Our Love Story
Every love story has a beginning, though sometimes you don’t realize you’re standing in it until much later. Ours began with a friendship and, in God’s perfect timing, became something neither of us could imagine living without. Looking back, we can see His goodness woven through every season that led us here—and we’re so grateful to share a little of our story with you.
"I have found the one my heart loves!"—Song of Songs 3:4
According to Mack...
I first almost saw Lauren when Cody—a guy I barely knew—was trying to convince me to go to church with him. I kept telling him no, so he showed me a picture of Lauren.
I quickly agreed to go the next Sunday.
There was only one problem: Lauren was on vacation. For three weeks.
Cody knew that. So his plan somehow got me to attend church for an entire month before I ever actually saw her.
When I finally did, I asked her out.
She said no.
And continued saying no for the better half of a year.
But it kept me going to church. Eventually, I wore her down, and she agreed to date me. We dated for nine months and had a lot of fun. Then I broke up with her for absolutely no reason and very quickly discovered that this had been the wrong decision.
I asked for her back.
She said no again.
And so began four years of basically no contact. I’d occasionally see her at church, at which point I would do my best to attend a different service. But during those years, something much more important happened in my life. I gave my life to Jesus, and He changed me completely from the person Lauren had known before.
We both dated other people, but I continued comparing every girl I went out with to Lauren. Meanwhile, I had an ongoing joke with Cody and his mom, Reverend Meyers, that Lauren and I had never actually broken up. She just needed a little space. (It wasn’t creepy in real life.)
Then, right as sophomore year of college began, Cody called to tell me Lauren was “on the market.” It was go-time.
I devised a plan and sent her a TikTok making fun of her love for Hamilton. And boom, she was hooked. She just couldn’t get enough of me.
We made plans to go to a Flatland Cavalry concert, although apparently her mom had to convince her to go because she didn’t want to see me again after our first date.
But, like I said: head over heels.
A few years and a whole lot of long distance later, Lauren began reminding me regularly, “If you don’t propose soon, I’m going to slip through your fingers.”
So I proposed.
And on June 5, 2027, at the same church where this whole thing began, we get to start our marriage together.
According ot Lauren...
When I was 15, I was at Sunday School at St. Andrew like any other Sunday when my good church friend Cody introduced me to his friend from school, Mack. I thought absolutely nothing of it and went back to my regularly scheduled programming.
Soon after, however, I started hearing the church gossip that Mack was interested in me. Six months later, I finally—and somewhat reluctantly—agreed to date him. We dated for a little under a year before going our separate ways in late high school, as most 17-year-olds tend to do.
Over the years, I always referred to Mack as my “best boyfriend from the past,” but never gave it much thought. Then, the summer before my sophomore year of college, I was interning with the student ministry at St. Andrew alongside Cody, who casually informed me that Mack was still interested in me.
Four years later.
Again, I didn’t think much of it.
That fall, Mack texted me a video out of the blue, which turned into a conversation, which turned into a phone call, which somehow turned into four hours.
And this time, I thought a lot of it.
The boy I had known at 16 had grown into such a godly man. His love for Jesus radiated through his words, his actions, and the way he was living his life. I was immediately impressed. (Needless to say, I was done for.)
We went on a few dates over Thanksgiving and Christmas break, including a Flatland Cavalry concert where he later confessed his love for me (duh).
Still, I was VERY hesitant. Starting a relationship from 12 hours apart, without much of a foundation beneath us, sounded like a pretty terrible idea to me.
Then Arthur Jones—the head pastor at our church and now the man who will officiate our wedding—called me and told me I should date Mack.
So I did.
And somehow, three-plus years of long distance later, here we are.
Maybe my favorite part of our story is how much of it leads us right back to where it began. We met at 15 at St. Andrew, where we’ll get married. Cody, who introduced us, will stand beside Mack as a groomsman. And Arthur, who gave me the nudge I apparently needed, will be standing before us when we say “I do.”
Turns out, maybe everyone else knew before I did.
I know God sure did.
Love Notes
As we prepare for marriage, we’d love to gather a few words of wisdom and encouragement from the people we love. Share your best marriage advice, a favorite Bible verse, or a note for us to carry into the years ahead.