Kisscafe

The first ever Christian speed dating event known as Soul Connexion developed by an Anglican Bishop took place at the De Vere Hotel in Swindon, Wiltshire recently. This Christian speed dating event showcased vicars and was offered by the Church of England to allow competing clergymen from a range of denominations including Anglican, Methodist and Baptist only five minutes to promote their particular brand of Christianity and place of worship before participants moved on to the next religious rep.

This Christian Speed dating event hogged the media limelight as extensive coverage was given by many local, national and renowned internal media behemoths. Among them were BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ program, ITV Central’s AM and lunchtime news, BBC local radio to name a few. Besides, various prominent UK and international Christian media from as far as Sweden, USA and Canada gave this Christian Speed dating event a wider audience.

So successful was this Christian Speed Dating event that now the UK churches are making the most of this opportunity to build new relationships. To facilitate this Christian Speed dating event, Smart Dating UK, the famous online dating agency is playing a great role as well.

Various small advertisements appeared in lonely hearts columns last week, such as:

LIFE-LOVING kindred spirit with GSOH sought for long-term relationship on Sundays and throughout the week, Swindon

CHURCH TYPE WLTM currently unattached individual with view to long-term relationship, age no object, Swindon

2000 YEARS OLD and still going strong - you're never too old to get together, Swindon

The exponent of this Christian speed dating concept, The Rev Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon, said that large number of people within the age group of 25 to 40 is thronging Swindon but only a small minority are able to reach the local churches. He added that their aim is to reach people who want to belong to a particular church but have not yet been able to get the same. He termed this Christian dating concept as an answer to dwindling church congregations and said that people who went to church earlier are no longer attending because of a range of reasons and this Christian speed dating will offer a chance to meet a number of different churches and that might offer them what they are really looking for.

He emphasized on this fact that, at times, in relationship, we need that encouragement to make the first move and this Christian speed dating event is a very useful and a contemporary way of connecting people in the age group of 25 to 40.

Thirty participants had a discussion on vision and values, passion and theology and only those successfully connected walked away with an offer to attend the church of their own choice to test whether a mutually beneficial relationship might develop.

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