Christian Testimony - December 2010

So I started looking for a Christian wife who was REALLY a Christian who wanted to lead a Biblical lifestyle.

I found her on ChristianCafe.com. She's an Ecuadorian and I'm a North American.

We were married in Nicaragua 23 Sept, 2010. I've never been happier.

I was a member on [another singles site] and learned rather rapidly that I hated it, but even though ChristianCafe.com released more information rapidly, that's what I really wanted.

And our relationship advanced very fast due to the great start we had with ChristianCafe.com. Thank you.

John-chessed524 {Tennessee}& Mercy-muletita316 {Ecuador} December 2010

Thomas and I were married this month, thanks to you guys!

After asking my pastor for his approval and help in screening online matches, I, Veronique, joined ChristianCafe.com in August 2009.

Instead of limiting my search to my home state of Florida only, I did a nationwide search, looking for someone experienced in my favorite ministry: street evangelism done Way-of-the-Master style.

I made it clear in my profile that I would only be interested in someone marriage-minded and active in ministry. I stated that my pastor would oversee the courtship, that I would have to meet their pastor, and that there would be no kissing until the wedding day. That screened out many men and saved me a lot of time.

I didn't want to wait passively for people to contact me, and preferred to do the choosing myself. I looked for people who had a profile that made it obvious that they served God by the things they did for Him (ministry) and not just with words. One of the prospects I sent a wink to was Thomas. Soon, I was corresponding steadily with three godly men: "Suitor #1" from New York, "Suitor #2" from Mississippi, and Thomas from Wisconsin. All three were experienced in street evangelism, well-versed in reformed theology, and active enough in their local church to be well-known by their pastors. They were also unashamedly and openly seeking a strong, godly wife.

My pastor gave me guidelines, or rules, to impose on all three suitors, in part to test their character. I also let them know about one another, as a matter of conscience so that they would not be deceived in thinking I was exclusive at that point.

Suitor #1 balked at the guidelines, refusing to submit to or respect my pastor's authority over me. He was also jealous of the other two suitors and demanded that I end my contact with them. I told him the guidelines were not up for negotiation, that he had to abide by them, and that I wouldn't eliminate the other two suitors before meeting them. Suitor #1 ended contact with me in September 2009, which freed up my time to get to know Suitor #2 and Thomas.

They were both extraordinary Christian men. Suitor #2's main ministry is one-on-one street evangelism, open air preaching, and discipleship. Thomas' main ministry is studying the Word of God in the original languages and accurately expounding on it in sermons and Bible studies. Suitor #2 drove from Mississippi to Florida to meet me in February 2010 and stayed at my pastor's house.

Thomas flew from Wisconsin to Florida in March 2010 to meet me, too, and stayed with a godly couple from my church. Both wanted to consider marriage with me. Suitor #2 was my strong preference because of his passion and boldness in evangelism and seemingly perfectly applied reformed theology to his life. I was very honest and open with Thomas about this, even telling him that Suitor #2 and I had developed romantic feelings for each other during his visit to me and that I felt I was cheating on Suitor #2 by spending time with him (Thomas).

Like a friend of mine put it, Thomas didn't have a "snowball's chance in Hell" to win my heart and mind against Suitor #2. I was calmly and joyfully set on marrying Suitor #2 who was the bold street evangelist I had prayed for for years. But something quite unexpected and dramatic happened. God intervened and did the impossible. God took my mind and heart and turned them toward Thomas, initially against my will.

Thomas refused to give up on me. Even when he saw no chance of being chosen over Suitor #2, Thomas fought to win my heart and mind with everything that he had, telling me, "The rest of my life depends on it. I will get to spend it either with you or without you." He spent hours prostrate, face down in prayer, pleading with God that if there were any way at all possible within His divine will he would be the one chosen to pursue marriage with me. Thomas wrote to my pastor, telling him how and why he loved me, what sacrifices he'd be willing to make for me, why he wants to marry me, what made me different from others in his eyes, and how very much he would cherish me if I were to be his dear wife. He was relentless in fighting for me.

I saw that he truly loved me and that he would not give up on me. His drive, determination, passionate love for me, and his courage in expressive it boldly and tenderly in the face of what looked like imminent rejection moved me deeply. In April 2010 I made the hardest phone call I ever had to make. I called Suitor #2 to tell him that I chose Thomas. I cried because Suitor #2 had been nothing but kind, generous, thoughtful, protective, and loving toward me; I was hurting a man who is so godly and sensitive. Suitor #2 didn't show any anger. He gently tried to make me feel better, and he prayed over the phone for Thomas and me, wishing us a great marriage.

The next day he wrote me a long e-mail for the sole purpose of drying my tears, for the sole purpose of comforting me. He asked me not to worry about him and assured me that his suffering at losing me was God's way of making him grow in faith. His reaction to my decision showed clearly just how sanctified and selfless he is. Thomas and I were very impressed with Suitor #2's reaction, and we were saddened by his pain. We pray regularly that God would soon provide him with a godly wife through ChristianCafe.com or through another means.

In May 2010 Thomas flew to Florida to meet my father and ask him for my hand. With tears in his eyes, my father said, "Yes, I give you my permission without any hesitation, and I will tell you why: I have never seen my daughter happier." When I look back at the pictures my father took of Thomas and me at that time, I can see that my father was right; I am positively beaming with radiant joy in them.

In June 2010 I flew to Wisconsin to meet Thomas' parents, grandparents, and siblings. He proposed to me July 1st in the front row of his church's sanctuary with a sparkling princess cut engagement ring. I said yes. We both teared up out of joy, and we held hands and prayed to God, thanking and praising Him for gracing us with each other.

In August 2010 I flew to Wisconsin again (airlines should advertise on dating sites, offering discounts, seriously) to plan our life together. I stayed again at the home of Thomas' pastor and his wife. In November 2010 Thomas and I were married in Florida by my pastor, in a Christ-centered ceremony that was infinitely more focused on Biblical truths than human romance. We used evangelism tracts, booklets, and CDs as wedding favors. And, yes, that day we exchanged our very first kiss on the lips.

I now live in Wisconsin with my godly, loving, affectionate, devoted husband, and I have never been happier. We thank God for using ChristianCafe.com to bring us together.

In closing, it's fascinating that while Thomas had been online-dating for almost 8 years before I found him, I had been on ChristianCafe.com for not even a month before the site matched me with him based on my search criteria! Indeed the good LORD's timing is different for everybody.

I am so glad Thomas did not give up online-dating after a couple of years!

And, by the way, the very godly Suitor #2 "Ambassador475" is still on ChristianCafe.com. If you are a strong godly woman who takes the Great Commission seriously, you might want to pray about contacting this exceptional Christian man who lives a poured out life for Jesus Christ, and who would selflessly love his wife.

Veronique-QuietGrace545 {Florida} & Thomas-Exegete345 {Wisconsin} December 2010

My mother had given me the money to join as a gift. I got the greatest gift from God, my husband. We are planning to marry in June.

Alyssa-zionsinger258 {New Jersey} & Bill-engb946 {New Jersey} December 2010