A Founder’s Story: A Childhood Shaped by Creation

By Liz Baldwin – Founder of Christian Eco-Dating

When I was five, my brother died. At that tender age, it was a loss too big for words. But in that darkness, two things helped save me: Jesus and my cat. That early experience, as painful as it was, planted in me two deep loves that have never left – a love for Christ, and a profound love for all of God’s creation. I found His comfort in the stillness of the trees, His companionship in the loyalty of animals, and His beauty in every part of the natural world.

Some of my most vivid childhood memories are tied to the outdoors – hours spent in gardens, forests, and riversides. These places weren’t just playgrounds; they were sanctuaries. I realise now that this was the beginning of what Pope Francis would later describe in his encyclical Laudato Si’ as ecological conversion – a deepening awareness of our interconnectedness with God, each other, and the Earth itself.

Called to Care: From Faith to Action

As I grew older, this connection matured into action. I began volunteering on environmental projects, and later pursued academic studies in international development, education, and business. I worked with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand (CAFOD), where I developed educational programs to inspire global responsibility in schools. My heart was set on empowering people to become stewards of the Earth – but I also saw how hard it was for single Christians to meet others who shared those same values.

From Swiping to Serving: A New Vision for Christian Dating

Before meeting my husband, I too had trudged through the maze of Christian dating websites – the swiping, the ghosting, the superficiality. Though I eventually met someone wonderful, it took seven years of persistence and prayer. That experience stayed with me. I knew there had to be a better way – something more ethical, more real, and more aligned with our calling as Christians.

So I asked: What if dating wasn’t about appearances or algorithms, but about service?
What if people could meet each other while working shoulder to shoulder for a common cause – like protecting our Earth? And from that, Christian Eco-Dating was born.

Christian Eco-Dating: A Movement Rooted in Faith and Purpose

Christian Eco-Dating is where two passions converge – care for God’s creation, and care for one another. It’s more than a dating service. It’s a movement rooted in the belief that love grows best when we are looking outward together, not just gazing inward. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry beautifully said:

“Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.”

Our eco-events invite single Christians to do just that – to meet face-to-face while planting trees, restoring habitats, and reflecting together on Scripture and stewardship. These green-dating experiences give people the chance to see real character and values in action, all while helping to heal the Earth.

It’s dating that’s joyful, meaningful, and ethical. And most importantly, it’s grounded in the love of Christ.

Building Something Beautiful – Together

The climate and nature crisis is no longer distant or theoretical. It’s real, it’s urgent, and it’s affecting communities and ecosystems everywhere. As Christians, we’re called not only to be aware of this emergency but to respond to it in love. That’s what ecological conversion asks of us – to move from indifference to care, from isolation to community, from consumption to contribution.

Christian Eco-Dating gives single Christians a way to live out that response – to meet others, to build meaningful connections, and to deepen their faith through action.

It’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned and lived – from childhood grief transformed by grace, to years of experience in development, education, and ministry. And now, I get to share it with you.

So whether you're looking for love, longing for community, or simply wanting to do your part to care for our common home – I invite you to join us. Come to an event, take part in a webinar, or just follow along as we grow.

You're not just caring for the planet. You're living your faith.
And maybe, just maybe… you're about to meet the love of your life.