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Although he has worked 10 years helping Christian single men and women get together, Mike McCartney of Scottsdale doesn’t consider himself an expert matchmaker. “When I found myself launched into singleness (after 17 years of marriage) over 10 years ago, I was determined to figure out what I did wrong,” said McCartney, a Scottsdale resident who has a business background and studied divinity. “After successfully pulling off the biggest failure of my life, I wanted to create the skills necessary to create relationships for life. That’s what led me to this.”
“This” is www.singlesoffaith.com, a Christian-based meeting and dating Web site. McCartney started the site in 2000, six years after purchasing a Scotts-dale-based introduction service.
The business has grown from 40 members in 1996 to more than 3,000.
It was the genesis for Singles of Faith, which, McCartney explained, isn’t the Christian dating service advertised on small signs around Scottsdale and the Valley.
“I came face-to-face with a tremendous need for emotionally healthy, relationship-ready single people to meet,” McCartney said. “The challenge was having them meet each other in a healthy way. A small percent of emotionally healthy singles are comfortable with doing the bar scene and some of the other introduction vehicles. After a few years of teaching relationship skills, I came to the conclusion that something like this site would be a good thing.”
McCartney said the site is ranked No. 5 in the world on Google searches for Christian dating.
He said his goals for the service are for people to meet the person God has for them, become the people God wants them to be and serve the people God wants them to.
“The single world really is unique,” McCartney said. “I don’t think anyone who is single would call it fun. People get tremendous benefits in a good relationship.”
Singles of Faith offers free membership, with lesser access, or paid monthly service starting at $19 for one to three months, depending on the number of members in one’s area.
In signing up, users are asked some of the same questions as other dating sites, but other questions include describing one’s faith or relationship with God, when they recognized Christ, their primary spiritual gifts, and ministry projects they enjoy.
McCartney listed the site’s ideals: chemistry, communication, compatibility, conflict resolution, common life purposes, catalyst for personal growth, commitment, and Christ.
McCartney, who offers regular in-person get-togethers called “work days,” said profiles are checked so individuals who seem to be looking for something other than a Christian relationship are weeded out.
Members without photos can’t look at the photos already posted by others. McCartney encourages members to report anything that may make them uncomfortable. Members must answer short questions in order to continue meeting others.
All of it, McCartney said, is based on what he calls “dating with a twist.”
“God has an important impact on human lives in general, not just relationships,” McCartney said. “My faith is a significant part of who I am. I think I was born for this. The opportunity to impact millions of lives really touched me.”
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