldn’t be what it is today without the testimonials of our successful couples. We are so blessed to have not only united them with one another but are also excited to share a few of their stories with you here. It’s faithful couples like these who have given us the reputation we have today in the online dating industry.
Rebecca and Derek – Both of these devout Christians were skeptical of online dating at first, but once they were paired, Derek’s distance away in Georgia didn’t seem to matter. The two made lengthy drives and spent hours on the phone each night before finally tying the knot! Rebecca claims God didn’t just lead her to a partner — he introduced her to her best friend.
Kayla and Donald – Kayla had been worried about distance when she found out Donald lived in Pennsylvania, but after the two spent hours talking in the car about their aspirations and life goals, they immediately knew they were meant for each other. Within three months, the two were ordained and now live happily ever after.
Long-Distance Christian Dating
As you may have noticed from the last few examples, many people who connect through Christian Mingle end up finding a love interest who may be hundreds of miles away and sometimes even states away. These relationships are plenty feasible, however, they will require extensive effort from both parties to remain engaged, primarily in a spiritual sense. It’s already hard enough when you don’t have physical interaction often, but coming together over the Lord can be challenging from a purely digital standpoint.
These situations can be overcome with intentional action, beginning with regular prayer before phone and video calls, or sharing Bible verses or faithful insights from your week with each other every time before you talk about anything else. If you’re in the ongoing and more committed stages of your time together, you can then implement Bible studies which you can both complete once a week and discuss, and you can also attend sermons virtually together and discuss them afterwards.
Implementing these strategies will help you feel more connected, and can ultimately be the binding element that provides you with the certainty that God is at work to ensure you remain steadfast.
The Intersection of Culture and Christianity
At Christian Mingle, we recognize that Christianity is much more diverse in the present day than at any other time in history, and we reflect that on our dating app. No matter which denomination you’re a part of, you’ll find other members in West Virginia who share your views and have the same church habits as you do. This way, you can match with a potential partner who goes to church, volunteers, and participates in small groups as much as you do, helping enhance your compatibility together, as well as in the Lord.
We also match our user base through more than simply faith-based preferences, because, after all, you want to share additional interests and hobbies in common outside of just your spirituality. You’ll be free to choose from tons of different qualities in a prospective match during our personality assessment, which will allow you to select conditionals like age preference, career focus, hobbies, whether or not you want to have kids and much more. This way, the people you are interacting with mirror your lifestyle, and will therefore be instantly compatible in many ways.
Handling Relationship Issues with a Christian Perspective
All relationships are bound to go through hard spells at one point or another, but when you remain steadfast in Christ and continue applying your faith in the Gospel, there’s no mountain that’s too tall to climb. In West Virginia, this is basically our motto. Great advice for couples experiencing a rift includes prayer, consulting with Elders or another couple in your church whom you trust, or even seeking professional Christian counseling outside of your congregation. All of these strategies are incredibly effective at reaffirming our focus toward God, and subsequently teach us to become more empathetic and compassionate in real time as we learn and grow through His word together.
If you’re one of the many West Virginia singles who are looking for romance primarily focused on Biblical compatibility, Christian Mingle is the number one online matchmaking platform for Appalachia dating. We’ve played a part in countless faithful connections that have transpired from all across the state. Sign up for Christian Mingle today and see how so many people in the Mountain State are finding the partner God intended for them all along.