MiddletownJournal.com

Matchmaking has been a longstanding tradition throughout history, but in recent years the art of setting up two people for love has garnered a new hi-tech twist.

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 15 percent of American adults — about 30 million people — say they know someone who has been in a long-term relationship or married someone he or she met online.

What does this mean?

Millions of singles are bypassing the traditional matchmaking methods and turning to the Internet. The Web, in many ways, has become an acceptable locale for starting new relationships, on par with school, work or even — the church.

Sites like www.AdamMeetEve.com provide a place for the spiritually minded singles to meet other faithful unmarrieds. Dan Magnuson, the founder of AdamMeetEve, says he met his wife via a Christian dating service in 1999 and that's what drove them to launch the site.

"We started AdamMeetEve as a practical ministry to help Christian singles meet way more people online than they ever would at their local church," Magnuson says.

AdamMeetEve has brought thousands of Christian singles together, and Magnuson offers this advice for those thinking about online dating sites, "Pray. Write a detailed profile with a current photo. Take it slow and contact other Christians with the idea of being friends and see what God brings about."

Most Internet dating sites use unique compatibility profiling systems to match you with other like-minded singles. You also can scan through the profiles on your own and contact other singles directly. There's no surefire way to find that perfect match online, but there is a growing throng of success stories.

Take Henry and Jane Mallon. Henry, a pastor from Brookville, lost his wife, Joan, to a rare muscle disease. Through the encouragement of a family member Henry tried the popular online dating site www.eHarmony.com.

"After I lost Joan, I felt like I needed someone, not only a companion for life, but also in the ministry," Henry says.

Henry met Jane though eHarmony, and they kept up an online dialogue for months before meeting face-to-face. After their second date, they began seeing each other exclusively.

"Personally, I believe that the Lord prepared our hearts," Henry says. "I went into it with expectancy and prayer."

Henry and Jane married in July 2004.

There is no guarantee, of course. Some find love on the Internet and many don't, but Jane offers this suggestion for those who are thinking about trying an online dating site: "Use your head, you can't give up your judgment. I would still say to be in prayer because it's just a tool," Jane says.

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