We're Getting Married!

Stewart and Serenity met through the Bivens’ Young Adult Life Group at Northstar Church. In November 2024, a worship night was hosted for members of the life group. This is really where Stewart and Serenity began getting to know each other. They lost track of time talking for almost an hour after the worship night in the Northstar Church parking lot. For the next three weekends, they took Lucy-Lou (Serenity’s dog) on walks and enjoyed each other’s company. By the third weekend, Stewart asked if he could court her to which she replied yes! They spent the Christmas season together attending a tree lighting in Knoxville, visiting the Fantasy of Trees, driving around looking at Christmas lights, and even going to see the Nutcracker. Stewart spent Christmas with Serenity and her family, where he met her family for the first time. On December 28, he presented her with white daises (her favorite), spoke so much life over her, and asked her to be his girlfriend-to which she said yes! From then on there were Bible studies, prayers together, long phone conversations, driving for hours just talking, game nights, dates and double dates, and lots of quality time together with their pups (Lucy-Lou and Buddy).

Stewart reached out to members of the life group and some mutual friends to help put together a worship night. The evening was filled with worship music, a campfire under the stars, fun fellowship, and sweet friends and family. As everyone was gathered around the fire, people started to go inside little by little until only Stewart and Serenity were left. Stewart prayed over them both as they sat by the fire, showered Serenity with words of love, and got down on one knee asking her to marry him. Of course she said yes! They spent the rest of the evening laughing with friends and family and enjoying each other’s company.

Serenity and Stewart started dating at the end of December 2024. By January 2025, they had decided they were going to get married by December of 2025. A couple weeks into January, they had talked about moving up the wedding date. They had both been thinking about it for a few weeks, but neither had brought it up. Stewart braved the conversation. They agreed to move it up and felt it was right. They discussed moving it up to May, and the Lord guided them to May 2. Why May 2? This is the best part. May 2 is 5/2. Five loaves and two fish. The miracle Jesus performed in John 6. He took what someone freely gave, what others didn’t know they had and blessed it. He blessed the sacrifice of the boy who gave everything. And He provided for all and then some. He made something out of very little. They want this spoken over their marriage. Where they always put God first and in the center, where they seek God and offer Him their everything, and where they willingly obey Him. They want to give Him opportunities to bless them. But more importantly, they want to serve Him and witness Him do miraculous things in and around their lives. They want their marriage to be an instrument in His hands to further His Kingdom. They decided they would take some time to pray on it. They had been reading the book of John together this year. It happened that after they started looking at May 2, that John 6 was the next chapter. After reading it, they agreed that they were confident that the Lord was leading them to be married on May 2. They have seen nothing but continuous provision and the hand of God since then.