Come celebrate

Derik grew up in Middletown, Delaware with parents Dan and Lisa and sister Lilly. In 2014, he gained stepmom Shelley and siblings Tripp, Sarah, and Anna. In 2017, he gained stepdad Mark and siblings Kate and Sean. He excelled in school, competed in football and lacrosse, while being the lead engineer for Middletown’s theatre sets. Derik grew up attending church and was graciously saved at Lifehouse Church. Into high school, he continued to grow in his faith at youth groups and through volunteering. He pursued Mechanical Engineering at the University of Delaware and eventually started a career as a Nuclear Reactor Engineer with the United States Navy in Washington, DC. Maddy grew up with parents Michael and Jill and siblings Isabel and Jackson in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There she found a passion for painting, competed on the swim team, and discovered her desire to see the world. She participated in the Lifeline Youth Group at Ada Bible Church, was graciously saved at a summer camp, and was later baptized in high school. Her desire to explore the world brought her to Washington, DC to study International Business at George Washington University and to study abroad at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien in Vienna, Austria. At GW, she joined Campus Outreach, a Christian ministry organization on campus, and truly began to understand what life looked like as a Christian. Afterward, she remained in the DC area, began a civilian career with the Navy, and continues to attend Waterfront Church DC as a member and community group leader. The Lord, in His perfect timing, brought Maddy and Derik together in April 2024 with a dating app of all things. Derik had recently moved to DC for his position as an officer in the Navy and sent Maddy a message on a whim about the Cars videogame. He asked her to lunch and she invited him to her church nearby. What might have seemed like an awkward first meeting at a church service turned into sweet conversations and a strong foundation of faith. As they continued to spend time together, it quickly became apparent this was something different and special. They bonded over their shared nerdiness, played tourist in DC, and became each other’s “first call”. They attended church weekly together, had deep and intentional conversations, and prayerfully considered the next steps. After a whirlwind road trip to West Virginia, they both agreed the Lord was leading them to marriage. Derik, quite successfully, surprised Maddy with his proposal during their trip to Michigan for the Christmas holidays. She said yes, and Lord-willing they’ll be married on the 29th of August!