Matthew 18:19

Dustan and Jessiree met at Gateway Fellowship Church–Highlands, during a season when they were both intentionally pursuing a deeper relationship with the Lord. What began as welcoming smiles and brief, friendly conversations slowly grew into something more over the course of several months. Their story truly began one evening when the women’s small group partnered with the men’s small group to prepare homemade meals for those in need in their community. That night marked the first time Dustan and Jessiree shared an intentional conversation and from that moment, something sparked. Little did they know that in the weeks that followed, they were both privately praying about the feelings that had begun to ignite in their hearts. As Sundays passed, and as they attended worship nights and outreach events together, their connection continued to grow. One night after a worship service at Gateway Fellowship Church–Northwest, they joined friends for dinner at Chili’s. At the end of the night, while saying goodbye, Jessiree went in for a casual high-five but what felt embarrassing to her became a monumental moment for Dustan. Their hands lingered just a second too long, turning an awkward moment into one neither of them would forget. From that point on, they knew their relationship was being lovingly knitted together by the Lord. At the time, they had no way of contacting each other outside of church, but Jessiree took a bold step of faith. She asked a mutual friend for Dustan’s phone number and sent him a simple “Happy Birthday” message just days after their Chili’s dinner. Perfectly timed, Dustan took it as the opportunity he had been hoping for and asked her on their first date. From that night forward, they have been inseparable. Centering their relationship on the Lord has revealed blessings beyond what they could have imagined. As their love deepened, they became confident that their paths had been divinely aligned, sent to one another by God, for a purpose far greater than they could have planned on their own. #ChurchToChilisToRamos