Married for a bit over six months now, Jerom and Mia have an incredible love story. Neither of them came to Bible school with the purpose of finding a spouse, but they ended up finding each other and seeing God’s hand tangibly at work throughout every detail of their relationship, wedding, and housing. Not only did God provide in a practical sense, but He also restored and healed their hearts from previous hurt through their marriage.
Mia Lickert (29) from Germany used to be a nurse before she came to Bible school. She was recently saved before coming there and she was ‘’pretty done with men’’. ‘’Some people go to Bible school with the hope of getting into a relationship, but I was just pretty done. I had a deep desire, but I had a lot of hurt due to my past. So I did not expect something to happen.’’
Jerom de Visser (25) from the Netherlands came to Bible school out of a hunger for more of the Lord. ‘’I was open to a relationship but I did not expect it to happen. It was not really big topic for me.’’
‘’I love your heart for people, that really stood out to me’’
When the two joined ministry school, there was not a lot of connection between them because Mia still worked a lot. However, things started to open up when Jerom and Mia paired up to go on outreach together in February. ‘’That was the first time for me that I realised that I love your heart for peopleーthat’s one thing that really stood out to me,’’ Jerom shares.
Going on outreach together more frequently from that time on, they shared more about their lives and became more in contact with one another. Mia: ‘’I pushed it away, because the age difference was a huge thing for me, which was stupid.’’
But right before going on a mission trip together, Jerom and Mia started to get into closer contact. They laugh as they recall this period of time, because according to both of them, ‘’Jerom texted a lot and Mia reacted’’. Long story short: during a four-hour layover on the way to their mission trip, they had a talk where Jerom asked Mia to go on a date with him after the mission trip. They then prayed together that God would close the door if it was not from Him.
”You guys just have to get married”
Although fears came up related to her past, Mia decided to go for it. ‘’God already started to heal a lot and I was very open with Jerom about my fears and stuff from the past.’’ Jerom shares: ‘’For me, the biggest reason to pursue it was that every time when I prayed, the Holy Spirit just told me to go for it.’’ Mia says: ‘’For me, this certainty made me feel very secure. It’s something I really asked the Lord for.’’ So the logical next move was to step into a relationship.
‘’In the last weeks of June we were in the Netherlands together, and talked a lot and prayed a lot and we both really got the desire to get married.’’ Mia adds: ‘’And when talking to one of your friends about our plans for next year, he told us, ‘you guys just have to get married’. I really saw it as something from God, and another person also said something that confirmed this. It was crazy: we were so sure and secure that it was going to happen.’’
‘’Eimeldingen? I have family there!’’
After getting engaged, the Lord’s hand was tangibly visible yet again. When preparing for the wedding, Jerom’s parents rented out their B&B to a German family. Mia: ‘’It was funny because this was the first German family that I felt led to talk to. I told them we were in a Bible school in Eimeldingen and he said: Eimeldingen? I have family there! It was a fun conversation but I did not think about asking him for a flat. But Jerom’s mom did ask later on, and this man really reached out to his cousin, who took us in as new tenants at the exact time that we needed a house. They are also Christians, a beautiful family, and it’s just five minutes from church!’’
‘’The Lord provided it all’’
There’s even more to testify of: Mia’s whole family, although they are not all christians, were very enthusiastic about their plan, and there was also a lot of practical provision. Jerom: ‘’So many people helpedーfriends, family, lots of people around. A lot of people provided stuff, tables, tents, dishes, everything we needed. It was really the Lord who provided it all. And the wedding day itself was also amazing. It was the last warm day of September, so that was also a huge blessing.’’
‘’For me it was also very special,’’ Mia shares, ‘’because so many of my family are non-believers or far from God. But they all heard a powerful sermon and worship, and they saw where I am now, doing Bible school.’’ Jerom adds on to this: ‘’So many people came to the church service! Old football teammates and friends of mine who did not even know Mia were all very supportive of what we’re doing now. And even on our wedding we could be a big blessing for people, just being an example.’’
Evangelism on the wedding day
Mia continues: ‘’We also shared before dinner that if people had any questions about what we believe in, they could come up to us. Jerom’s brother even prayed for my dad, and had a very long conversation with my sister. We had evangelism on our wedding day!’’ ‘’The Lord was so on it, it was crazy!’’, Jerom exclaims.
The couple ends on a very encouraging note, sharing wisdom that they have received throughout their journey towards marriage. Jerom shares: ‘’For men, you’re not gonna marry someone straight off of a date. Take a risk, step out, no one will die from a date. Most people put way too much pressure on dating. You don’t have to date the right one, you have to marry the right one. You have to date someone and see if it’s right.’’ Mia adds: ‘’If you both go after the heart of the Lord, what would go wrong? Why would God let you run into a wall when you both want to be in His will? He will lead your steps. Pray together and trust God.’’
Jerom ends saying: ‘’Be open, don’t put yourself or God in a box. I would never think I would marry a German. But just be open and the Lord. And ask the Holy Spirit, He will answer you.’’
