Michael and Kristine met on a cool, fall day in October of 2022. Kristine was brand new to First Baptist Columbia and started attending the Young Professionals Sunday School Class/Family Group. Her first Fam Group Night at Danny Carter's house was one to remember, she was a new face and had just met new friends. Michael took a particular interest in Kristine since she was sharing that she works at LEMS (which is where Michael went to school and she works with one of Michael's former teachers), she lives in Camden (which is where Michael was born), that she is from the Philippines and is an international teacher (Michael could've sworn that Kristine was from the Midwest). There were differing perspectives of the night that Michael and Kristine met but one friend had said that it was almost magnetic how they just gravitated to each other.

Kristine kept running into Michael at church activities like International Sunday School, YP events, and Wednesday night choir rehearsals. One night after Michael saw Kristine at choir practice, he decided to slide into her GroupMe DMs with a message that wrote "Hey, Kristine! So when are you singing your first solo?" They had messaged back and forth until after one YP lunch, Michael calls Kristine and asks her if she wanted to grab dinner that week. To which Kristine asks him straight "Um, is this supposed to be a date?" and leaves Michael scrambling to explain that she decides whether it is going to be or not. They go out to Pokebros on a Thursday night, enjoyed pokebowls, boba, even some mochi together, and Kristine decides to call it a "date."

Michael and Kristine continue to get to know each other through a series of dates, even meeting each other's families before becoming official. Kristine had shared what traditional Filipino courtship was like where the man is to woo the woman for a period of time and waits on her sweet "Yes!" to becoming his girlfriend. Michael takes up the challenge and waits for Kristine to declare them to be official. On December 17, 2022, Kristine decided to gift Michael an early Christmas present which was a Gamecock Carolina Cup that said "To The Next Level, Dec. 17, 2022" as a surprise. Michael got his sweet "Yes!" from Kristine and that afternoon, they attended a wedding to which Michael officially introduced Kristine as his girlfriend.

Michael and Kristine continue to grow their relationship, building each other's trust and confidence in one another. They enjoy a shared love for the Keto Carnivore Diet, BBQ, music and singing, rollercoasters, travel, theology, ministry, and developing a God-centered relationship. After many difficult and hard conversations plus a pivotal trip to Salt Lake City, UT, Kristine and Michael very much knew that it was only the divine God who brought them together. On May 20, 2023, Kristine had planned to throw Michael a surprise birthday party and invited his family & friends. However, she got the bigger surprise when he popped the question after she brought his cake out! Kristine gave the biggest "Yes!" to Michael and they are now excitedly planning their wedding on October 7, 2023. They hope it will be a very meaningful and God-honoring event for all their friends & family, and they look forward to spending the rest of their earthly lives together serving their Almighty Father. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:17