Sam and Ellie met for the first time several years ago in 2016 at a YoungLife weekend retreat. It was short, and neither of them thought much of it. Nonetheless, this was the first time that the couple ever interacted. It was sometime later before they reunited and actively decided to spend time together. Their first date took place in December 2017. To this day, that date turned out to be the worst date that either of them have ever had. It was quiet and awkward, and both Sam and Ellie felt extremely uncomfortable. Even though they didn't know at the time, this was still just a part of God's plan. It would take some time before either of the two reconnected with each other. In the summer of 2019, immediately after their freshman year of college, Sam hosted a group of their high school friends over to hang out and invited Ellie and they started spending a lot of time together after that. Despite the fun they had together, Sam decided to move back to Mississippi for a second year so they both thought it would be best to break off things before he left. Looking back, it is apparent that God still had a lot of work to do in both of their hearts before they’d be ready to date one another.

Sam and Ellie still got together two or three times a year to check in with each other and to maintain a friendship. This went on for a couple of years, until one eventful night in the summer of 2021. A few weeks before school started, Sam invited Ellie to a birthday party for one of his coworkers. Ellie got to know Sam’s family and friends there and got to see a side of Sam she had never seen before. Afterwards, they decided to share with each other some of the struggles and obstacles that they had to overcome on their path to maturity, along with their desire to grow in life and in faith because of these challenges. This began their relationship journey.

They went on their first official date on August 13th. It was a simple date. The two went and got dinner, drinks, and finished the night off bowling with friends. Both were very nervous about how it might go, considering their history with each other, and especially since it was basically their third attempt at a relationship. To the surprise of both Sam and Ellie, it was the best date that either of them had ever been on. They talked for hours on end and truly enjoyed each other’s presence. They were both stunned by the similarities in family and life experiences, and they shared nearly all the same core values. Most importantly, however, they connected over their growth in faith, and how God had worked in their lives to bring them closer to Him. The date was almost five hours long and they spent nearly the entire time talking and getting to know one another. God had finally decided to bring them together, and in a truly ironic fashion, giving these two the worst and best date of their lives with the same person. They started officially dating August 26th and were recently engaged on March 17th of this year.

Sam and Ellie have both grown faithfully in ways they could not have imagined before coming together. God has worked deeply in their lives over the past couple of years, and they could not be more grateful for the people that supported them along the way. They have developed a wonderful community together in several places. The House Ministry is where Ellie spent most of her college career serving. She discovered some of her closest friends there and found her college home within the ministry. She was able to share this with Sam when he came into her life and gave him the possibility to find community with a group of people in similar seasons of life. These relationships and conversations have sparked so much growth in Sam and Ellie and helped guide them to live more like Jesus both on their own and within their relationship.

A few months into dating, they started going to church together. Sam was looking for another church to be a part of when they started dating, and quickly found his place at First Presbyterian Church. Ellie and her family have been attending this church for several decades now, and it seems that it will stay that way. As soon as Sam walked through the doors, he was immediately welcomed into the church’s large community, and the couple quickly fell in love with getting to worship and learn together at First Pres.

THANK YOU

Community has been one of the most important things to Sam and Ellie in their relationship, and they feel that their time invested with those around them has been one of the greatest gifts God has blessed them with. The couple agrees that they would not be who they are today without the support of their family, friends, loved ones, and any others who have poured into them over the last several years, and they would like everyone to know how grateful they are for each of you!

“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man” – Proverbs 3:3