Christian Testimony - October 2023

I had joined Christian Cafe July 6, 2023. I met my husband July 9th 2023 on your site.

We lived 6 hours apart. I was close to Philadelphia, PA. He was close to Pittsburgh, PA. A straight path from one end of Pennsylvania to the other end!

We started as friends in Christ on ChristianCafe.com then eventually moved to email. Our first phone call was 9 hours long!

God continued to work in both of us and it got serious quickly.

We got married in Christ on September 29, 2023.

My words of advice would be:

Make sure they are 100 percent with a heart's desire for marriage. Nothing less!

I prayed the book of 31 prayers for my future husband every day n night. I journaled and took the challenges in the book as well!

I also got plugged into the online ministry fun and holy. It's very encouraging to do the challenges and read the blogs. She even has Bible studies for individuals and groups!

I was persistent from October of 2022 to KEEP MOVING FORWARD no matter how painful rejections & disappointments were before I met Steven! So don't stop searching for and writing to those who interest you. I kept letting God lead the way!

Right before Steven contacted me to actually move forward in a more serious getting-to-know-each-other relationship GOD TOLD ME TO CANCEL ALL MY DATING APPS. I was confused at the time because Steven and I were not communicating much at that time. But I heard God loud n clear.

I ended my Christian Cafe membership even though I still had paid time left. But I followed God's instructions.

The next day Steven reached out and was serious in moving us forward - marriage minded!

God used Christian Cafe for us to meet but then gave me specifics, so I wasn't distracted knowing that Steven was the one, and I knew it was going to take a lot of time, effort, energy and money to start a long distance relationship.

It's important to know that no matter how old you are now or what shortcoming you have, that God has a perfect plan for you! Keep praying God's Word over your life!

We both lived alone for 12 years before meeting. We both were serving in ministry. We both had specifics of what we were looking for and didn't find it in our local church. We both thought at one point before having the desire for marriage that we would have been single forever.

It's important to let God prepare you fully before getting married. It takes a lot of grace and patience!

And must be willing to sacrifice and die to flesh daily! Two different people with two different personalities coming together as one!

It's definitely just the beginning stages for us but I do know that the seasons of preparation were vital prior to marriage.

It's important to be whole and not broken. If there is any brokenness it's important to let God be your all and heal your heart before meeting your spouse, so you don't bring all that drama & baggage into your marriage.

For me personally I wanted to be debt free when I got married. And that was a goal I achieved with God's help!

Steven's first question to me was "who is the Holy Spirit to me? " and I gave him a thorough explanation.

And our journey began.

We are both strong in the gift of evangelism so that was important to both of us to do together. I'm actually going through the new member class on Sunday at Revival Today so we can serve together in outreach once I'm a member.

It's important to be picky and wait for God's best. When we came together we saw God's hand in everything. He gets all the glory!

Pray specifics and let God do the impossible! I said to God "you created the universe, you can bring my spouse to me! I trust You!" It was when I fully surrendered that things moved quickly for me and Steven. I prayed specifics. For many years too!

It's important to have disagreements and learn how to agree to disagree and let it go at that!

It's important to let God's Word be the final answer!

It's important to not hold a grudge!

It's important to keep Jesus on the throne!

We didn't just want attention. We wanted to get married and do life together in Christ.

One thing I said to Steven in the beginning was "you have to not be stuck and actually meet me in person and get to know me. I'm not just a profile picture and a bio. I'm a real person with a whole life! You will never know unless you spend time with me!"

And that stuck with him.

Then God spoke to him while he was at the gym and told him to call me! It did help that we are both health nuts! We had a lot in common! So it sparked more interest! Similar lifestyle always helps!

Hope this advice helps any who are reading this!

God Is FAITHFUL!

Thank you so much Christian Cafe for your ministry!

Jessica-redeemed732 {Pennsylvania} & Steven-sas902 {Pennsylvania} October 2023