A Match Made in HeavenA Match Made in Heaven

I guess you can say it was love at first SWIPE for Upward users Jontus & Traci. Jontus, 40, had toyed with the idea of online dating for a few months. But after swiping left almost 600 times, he decided to give up the search for the future Mrs. Walker and disabled the app for good—or so he thought. Traci, 36, had always sworn off the idea of online dating but decided to make an exception to encourage her sister in Christ, and now Maid of Honor, Shauna Marie, to try something new after admitting at her birthday dinner that she hadn't been on a date for 11 years. Traci, a true champion of sisterhood, took one for the team, but she had no idea that she would be the one to score love on a Christian dating app. Some would call it fate, but we know it was God's plan that that same day, Jontus, after months of being off the app, would be prompted by the Holy Spirit to rejoin and reactivate his account. But the wonder of becoming The Walkers doesn't stop there because Traci happened to be on the Woman Gone Warrior Prayer Tour in Washington, DC, at that moment, allowing this couple—who lived almost 500 miles apart, outside of the standard dating range they set on the app—to be in the perfect proximity to match. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. After only a few days on the app—Traci and Shauna had decided to only give it 30 days—Traci expressed to her girlfriends in frustration, "I wish someone would just say, 'Hello Traci.' No pickup line, no 'Hi beautiful.' Just a simple hello. Is that too much to ask in 2023?" Less than a week later, Jontus' message answered that request when he DM’d (Direct Messaged) her: "Hey Traci"! So I guess you can say he had her at hello! Jontus had seen her profile for a week before he finally decided to reach out. Although he loved what he saw, her profile spoke of her successful background as a Nuclear Engineer and her current position as a Senior Pastor. "Who is this Wonder Woman?" he thought. But Jontus, a Superman in his own right, never runs from a challenge. While her occupation presented some reservations for a man who never saw himself as a pastor, he decided to take the leap of faith and shoot his shot. She didn't respond immediately because she wasn't a frequent app checker, but oddly, one day, in the middle of a miracle service, she sensed the Holy Spirit telling her to check the app. It seemed like an inappropriate time to check her phone in church. The service was called Parousia, which means Arrival, but oddly enough, shortly after this thought, the Apostle asked the whole congregation to take out their phones and check their bank accounts because God was doing a miracle of increase. That word gave her the confirmation she needed to open another account, Upward, and there was Jontus' message—exactly what she had asked for. She briefly checked his profile: No kids, 6'4", and here for marriage—and she smiled. She quickly responded, "Hey Jontus," and within a few hours, after the service let out, the two singles transitioned from the Upward app to Facebook Messenger, and then to texting—all in the same day. Maybe it was Jontus' intellect, charm, sense of humor, or his unique name, but Traci—who is usually extremely cautious about giving men her phone number—was intrigued and invited him to text her. To both of their surprise, they realized they not only shared the same love for God but also that the blue bubble confirmed they were both "Apple-Stolic" (Team iPhone) lol.

After two days of all-day texting, the conversation elevated to a phone call when the budding couple got into a debate—one that would become a staple in their relationship—over a shocking Hollywood divorce. A few months prior, Traci had prayed and asked God to confirm her husband with a code word—"cover." She didn’t know if she could ask God for something so specific—it seemed strange—but a woman had recently shared her testimony on finding love after 35, and so she decided to give it a try. Within the first three minutes of their first phone conversation, Jontus not only said the code word—to her surprise and amazement—but also went on and on about a man's responsibility to cover his wife. She had been praying for a man who would be able to cover her in ministry and be the priest of their home. Traci had never dated a man who knew more Bible than her, so this sparked her interest and competitive nature. This "code word" confirmation was one of many signs and wonders that showed God had truly brought this couple together for such a time as this. They both—although beyond the age of 35—had high hopes of marrying someone who had never been married and didn’t have children, simply because they wanted to share these firsts with their future spouses. Over the years, many suggested this expectation was unrealistic in today's society and challenged them to settle on that standard, but their faith stood the test of time, and this promise was fulfilled in the finale. They also realized in conversation that they had both always wanted to name their firstborn son, Judah! Talk about a wonder. After only three days, Jontus—the guy who many friends and family would call extremely picky, who had turned down numerous blind dates and setups over the years, and had never been quick to fall for anyone—described himself, when asked who he was, as a "lover of Traci." Traci, being the courageous warrior woman she is, boldly asked him to clarify that statement. She figured it had just slipped out and that he would try to put a spin on it, but she was surprised when he said, "Yes, Traci, I love you." With tears in her eyes—that he couldn't see—she responded at 4 a.m. on the phone, 500 miles away, "I love you too." Two people who had never seen each other in person had fallen in love after only 72 hours. From that moment to this day, while weathering many storms and experiencing many seasons of pain, loss, and grief as a couple, they continue to prove that matches are truly made in heaven. Maybe it's the app's name, Upward, or the merging of their mantles as Pastors that signifies the joining of this couple was truly the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in His sight. Traci had started the ministry called Woman Gone Warrior, which placed her in proximity to her promise in the same season that Jontus was fighting for his life with COVID-19 two years prior. His organs were shutting down, and Traci, prompted by the Holy Spirit, was waking up every day at midnight for 40 days straight to pray and intercede for a man she had never met. She had no idea why she was praying so fervently, but she would later discover that Jontus' name meant Warrior! Their love is the true essence of "They that wait upon the Lord," as they both have committed their bodies to the Lord for over a decade, choosing to abstain until marriage. 1 Corinthians 13 doesn't just describe the love they share for one another—it defines the love they give to God's people as shepherds after His own heart. On April 26, 2025, you have been invited to witness Heaven happen on Earth at the Wedding Feast of the Walkers as these two finally become one—or better said, Walker! An app may have been the instrument, but God certainly orchestrated this love song. They are, as their favorite movie quote says, “the perfect verse over a tight beat” – Brown Sugar.