Long-Distance

Reading about how my brothers and sisters overcome distance and other challenges to meet, court and marry is a great way to make myself smile til my face hurts. Iggy’s and Leony’s story is a perfect example!

Director’s note: Mark and Imy Johnson’s wedding marks the 100th known marriage in which Disciples Today’s online matching services have played a part.

Amy had been a disciple for over 20 years, yet she had never dated in the church. She was a single mom of a son, Drew who was diagnosed with autism at age 10. She works as an Accounts Payable Specialist at HSS, Inc. in Aurora, Colorado.

John: I was baptized in 1992 and had been in a couple relationships that just did not work out. After my previous relationship not working out I decided to stop looking for a sister to go steady with and just go on dates with sisters for the purpose of affirming to them that they are loved and appreciated and worth building friendships with.

It was smiles all around when Sergey Ippolitov & Angela Ustavkova were married after meeting on DT Heart & Soul. This video gives a peek into their joyful wedding day.

I (Laura) first joined DT Heart and Soul in 2010 and was off and on the site for the next 3 1/2 years. Jason, after being prompted by a brother in California and seeing the promotional code for the 2014 Singles Conference, joined in September of 2014. We were matched September 14, 2014 and began communicating immediately.

Joanna: When I met my husband on DTHS, I had recently ended a dating relationship in my home church. Frankly, I was devastated. I was in my late twenties, and I felt ready to meet my husband.

Matthew: Rikki and I met on DTHS back in March of 2015. I was resigned to the fact that DTHS may not be the right avenue for me to find a relationship. But God worked, despite my defeated attitude and led me to an amazing sister from Riverside, California.

Clive: I was single again at 50 and started to attend single events. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the church had a dating website. I was encouraged to join the site in 2013. I didn’t think much of online dating but thought I’d go on, make new friends and see what happens.

My name is Sara Anziani from Phoenix, Arizona. I am excited to let you know that as of this past Saturday, I am in a relationship with a wonderful brother named Jesse Peterson, who I met on your website. Jesse lives in Spokane, Washington and we began connecting in November 2015.

Paul Meninno and Laurie Cunneff first connected on DT Heart & Soul in November 2015. They met for the first time in January, and visited back and forth between Chicago and New Hampshire for several months. They officially began dating at the end of April, he proposed two months later, and they were married September 2, 2016.

For some people, being single is exciting. For others, its lonely. For me, becoming single at the age of 41, it was scary. “How is this going to work out, God?” “What about all the people who think I am crazy because I only want to date women in my church?” “How does a Christian man go about finding a spiritual sister?”

Kalere: In December of 2013, I had been on-and-off of DTHS for three years. I made a few connections here and there but nothing that led to a serious relationship. My mom (who is also a disciple) asked me if I was still on the site.

Ellyn was baptized in 1998 in campus ministry, spent five years in the singles ministry in Delaware and then moved to China for four years. Corden became a disciple in 2003 in Oregon and then moved home to Oklahoma to be with his family. They met on DT Heart & Soul in November 2013, while Ellyn was living in China.

Zakiya: The story of how we met begins with both of us separately being encouraged to join DT Heart & Soul. I was repeatedly encouraged to join by several different people over the course of several months. Those people included one of my roommates, a few close friends, a few sisters in the fellowship, and finally my discipler.