Thanks for not choosing the short-cut.

As both Annie and I have reflected upon our story, we have come to see threads of a much greater story — some may even say the Story — that has been weaved into our own. I’ll explain more about what I mean later on.

Annie and I first met on Don Lyle Field, a place I would spend much of my time at Grove City College as part of the men’s soccer team. I was a wild freshman, and she, a seasoned junior. My friends and I were playing spike ball, and when I was sitting out of a game, we ended up having a good old-fashioned conversation about life and the LORD. We found out we both had similar stories almost attending a state school before God brought us to Grove City College. She almost attended University of North Carolina, following in the footsteps of her parents, and I almost attended Auburn University, following in the footsteps of the three generations before me.

Going to a small school affords you the opportunity to know of most people. Annie and I knew of each other, but we didn’t get to really know each other and become friends until we led a short-term mission trip together. She and the other co-leader were trying to find a third leader to continue this trip after they graduated. Let’s just say I was not their first choice. Annie’s impression of me at that time was that I was “really intense and super flirty.” Not the most flattering words if I might say so myself. However, after every other option was exhausted, she relented and agreed to have me join the leadership team.

Little did I know this would lead to us becoming best of friends and then a few years later, fiancé and fiancée! I am so thankful for the opportunity to become friends first. It was such a gift to see Annie in the context of doing ministry together because I immediately saw in her a friend with a similar vision and mission for life—what C. S. Lewis in his book The Four Loves described as someone who is in the pursuit of the same truth. After the trip was over, with two months until she graduated, I started catching feelings for her. I remember pretending to go to the library to study but really I was trying to find her, or when she would walk by, I would try to act all cool. I was naively trying to play the game, and she, being much more mature than me (this has been a theme in our relationship LOL), got fed up with my nonsense and confronted me, telling me I had to stop with the games.

After a few more conversations with each other, with friends and family, and much time spent in prayer, we decided it would be wisest to circle back on the question of whether or not we were to date after taking the summer to discern. She was graduating, and I was going to be in Cambodia for a mission trip all summer. One of the most memorable pieces of advice I received was from our now-officiant Dr. Byun, who told me I would be an idiot if I didn’t pursue Annie. To this day, I thank God for Dr. Byun slapping me out of my immaturity haha.

On August 23, 2022, in the first few weeks of my junior year, I Facetimed her to ask if she would be my girlfriend while sitting on the back steps of Hicks, the freshman dormitory on campus. Sounds epic, doesn’t it?? Nontraditional, unconventional, unchivalrous?? Well, while it may not be ideal, it was for sure Providential. It was also our only option since we were living 528 miles apart. We had been praying about this all summer and made the decision to walk by faith and date. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend dating long distance for the first two years, but it ended up being for our good and for God’s glory (Romans 8:28).

By the grace and faithfulness of God and a whole lot of patience from Annie, we made it through the season of distance, and I was more mature and a whole lot more sanctified because of it. After graduating college, I moved to Nashville on August 23, 2024 (our two year anniversary—God’s timing haha!) for a gap-year program that Annie had done two years prior. We were finally in person. What a gift! :)

On October 5th, 2024, I asked her to marry me. And this time, it wasn’t on Facetime. Leading up to this point, both of us have spent much time in prayer, searching the Scriptures, and seeking counsel before making this momentous decision. We are both confident that God has led us to this point and will continue to lead us on for His glory.

We believe God created marriage for a man and a woman and designed it to be a representation of His saving love for us in His Son Jesus Christ (Genesis 1:26-28; Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 5:21-33). We have also started to understand in part what Tim Keller meant when he wrote marriage is for, “...two spiritual friends to help each other on their journey to become the persons God created them to be,” (The Meaning of Marriage).

We both hope to have a beautiful wedding, but even more than that, we hope to have a beautiful marriage. And for that, we both acknowledge that it is the Gospel alone—this is the Story I was referring to—that will empower us to continue to love sacrificially, laying down our lives for each other, and submitting to each other out of reverence to Christ (Ephesians 5:21). Annie is my beautiful, best friend, and I am exciting to celebrate with y’all on June 22 and to go on this adventure of marriage with her and with God!!

For Christ’s Crown and Covenant,

Ari Campbell