If you were to ask Jonah and Michelle about their story, they will tell you from the get-go that their coming together is due to two major things - God and Southern Adventist University (also known as Southern Matrimonial College from its former SMC name).

Prior to coming to Southern, Jonah, a Southern California native, completed a semester’s worth of training at CORE, a discipleship Bible college in Pennsylvania, where God refined his calling and gave him a passion for ministry. That season would not only significantly grow his spiritual life, but would also aid in leading him to Southern Adventist University to join the SALT evangelism program. Another appeal was being near his sister Julia, who was already studying there as a nursing major. Meanwhile, Michelle, who was raised in North Carolina, graduated from Mount Pisgah Academy and arrived at Southern the same fall as Jonah to begin the Theology program.

Jonah and Michelle first noticed each other during Freshman Service Day. They have varied recollections of their first meeting, Michelle recalling introductions in the gym as the day was starting, while Jonah remembers noticing her during their assigned service project at the Chambliss Center in Chattanooga. Michelle thought he had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, while he thought she came off as perhaps mildly shy, but sweet. The next week, they found themselves sitting side-by-side in Southern Connections, a class full of religion majors. They exchanged smiles, a few words, and that was all. With the exception of a eulogy assignment to establish how they wanted to be remembered when Michelle read Jonah's, there was nothing dramatic or significant about their earliest memories.

For most of that first semester, Jonah and Michelle led very separate lives and didn’t become much more than acquaintances. Michelle was in another relationship at the time and Jonah developed several prospective interests. By the second semester though, their friendship began to form and grow. Along with their mutual friend Dominic, they became a trio, spending hours hanging out and talking. By the time the school year ended, something had shifted. Jonah and Michelle, both single at this point, had already shared a few one-on-one conversations, which turned into long WhatsApp chats over the summer and even a few phone calls. Before they knew it, it was just the two of them. That summer would turn out to be life-changing.

At the time, they were on opposite sides of the country - Jonah in California, Michelle preparing to move from North Carolina to Georgia - but they reached a point where they talked every day, defying the three-hour time difference. Those long conversations became a safe place where God began healing and deepening their hearts.

For Michelle, that summer became a sacred turning point. She had spent a lot of time wrestling with past heartbreak and struggling with her calling. That summer, she reached a place of surrender, ready to deepen her faith in light of what she had learned during her first year at Southern. Jonah’s prayers, patience, and unwavering encouragement were exactly what she needed in that season. He reminded her of who she was, and that God still loved and wanted her. Meanwhile, Michelle prayed for and challenged Jonah as he continued to grow and make his faith and beliefs fully his own for the very first time. That summer didn’t just bring them together emotionally, but spiritually. Jonah found himself woven into Michelle’s testimony, and she into his.

When fall arrived, they couldn’t deny that something was changing. They kept “accidentally” running into each other at Friday night vespers, both secretly hoping the other would be there. Every lingering conversation, every shared moment of worship, deepened the quiet love forming between them.

It finally happened at Southern’s Student Association’s opening event. Jonah brought Michelle, and she nearly stopped in her tracks when he showed up in a button-down shirt and a hat. Somewhere between the music and the small talk, it clicked—this was becoming more than friendship. Not long after that event, they mutually confessed they were falling for each other. At the end of September, they officially began dating, celebrating the new chapter with a date at CK2.

The months that followed became some of the best of their lives, filled with favorite memories they still treasure. Jonah quickly became part of Michelle’s family, forming deep bonds with her parents. They studied together, served together, laughed constantly, and learned how to walk with Christ more deeply. They explored scenic locations like Cloudland Canyon and Sunset Rock, enjoyed cozy movie nights at Michelle’s house, and cherished the quiet, ordinary moments that felt anything but ordinary.

March 2024 is a favorite memory as it’s the month they went on their first road trip—a joyful mix of long drives, honest conversations, shared worship, and Taylor Swift playlists. Jonah also met Michelle’s younger sister and stepfamily for the first time, fitting in instantly. Just weeks later, they faced an unexpected and painful personal situation that could have broken them. It was raw, real, and difficult, but it drove them to their knees. They clung to God and to each other, emerging stronger. They note this chapter of their story because though it was challenging, they believe God allowed it to draw them closer—to Him and to one another.

After that, they began praying seriously about their future. They knew that surviving such a season together was no accident—God had brought and kept them together for a reason. That summer, they worked in camp ministry at Leoni Meadows in California. Michelle got to know the Dinger family, met all of Jonah’s living grandparents, explored Yosemite, and saw the world Jonah had come from. Having her in all his favorite places brought new meaning to the idea of home for him. In August, they road-tripped with Jonah’s dad back to Southern and began pre-engagement counseling with Dr. Alan Parker. With each week, their certainty deepened, and they more and more became each other’s steady support through every season.

That semester was a defining one. They championed and cheered each other on through mental health challenges and major transitions—Michelle switching to Religious Education, Jonah to Religious Studies and media ministry. They encouraged and prayed for each other, reminding one another of their callings when they couldn’t see them for themselves. It became crystal clear—they simply belonged together. In November 2024, Jonah bought the ring, and on December 7, he brought Michelle to Signal Point in Chattanooga, a place filled with some of their earliest memories. Under the wide sky, overlooking the Tennessee River, he nervously but excitedly asked Michelle to be “the next Mrs. Dinger.” Of course, she said yes!

Today, they are best friends and partners in life and ministry, living the truth of Proverbs: “Two are better than one.” More importantly, they have learned they are at their best when Christ is the center of everything they build. They are eager to step into this new chapter—hand in hand, hearts aligned, ready for whatever God has ahead. They know it won’t be perfect, but they are perfectly fine with that. The best things worth doing aren’t easy—and they know their love, tested and redeemed, is worth it.

For the future Mr. and Mrs. Dinger, November 23 can’t come fast enough. The rest of their lives are up ahead, and they can hardly wait to take it on. Though they have already experienced so much together, this is only the beginning.

Registry