Jonathan and Rebecca, how did you meet?
R: Jonathan is the best at telling the story. (:
J: While my parents were hosting “Zola Levitt Ministries” they appeared on the “Marcus and Joni” show and I tuned in for the interview. On that show I saw the way Rebecca shined and I knew I had to get to know her. I added her on social media and began to pursue her from there. The rest is history …
When did you know that God had brought you together for marriage?
R: This is a great question. I’ve heard stories of how couples would have some major sign or experience where God would show them they are supposed to be together. For me it wasn’t quite like that, but I loved how God handled it. From the beginning I sensed God’s presence and hand in our relationship, but at the same time I felt no pressure from Him to pick Jonathan which would have ultimately extinguished the love and freedom in choosing my life partner. I felt God’s support and peace consistently, I have so many stories of little miracles I experienced and signs, but ultimately I believe God allowed me to choose Jonathan myself, while also knowing His blessing was on us being together. Of course, I live my life submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and I’m led by His Holy Spirit, so I would not have picked someone if I knew it was not God’s best. We can marry all kinds of people, but I really do believe there is God’s best for your life, and I believe Jonathan is that for me. If I could give any piece of advice, it is follow God’s peace when choosing a life partner.
J: From the beginning of our relationship I pursued Rebecca with intentionality. She knew that I was ready for marriage. Rebecca and I were very intentional about our relationship together. Over time the more we got to know each other and the more time we spent together it became obvious that there was no one else in the world that could take each other’s place.
Jonathan, for those who aren’t familiar, tell our readers where you’re from and what you do.
J: I am from San Francisco / Napa Area. I grew up with my brother, Stephen, and parents, Myles and Katharine Weiss. I am passionate about ministry, business, and the connection between the Church and Israel. Right now I work full time for an excellent software company nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley.
Jonathan, your parents, Myles and Katharine Weiss, have served in ministry for many years. Describe the work they do and how their example has impacted your life.
J: Growing up, my parents were on staff at our church as pastors. They led many mission trips to India, Africa, and Russia. This included moving our whole family to live in Kinshasa, Congo in 2001 to teach the Bible. My Dad is a Pastor and a marriage and family therapist, and so Mom and Dad have a heart for reconciliation. God showed them the need for unity between Jews and Gentiles. They have been building bridges for years, through TV, teaching, and tours.
When I was 14 years old and my brother Stephen was 11, during spring break instead of taking us to Disneyland they took us to the Promised Land! That trip birthed in me a growing appreciation of my Jewish inheritance, and the prophetic significance of Israel and the Church coming into our identity as One New Man [Ephesians 2].
Rebecca, you have a deep love for Israel and the Jewish people. How does it feel to know that you’ll soon be a part of a Jewish family that has embraced Jesus as their Messiah?
R: I remember my love for Israel and the Jewish people began when I first visited Israel when I was 14. Since then my love and understanding has only grown, as I have learned more about the Jewish Roots of our faith and God’s covenant and plan for Israel. I’ve always wanted to incorporate more of the Jewish roots of our faith into my life like celebrating the Jewish holidays and practicing Shabbat because I knew it would enrich my life, but I just didn’t know how to do it or where to start. So, you could say my relationship with Jonathan is an answer to prayer and a desire of my heart. (Thanks, God) I’m so excited for him and his family to teach me even more, and have it be a foundational aspect of our life as a married couple.
How important is it to hear from God when making a lifelong decision about marriage?
R: SO IMPORTANT. God knows the span of everything that will happen in your life, He knows what the future holds, and He knows what is best for you. Picking a life partner to enter into a marriage covenant is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in life. If you want God’s best for your life, you have to make Jesus the Lord of your life, completely surrender to Him, and submit to His will. Jonathan is God’s best for me, and I am so thankful by His grace I didn’t settle for less than His best. After 5 years of not dating anyone, I can attest that the wait is worth it, trust me. Whatever your age, do not settle. Also, don’t be afraid of commitment, because in every day of your marriage Jesus will be there, as your steady rock and foundation.
J: When you are surrendered to God and seeking Him, He will speak to you through a peace in your heart. As you pursue a significant other. I encourage you to bring your relationship to the Lord constantly and let His peace guide you.
What can couples do to ensure that Jesus remains at the center of their relationship?
R: I’ll never forget one of the things Jesus clearly told me during a fast a couple years ago. He said, “The right kind of relationships will point you back to me.” My relationship with Jonathan has done exactly that. It has brought me to a place of deeper intimacy with Jesus. That’s what the relationships in your life should be doing, encouraging you in your walk with Jesus. To keep Jesus in the center, I believe both parties should have their own personal relationship with Jesus, while also praying and growing together spiritually as a couple. Finally, keep Jesus first. I make spending time with Him a priority, and I’m always praying asking the Holy Spirit to show me if I remove God from the number one spot in my life. Remember, Jesus is your first love, and I believe His love is what truly sustains any relationship.
J: We both want God’s best. We have made ourselves accountable to our families and spiritual leaders. Continually submit the relationship to the Lord in prayer and practice. We are learning to include the Holy Spirit in our relationship now so that we will be able to draw on Him in times of conflict throughout life.
When you think back to the proposal, what moment stands out the most?
R: It’s going to sound too good to be true, but honestly what stood out to me was how perfect it was. The proposal felt like a surreal dream, it took at least a week for the reality of our engagement to set in for me. But once the reality had settled in, all I could think about was how perfect it all was, and my strongest feeling was gratitude. I am so proud and thankful for my fiancé for doing such a spectacular job of planning the proposal, buying the ring, and totally surprising me (he is amazing and loves me so well). I also am so grateful to the amazing few who helped Jonathan execute his vision, and to God for working every little detail out in the way only He could.
J: Definitely how amazing it felt after she said YES and one of our favorite songs played on the sound system. I had cued our DJ into playing a song called Caught Me By Surprise. Once she said yes, that song came on and our families were both cheering… I couldn’t help but cry tears of joy.
What’s something you’ve learned from each other over the course of your journey together?
R: I’ve learned a lot from Jonathan, and being with him in this amount of time has taught me a lot about myself, has made me a better person, and our relationship has matured me, (which are all signs you’re in a good relationship haha). I think one important thing Jonathan has taught me is how important it is to treat the people you love with respect, and to be careful with your words. Words are hurtful and once you say something you cannot take back what you said. No matter how angry I might get at someone, I’ve learned to try and not speak out of my emotion and say something I don’t mean. I’ve learned that when I get mad to take a break and pray, and when the emotions have subsided, then go and have the conversation I need with my partner.
J: Rebecca is an amazing woman. Her heart for God and sharing the good news of the Gospel is a continual inspiration. One thing in particular I love about our journey together is having someone so grounded in God’s Word to talk and pray with about woes and hardships that we all encounter in everyday life.
How should couples approach the engagement period when it comes to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually preparing for marriage?
R: There is a lot you could say to this, but if I could offer advice it would be this: First, give this season to the Lord, trust Him to work things out for you, and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. Second, don’t let anything rob you of the joy of this season, especially the little things that don’t ultimately matter. Things might not go the way you want, but find your contentment in Jesus, not getting everything you want. Third, ENJOY THE MOMENT. Soak in the joy of this season. Don’t get so busy that you forget to pause and take in the moments of how great it all is. Fourth, do not compare your relationship, engagement, wedding, marriage, etc. to anyone else. Pastor Craig Groeschel says about comparison, “the fastest way to kill something special is to compare it to something else.” Fifth, be grateful for everything and thank God for all that He has done. This is an important life lesson as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
J: Focus on enjoying the engagement season. Cast your worries and cares on the Lord and let Him guide your planning and decisions. We plan on spending this season growing closer and investing in our spiritual growth as a couple. We use the Kendall Life Languages Profile (KLLP) to better understand each other’s communication style.
What’s your favorite thing about the other person and why?
R: There are SO many things I could say! I love Jonathan’s heart. I love his character, honesty, and integrity. I love how he treats his family. I love how much he loves dogs. And I love how he makes me laugh all the time! (Just to name a few)
J: She is full of joy! I love how fun she is, always “down” to laugh with me and keep things interesting. I love her taste in music and her openness to let me show her all the best movies she still needs to see.
As husband and wife, how do you hope God uses your lives to further the Gospel?
R: I really believe God will use Jonathan and me together in ministry. I think we make a great team. That is one of things I am the most excited to see play out in the future!
J: Rebecca and I are a team. We know we are called to ministry and open to letting the Lord guide us. I am excited to let our surrendered lives be led by the Lord into unchartered waters. I honestly believe she makes me a better man and I am blessed to have her by my side.
What’s a shared interest that you’ve discovered as you’ve gotten to know each other?
R: Jonathan has shown me a lot of amazing things, but my favorite thing he has shown me is hiking!
J: We both love self-improvement. We want our bodies, our minds, and our actions to reflect the greatness of God and so we strive to get better. We love eating well and staying active, hiking, working out, playing sports, etc… We both love music. She is an amazing singer and I am an amazing listener.
In what way do you hope the strong, faith-filled legacy of your parents will influence your life as husband and wife?
R: I know both of our parents have inspired us to not only continue the legacy they have passed down to us, but to also create our own legacy for our children to pass down one day to them as well.
J: We both come from incredible parents. We were recently talking about how it feels like a dream that our “parents-in-love” are great examples of Yeshua followers. I believe that their legacy will influence our lives in a myriad of ways including how to love each other unconditionally and pursue things of the Lord first and foremost.
Do you have any advice for unmarried believers looking for someone to marry?
R: Yes! Your single years can be a pivotal and important time of your life where you can thrive, grow, and learn if you surrender that time to God and allow Him to teach you and show you things. Singlehood is a gift from God (even when it doesn’t feel like it). This is the time in your life you are not tied down by the responsibilities of marriage and family. You have so much more free time to accomplish and discover. I thrived in my singlehood as I grew in my relationship with God and in relationship with my friends and family around me. I found out who I am and who God is during that time. Your life doesn’t “begin” the moment you find someone, it merely changes. Your life begins the moment you accepted Christ as your Savior. Surrender this time in your life to God, and go and live your life for Him!
J: Be patient, but don’t be passive. We often need to step out of our comfort zone to give God a chance to intervene on our behalf. Focus on your own growth and maturity and as you grow you will find the right person at the right time.