Cache' loves Atlanta....

...and it seems Atlanta loves Cache'. We were back at First Baptist Atlanta on Friday night for The Dating Game. We had two wonderful panels of contestants who were quite witty and lots of fun. The crowd was smaller than the previous event, but it was still a special night. Here's a comment that sums it up:

"Thank you Linda and Kim for coming back to Atlanta to encourage us once again.  It was smaller gathering but the message was more meaningful, like Jesus wanted to spend time with few of his people!"

The last few months have been pretty stressful for Kim and Linda as Kim and her husband sold their house and have been contracting and building a new home.  After a move 3 months ago to a rental home, the real estate madness culminated in another move into the new home after arriving home from Atlanta Saturday afternoon.  Thankfully Linda has been holding things together and things will calm down shortly.

Have a wonderful week!

Kim

Here's some blog fodder from Sunday night's chat!

"Long distance relationships get fueled by a lot of fantasy and romantic weekends, etc. The person has to be around enough to get on your nerves." (more good stuff from Sunday night's chat with Dr. Stephen W. Simpson and the Cache' Connections Facebook Fan Page)

Mark: "That may be true. So the question now is when dating someone that lives 700 miles away how do you solve that? ...(I ask for those that don't know) ... because my girlfriend and I do not seem to have that problem. We have nice dates when together but we do normal stuff too like cooking, running to the grocery, other shopping, watching TV. We do ... Read Morestuff around the house, whatever we need to get done, we do. When we see each other it's usually for 2 to 4 days in a row. We do get the romance in but the whole visit is not filled with romance. We fly to see each other once or twice a month.

We have been talking and seeing each other 3 mos. now. Perhaps part of the key is talking and praying together on a daily basis. We do bible studies together over the phone and are totaly transparent with each other. That is an important aspect of relationship. Transparency. Feelings, emotions, etc. good or bad need to be expressed openly. The ... Read Moreidea is to realize we are human and with faults and not to idealize or place someone on a pedestile. What I suggest is not easy but if you are emotionally healthy this can be done. Another key is to always keep Christ at the center and honor Him in all you do. We give the relationship over to the Lord daily."

Vicki: "I too am in a long distance relationship, but mine is only about 150 - 200 miles. We get together a few times a month. Sometimes, for a couple of days in a row and sometimes a few hours. We spend lots of time talking and getting to know one another. We have been able to keep physical temptations out of our relationship just by not going there... Read More. We have fun and we have deep conversations as well. We speak on the phone through the week, e-mail and text. But, it is very difficult without the day to day get on your nerves kind of thing. Although, because of the distance, our conversation is much more meaningful and to the point. Not the superficial stuff which I had when I dated someone who was just a few miles away. Our communication is way more meaningful."

Check out our expert-led chats on Sunday and Monday nights. Click here for scheduled events!

First CC Conference a Success!

Well, we did it. We had our first singles conference in connection with National Singles Week this past Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Schaumburg, Illinois. We had approximately 60 people attend, the vast majority of which were female. Guys, you missed out! And yes, it was more than sitting and taking notes :)

We had four great speakers: Pastor Lincoln Washington from Rock of Our Salvation Church (Chicago) spoke to us about the importance of having an intimate relationship with Jesus first and foremost. Wow, he is an annointed preacher! Next up was Dr. James Bedell, Cornerstone Counseling, Cary, IL who showed us what the Bible says about singleness. Very enlightening. So, just to reiterate, marriage is not the continual state of bliss that it is sometimes idealized to be. (I can attest to that.) After hearing the grim divorce rates, we were happy to see that everyone returned after the lunch break!

Cathy Conway, a licensed psychologist from Meier Clinics, helped us to identify and address the lies that the enemy tells us and society confirms. Guests turned in anonymous cards of the lies that hinder them from entering into relationships, then guests formed groups to dispel these lies by applying the truth of God's word.

Finally Carol Conway, another licensed psychologist from Meier Clinics finished up with her lively discussion of intimacy in dating and gave us practical steps on how to progress from one stage of intimacy to the next, referring to the RAM scale (I think.) We decided there is no magical formula to know if he/she is Mr/Mrs Right, but it takes a lot of time spent in all kinds of circumstances, and sometimes seeking advice from a trusted friend or relative who is not wearing those same rose-colored glasses that you are!

With extra time, Carol and Cathy were brave enough to field questions from the singles. A lively discussion ensued for approximately 20 minutes. All in all, everyone seemed pleased with the day.

A few hours later, we entertained about 28 Christian singles at a Connection Party at nearby Pompei restaurant. In a private room, we played a sort of "musical chairs meets speed dating" affording everyone an opportunity to meet and chat with everyone else in the group. This activity was followed by a nice Italian dinner buffet. We heard that the party went on long after we headed back to headquarters in Central Illinois. We received some lovely comments from our guests the next day, which is always great to hear.

What a privilege to work for you in this most personal area that is so dear to your hearts. Please continue to pray for Cache' Connections as we pray for you.

~ Linda

First CC Engagement Announced!

Dan and Debbie, who gave a testimonial for us at our recent Dating Game in Naperville on 8/28 have made it official! They have announced their engagement and look forward to a wedding at Disneyworld around Christmas time this year.

Dan and Debbie met through the website and have expressed much gratitude toward Cache' Connections. We wish them a very happy new life together with God in the center!

~ Linda

Sales Position Available

Since we would like to double the amount of monthly events next year, it is necessary to hire a few people to help on the Cache' Connections sales team. We are looking for someone who totally embraces the concept of the business. First of all, this person must be a committed Christian. Of course sales ability, confidence, persistence and resilience are crucial. The position is strictly commission based at this time. Here's the beginning of the job description:

The Partner Relations Manager will be responsible for helping Cache' Connections reach new markets, church venues for events and for securing sponsors for events. He/she will help Cache' Connections maintain and foster healthy relationships with partnering churches. The Partner Relations Manager will seek hosting church sites by researching viable churches in areas approved by CC....

Interested? Contact Us

God provides for Speaker Replacement for Conference

JR Kerr, Pastor from Park Community Church, was going to be one of our featured speakers for our upcoming conference in Schaumburg, IL on 9/26. Unfortunately he had a situation arise in his family that will prohibit him from participating. This left us scrambling to fill his two time slots in the morning for our very first conference.

We have recently made contact with Bob and Cheryl Moeller, who have been quite active in marriage (and now singles) ministry. Bob also has a TV program and is often featured on WMBI. So we asked Bob if he could speak, but he was already engaged. Cheryl quickly got on her thinking cap and prayed along with us. She gave us several good tips for speakers that they know.

I followed a trail of suggestions which naturally led to a lot of professionals who are already booked. We actually received referrals from these referrals, however, and now have two speakers who are happy to fill in the gaps! God is so good!

We look forward to hearing from Pastor A. Lincoln Washington and Dr. Jim Bedell. Check out the details here!

Dating Game Roundup

1. Special Guests. Check.
2. Contestants. Check.
3. All opposite sex. Check.
4. All bio's. (C'mon ... it never happens that fast.)
5. Applause sign people. Check.
6. Emcee - Amena - Check.
7. Sound-lights-refreshments-travel arrangements. Check.
8. Daisies and logo en route to First Baptist Atlanta - Check.
9. Got the music on CD? ? ? ? ?
10. What to wear? Good question.
11. Volunteers .... errrr. Need a little help.
12. Have we driven Pastor Keith crazy yet? Check.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of details we go over and over prior to an event. We are looking forward to another popular Cache' Connections version of the old TV show, "The Dating Game" at First Baptist Atlanta on 10/2/09. Our first panel is all on their twenties, and our second panel is in their forties. Whoever gets chosen for both winning dates will enjoy a very special dinner at AquaKnox followed by ... we can't tell you everything!

Round up your friends, or just plan on coming alone and meeting some new people! Join the audience and enjoy the show, which is scripted just like the old TV show, except YOU get to help the special guests make their choice. Tickets are $15 if you pre-purchase them, $20 at the door. If you wish to volunteer and enjoy free admission, please contact us ASAP! ... and plan to be at FBA by 6:00 pm.

We'll be back in 2. (Is that what he said?)

~ Linda

A note from a member

Dear Linda, Kim, staff, and members of Cache Connections,

I am writing this because I just read the comments from a unhappy and skeptical man. I too was once skeptical about dating sites but, sometimes we need to think outside of our comfort zones. When I say this I also mean our comfort zones of what we would classify as someone we would date. Thanks to Cache Connections and two faithfull friends I am involved in a relationship with a wonderful woman. But, the thing is I had to think outside the box and comfort zone. You see I typically dated women in my financial range and women who were 5'2"-5'5". When I met this wonderful woman at a Cache Connections event I was a bit leary. She was from a higher financial income then myself and she is 5'10". Both were out of my comfort zone but, I gave it a shot and am very glad I did. But, she also went out of her comfort zone. She typically dated men who are over 6' and 200lbs or more and in her income range. I am 5'11", 160lbs, and make less money then her. So, you see we all have to stop ourselves from limiting ourselves as to who we would give a second look at. She and I gave the other a chance and I can with all certainty say we are both happy and love one another. In the short while we have been dating I lost my job, her mother died, she found out that she is loosing her job, and other trials in life have occured but, with God at the center of our relationship we are still together and love one another. So, I simply ask to those who are discouraged about not meeting up with someone just yet. Are you being open minded and willing to step outside your comfort zone, are you praying about it, and are you putting God first in your relationship? Also, you must be patient.

First Time - Public Chats Tonight and Thursday!

Take time out tonight or Thursday to chat with some past Dating Game participants - including a winning couple who are enjoying getting to know one another!

Tuesday: Chat with Jessica and Annette
Thursday: Chat with Steve and Sara!

Here's how:

go to: www.cacheconnections.com
click on: Community and Advice
click on: The Meeting Room
click on: Java screen
enter your username and the password: cachebox

Chats begin at 8:00 p.m. CST. See you there!

Click here for more details.

~Linda

The Plan is in Motion

From the inception of Cache' Connections, it's been our plan to have close partnerships with churches and singles leaders. Although, we have found it's not as easy as it seems. Our business is definitely "out of the box" for most pastors, as we are all aware that online dating has somewhat of a negative stigma attached to it, and rightly so. Having a one-on-one conversation with the powers-to-be can be quite an accomplishment. But, if we can get through the gatekeepers, i.e., the assistants and secretaries, we explain to them that we are taking a modern-day trend (online dating) and helping Christian singles strengthen their faith and hopefully help them find a mate. Of course, there are those who understand the importance of being relevant in today's society and then there are those who are slower to come around to new ways of thinking.

We are most excited about a possible new partnership with Perimeter Church in Atlanta. Their leadership team attended the pastor's luncheon last week since one of the leadership members has been quite insistent about Perimeter hosting an event. She came to both our events in Atlanta and had a great time and thought this would be a great boost for their one-year old, re-established singles group. We are looking forward to developing a proposal for them and hopefully - an event partnership!

On another note, sign-ups are increasing for the National Singles Week Conference and Connection Party which is only 2 weeks away, September 26th in Schaumburg, IL. You can take a look at the information here

Have a wonderful week and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Kim

National Singles Week Super Duper Special

Since National Singles Week is right around the corner - Sept. 19 - 26, we wanted to do something to show how much we appreciate our members at Cache' Connections. Therefore, we announced the "best discount ever offered." From now until the end of the month anyone who joins the website or updates their subscription will receive NOT only 50% off their subscription, but we are going to double their time on the website. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT DEAL! For instance....

3 months subscription WAS $64.95 -
NOW $32.48 for 6 MONTHS

6 months subscription WAS $99.95 -
NOW $49.98 for 12 MONTHS

12 months subscription WAS $149.95 -
NOW $74.98 for 24 MONTHS

Until Married WAS $349.95 -
NOW $174.98

We hope many singles will understand the value of this opportunity and sign up! Please help us spread the word.

Prayers to you for a peaceful Sunday....

Kim

a quick post from 2 tired m-makers sitting in the ATL airport

hi friends,

we had a great day today, despite the fog on the drive to the airport at 4:30 a.m. and slight fear of missing our flight. as in the past, Pastor Keith Langland at First Baptist, and his new sidekick, Mark Marza, were great hosts! we entertained about 10 single leaders who came together to hear what cache' connections is all about. they all appreciated our detailed power point presentation with just the right amount of "skipping over the boring parts." lol

many expressed an interest in future partnerships, praise God. all are getting excited about the dating game coming up on 10/2 and we were able to complete our two panels - whew!

anyway then Mark took us on an excursion where we were blessed to receive two FABULOUS date prizes for the upcoming dating game on 10/2. gonna be a good time all the way around - including some after effects ... stay tuned!

oh, also! received TWO calls from happy couples who were connected through CC - both from michigan. how bout that?

~linda

Turn the cheek or shake the dust off?

Sometimes it's a tough decision.

I've been wrestling with the idea of blogging about this because I don't want to come off as bashing leadership - the Bible is clear on that. Having been involved in church leadership, I know it is no easy task and there is no way to keep all of the people happy all of the time.

Okay, so, we are having a CC event in our hometown of Peoria, IL. It is our second; the first was at Richwoods Christian Church, thank-you-very-much Pastor Jim Powell for your willingness to step out of the boat and for your positive words of encouragement for what Cache' is doing. But, you say, don't you both attend Northwoods CC? Yes, we do. Prior to the event in 1/08, we met with the adult ministry leader and a former singles leader at Northwoods. They saw the value in what CC is offering to Christian singles and thought we could have a great event at Northwoods, because of their marketing power and large number of singles. (Although, sadly, their singles ministry shut down a few years ago.) But, the powers above those leaders shunned the idea for no disclosed reason.

That was a little hard to take, but we chose to respect their decision and move forward to RCC who would gladly host an event, which went very well.

Fast forward to Fall '09 and it's time for another event. We decided to ask RCC if we could have it at their facility again because they were so great to work with us, the familiarity to guests, etc. After mentioning the Fall event to the adults pastor at Northwoods, he said he'd be glad to promote our event. Well, that's something!

Unfortunately something turned into nothing. It seems that although some of the pastors are not opposed, the Elders are strongly opposed to even putting our event flyers in the information areas. We were advised to try to schedule a meeting with the Elders if we wish to attempt to change their minds.

I have a feeling that would be a long shot - to meet face-to-face with the Elders. Hmmmm ... we may need some divine wisdom on this.

~ Linda

The New Guy Speaks!

As I begin my inaugural post let me begin with an introduction. I am Nick, aka the man behind the scenes. (Sorry ladies this guy is not on the market). Just a few weeks back I joined the Cache' Connections team and last week was subjected to the madness and glory of "The Dating Game" Naperville. As I have settled into my role at Cache' Connections it looks as I will be the man handling most of the website updates, changes, and eventually interaction with members from a customer service standpoint.

I personally am pretty excited about the direction that we are headed. Just in the short time that I have been here I've seen how this business can change people's lives for the better. As we look to venture into new markets this coming year and form partnerships with several churches I think that Cache' will become a household name in the Christian singles market across the US.

If anyone wants to give me a shout and say hello you can reach me at nick@cacheconnections.com.

Blessings

The Man Behind the Scenes

Seeking That Elusive Commodity.... Time!

Now that summer is coming to a close, it's time to get serious about planning for the remainder of the year and next year. We seem to be hitting the same brick wall though every time we set out to plan... we have so many things we could be doing, but we need more time or help! So I called a meeting - which drives Linda crazy. For those of you who haven't figured it out yet, I am the big picture planner - the melancholy personality. Linda is the sanguine - let's just do it and not talk about it. So, this has caused some interesting debate in the office, and I guess we've both learned to adapt to each others personality (although it still can be a strain at times). But I think we were all getting frustrated with lack of time, so we put everything aside for a few hours and talked about how to use our time more wisely. I must say that Linda was pretty patient:) The main problem is we are so caught up in the everyday work details, customer service, website page changes, event details, etc. that we don't have time to work on new markets. I forgot to mention that Nick has been a great contribution to the team as he brings a fresh outlook to Cache'. He's still in his 20's and is current on societal trends and has an ability to eye up a situation and come up with a new solution. There have been so many times he quickly blurts out an idea and Linda and I look at each other and wonder why we haven't thought of that. But, that's why we hired him. So... after sizing up our natural talents and abilities, we divided the chores up in this fashion: Linda-current events, Nick-website and day-to-day operations, Kim-new markets. Of course, we still have our marketing reps who will continue to do what they do best in spreading the word in their particular locations. We'll see how it goes!

By the way.... we've heard that love is in the air and there are several new couples getting together:) This makes it all worthwhile! We'll keep you updated.

Kim

common courtesy

This is something that's been mentioned to us a few times in the past few days, and was part of the discussions in the chat room on Monday night. Interestingly, both genders seem to be remiss in this area.

When it comes to online dating, communication is key. We encourage both men and women to initiate contact, which we wrote about a few weeks ago. But what happens then? If you are the recipient of a message, the sender would really appreciate a timely response. Figure roughly a week or less would be a reasonable time to send a response. What to say? Here are some ideas:

a) Thank you for contacting me. However, I don't feel this would be a suitable match.
b) Thank you for the message, but I feel the distance is too far between us.
c) Thank you for the note. Yes, I'd like to chat with you. Tell me more about (x, y, z).

Trust me, the sender will appreciate knowing if this door is open or closed and can proceed to place your profile in the Not Interested file.

I can attest to this angst from a different perspective. We send our many emails that go unanswered. Oftentimes I wish I had a nickle for every unanswered email and phone message. I feel your pain! Don't leave us hanging!

~ Linda

Messaging: how long should I wait for a response?

Okay: Online tends to take longer. There's not the same real-time chemistry. Some people even schedule online "dating" or "courtship" or whatever you want to call it for specific times. So it requires... more patience. But more than a week is a bad sign. If you email someone that you've met face to face, you should expect a reply within a day or two. Otherwise, they're usually not interested. So said Dr. Stephen W. Simpson in last night's chat. The question posed is how long should I wait for a response after sending a message? "Dr.Steve" adds: If you email someone that you've met face to face, you should expect a reply within a day or two. Otherwise, they're usually not interested. In General, things happen faster when there's a connection.

Haven't met yet? Communication is generally slower with online dating. But, Dr.Steve says, more than one week without a response is usually a bad sign. The key to online communication? It has to flow naturally. Now that's a good sign!

Read much more from the wise/funny guy Dr. Stephen W. Simpson, one of our experts. You can check out his article on Authentic Dating here or pick up a copy of his book, "What Women Wish You Knew About Dating," available at his website.

Check out the chat schedule under Scheduled Events at www.cacheconnections.com.

~ Linda

Another Elusive Puzzle Piece Is Found?

As we look back over the last 2 1/2 years of getting this business up and running we often comment how it's coming together like a huge puzzle with many pieces. We have definitely seen our share of setbacks and triumphs... you know when you think you've found that piece you've been searching for and put in place only to find it doesn't fit afterall, or on the flip side when a piece fits in perfectly and the world is good again (at least for a few minutes or two).

The elusive puzzle piece for us has always been - how to market this business. Finding Christian singles is not an easy campaign. It is such a specified niche and they are hard to reach in one place. We found that Christian radio isn't all that great of outcome compared to the enormous costs, especially in the bigger cities. But, we know the one place we can pinpoint is churches. Ahhh... but how do we get the churches to embrace something so "out of the box" and risky?... especially a service that has somewhat of a stigma attached because of the crazy stuff that's going on out there with the secular sites.

Well, we might have received our answer this week. We were speaking with Keith Langland, singles pastor from First Baptist Atlanta, about how to market the next event and it came to me. Why don't we invite area Atlanta pastors for a networking luncheon, not only to connect with other singles leaders, but to tell them about the upcoming event on Oct. 2nd. Along with hearing about the event and the request to promote the Dating Game to their singles groups, they will meet us face-to-face and learn about Cache' Connections and understand how we are helping Christian singles connect under biblical principles and support.

The invitations went out the end of last week and I believe Pastor Keith has already received a few accepted replies. We would greatly appreciate your prayers that this is a successful effort and a campaign that we can use in the future.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Kim

The Day After The Dating Game ...

It's a typical day after one of our late-night Chicago area events, where we drove home until 2:00 a.m. So basically this is a dead-girl blogging, so bear with me.

Despite a few mishaps, some barely noticeable, some more "public," The Dating Game was a fun night for all who came out. Attendance was a bit low, but the smaller functions lend to an easier social time for our guests. It seemed that quite a few connections were being made over refreshments, and we've heard that the contestants and special guests received a "dizzying" amount of attention. Sorry, we should have warned you guys :)

So, back to the mishaps. It goes something like this. Pastor John Absher: "... now I'd like to introduce you to Tower from shine.fm radio. Tower? Tower can you hear me? Anyone seen Tower? Anyone know a joke?" Things got off to a late and somewhat awkward start because we were delaying for latecomers. Tower had run off to find his jacket and I was busy grabbing the registration funds, when I was supposed to be parading the previously-secluded contestants into their front row seats. Our newest employee Nick had my back and ushered them in just fine and I took my spot overseeing the special guests in the sound proof booth (a/k/a closet.) Now sure exactly where Kim was besides trying to find me, Tower, Nick, 9 contestants, etc.

Although we had 90% of the players and the emcee in for a thorough rehearsal on Thursday, live shows lend themselves to some risk when you are trying to follow a script/outline, yet keep things fresh and new. In doing so a few of us missed our cues, but I'm sure we've long been forgiven. Likewise, I baubled a bit on my lines for our little speech but managed not get get boo'd out the door. Probably because they knew I was the one who was pulling out door prize winners.

Oh! I have to mention what a great job Dan and Debby, a CC success couple, did as they shared how they "connected" through the website. Interesting story ... they had originally met at the gym and made a date. The date was missed due to a short-notice flight that Debby had to make. She did not have his contact information, so she could only hope that she'd run into him some other time. Shortly thereafter, she signed up for CC and her first connection was Dan ... aaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeee they are so cute together!

~ Linda

Checking the List and Checking it Twice

Traveling is a big part of what we do at Cache' Connections. The week of an event is planned around finalizing last minute details, contacting the volunteers, gathering all items needed for the event, taking sign ups and packing it all up. We all moan and groan (especially Linda) when we have to go through what we call "the final walk-through," which is where we all gather and talk through an event as though we were actually there. It is quite tedious and mind stretching, but helps us to focus on each aspect of the event in order to cover every little detail.

We have found when we do an Dating Game event, it all flows better the day of the event when we hold rehearsal the night before. It also helps keep the contestant's nerves in check. It was an long day for Linda and I as we had to leave home by 6:00 a.m. We had to be in Lombard by 9:00 a.m. for a pastor's wives luncheon that was coordinated by WYLL Radio. We had a sponsor's booth which provided an opportunity to share the business with those in attendance. Several women who visited the booth were very excited to hear about Cache'. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing from Jill Briscoe and a yummy fluffy cake for dessert... quite an indulgence for two healthy eaters.

We had another appointment in the afternoon unrelated to Cache' and then had to scramble to get over to Calvary Church before the rehearsal. (We only got lost a few times.) Since we have had this event a couple times before, we have worked out some kinks and streamlined the rehearsal as much as possible. The tricky part is keeping the special guests and contestants separated. We practice such items as where to go when they arrive, how to keep separated from each other, the lineup of contestants, talking into the mic, when to sit, when to stand and how to exit off stage, etc. Our sound and lights technicians are there also and we figure out the lighting and music cues. Overall, it went pretty smoothly and everyone seemed to get it. I probably drove them crazy though as I reminded several times - PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE! The evening is coordinated down to the last minute and it really messes things up when people do not show up on time. I then had one of the guy contestants tell me he is in a golf outing and probably won't arrive until the show starts. What can you do? He's so cute and nice, I just told him to make sure he's ready when his game starts.

So far the pre-registration is somewhat low, but we have found through past events, it is not a true indicator of how many will show up at the door. The tough part is figuring out how much food to order.... don't get me started. Oh well, we are hoping and praying for another great event and God's name will be glorified through it all!

Kim