We met at our beloved church in Chicago, Epic Church. Steven was new to Chicago, coming in from Kiev, Ukraine. After checking out a few churches, he found a home at Epic. I (Lydia) attended Epic for two years after moving from Ann Arbor, Michigan and was involved in prison ministry. We were Sabbath friends and were able to get to know each other and pray with each other.

On a road trip from Chicago to Phoenix to attend an annual youth conference, Generation. Youth. Christ. (GYC), things began transforming in our relationship. GYC began two days after Christmas and it was a great time to stop in Colorado on the way and spend Christmas with my (Lydia's) family. Steven drove most of the way with me and two friends. During the trip, Steven shared his testimony of how he became an Adventist and the adversity he faced with the decision, and his conviction was moving. After arriving to Colorado, on Christmas evening, my brother Keeze and beloved mother saw Steven's kindness and potential to be a good husband for me and expressed this to me. Immediately, after that conversation, Steven came up stairs and asked to speak with me about confirming the rest of the trip. During that conversation, God opened my eyes and immediately I could see most of the qualities I'd been praying for in a husband, especially qualities Dr. Myles Munroe highlights that are central to the role of a husband. From there, we began to see each other as potentially more than friends. Then after GYC, during a trip to the Grand Canyon, we had a chance to bond and experience God's nature. It's been a growing and transformative process and we look forward to transforming into one.