How We Met (Jake’s Perspective):

Our story begins in the most unexpected way. Felicia hails from a tiny town called Homer, in the rugged wilderness of Alaska, while I come from the small, quiet town of Delton, Michigan. It was during my second year at the Radiant School of Ministry that our paths crossed—but not in a typical encounter. It was as if the Lord Himself had sent a special letter just for Felicia, because I still wonder how she found the school online, decided it was worth leaving behind her family of fifteen, and traveled all the way to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Although we didn't meet immediately, we knew of each other—at least by name—long before our eyes finally met. It wasn’t until after a local outreach event that things changed. That night, Felicia caught my eye, and I found myself drawn to her every move. The setting was downtown Kalamazoo—late at night, a safer choice for walking back to our cars. As part of the plan, I partnered with her, walking her to her vehicle. She was sharing her testimony—a moment she described as the first time she led someone to the Lord. I watched her pour her heart out, her passion for the lost shining brightly through her tears.

She cried after sharing her story, and I felt compelled to do something I wouldn’t normally do—I asked if she wanted a hug. She nodded, and I held her as she cried, our hearts quietly exchanging words in the silence. We sat on the street corner, sharing stories and playing our favorite worship songs while gazing up at the starry sky. That night, something shifted inside me.

Back at her car, we kept talking, but that moment—simple yet profound—became the first of many. From that night on, I knew I had found something worth holding onto forever.



Proposal Story (Jake’s Perspective):

Proposing in Tangier, Morocco—about 5,500 miles from Homer, Alaska—was no small feat. The plan had been simmering for months: I was flying to Alaska to spend Christmas with Felicia’s family. Every year, her family gathers on Christmas Eve for what I knew would be the perfect moment to pop the question.

But how? I had countless ideas, yet none seemed quite right—until the night before Christmas. Felicia, her sister, her dad, and I had spent hours working together, carrying sheets of drywall in a makeshift team effort. We were working in shifts, plotting and whispering in between. That’s when an idea took shape—a rigged raffle where Felicia was guaranteed to win the grand prize: the ring.

Despite the nerves and the fear of everything going wrong, I knew this plan was right. Surrounded by her extended family—too many to count—I watched her face light up as her name was called. She opened the box and saw a note: “Felicia, it’s Jake. I have a question for you.” Then, I pulled the ring from my pocket, dropped to one knee, and asked the question that had been on my heart for so long.

Her tears of joy spoke more than words ever could. She said yes, and just like that, our journey toward forever officially began. The wedding planning kicked into high gear, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible love we share—a love that started in the stars, grew through tears, and will carry us into eternity.