Phillip and Christina met in the year 2000 when they were both part of the youth group at The King's Chapel. Christina was 12, and Phillip was 15. Phillip, being close friends with Christina's brothers, Timmy and Jason, remembers being around Christina a lot and thinking of her fondly. Christina distinctly remembers that Phillip was hilarious and that she had a crush on him, partly because he was so kind to her.

Phillip and Christina both have a history of diving fearlessly into the wild adventures of life. On a youth group ski retreat in early 2001, they both separately remember jumping into a freezing cold lake fully clothed and sinking straight to the bottom. They had to be rescued by older, taller friends. It’s also alleged by Christina's mom and aunt that Phillip went on vacation with the family at some point that year. While specific memories are fuzzy, both Phillip and Christina recall simply enjoying each other's company.

Fast forward to September 2024: Christina begrudgingly downloaded Bumble. She had used it before and found it to be her least favorite dating app because filtering by "Christian" required a premium subscription. However, feeling the sting of loneliness more acutely that month, she decided to give it another try after a two-year hiatus, thinking she could at least "get attention from cute boys." Within two weeks, Phillip's profile appeared. Christina decided to "swipe right," as she loves the challenge of matching with guys she knows "in real life" on dating apps. She didn’t expect much, assuming Phillip wouldn’t be interested in matching with someone he already knew.

Unbeknownst to Christina, Phillip had already "swiped right" on her, not realizing who she was at the time. Later, he reflected that he likely wouldn’t have swiped right on someone he recognized, so it’s fortunate he didn’t recognize her! On Bumble, women must message first, and Christina opened with, "Hey, I know you! Holy moly, it's been decades since I saw you last." Indeed, it had been two decades. As soon as Phillip saw her message, he realized he already knew her. Their ensuing conversation lasted hours, and by the end, Phillip was determined to ask her out.

Christina has said she knew Phillip was the kind of man she could marry before their first date even happened. Phillip has shared that he was deeply impressed by Christina's faith, love for the Lord, and perseverance through much suffering.

By their third week of dating, both Phillip and Christina knew this was the real deal. They became intentional about introducing each other to their closest family and friends. Within the first two months, Phillip picked up on Christina's not-so-subtle hints about a proposal and planned one during the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience.

Christina vacillated between thinking he would propose during the event on December 21st and convincing herself it wouldn’t happen that night. As they began their adventure through the Forbidden Forest, she resolved it wasn’t going to happen. However, within the first 200 yards, she noticed a woman walking alone with a professional camera, taking pictures of the woods. This seemed suspicious. By the second photo-op spot, Christina became nearly certain the photographer was Phillip's friend, Kat James, whose photo she had seen on Facebook. To test her theory, Christina adjusted her walking pace, only to notice the photographer always keeping pace with them.

It was just after the Patronus Casting Station that Phillip decided it was time. He proposed under the mistletoe where Cho Chang and Harry Potter kissed—likely with some Nargles lurking about! The moment was absolutely magical. After the proposal, the photographer revealed herself to indeed be Kat James, who captured beautiful photos of Phillip and Christina throughout the rest of the forest experience. When Christina arrived home, she was surprised by a room filled with close friends, ready to celebrate their engagement (all arranged by Christina's dear friend, Karly).

Phillip and Christina are thrilled to start their lives together. In the few short months since reconnecting, they have already faced challenges many relationships take years to encounter and have emerged stronger on the other side. As Christina's pastor, Edward, observed during a particularly difficult moment involving her potential job loss: "How great of God to let you both walk through this together before you get married, so that you can see how you each trust Him through these challenges."

Phillip and Christina are eager to continue trusting God and supporting each other in the years ahead. They are deeply grateful to each of you for the role you’ve played in their lives and for your love, support, and celebration of their upcoming marriage.

Registry