Matt and Alissa Faw—Our Love Story

by Alissa

It was dislike at first sight. First impressions can often be misleading, especially when they are as harsh and judgmental as ours both were. But first, let me give you some history.

Matt Faw and I, previously Alissa MacDonald, were both homeschooled, but moved in different circles. Our paths may have crossed on occasion, but in no significant way. In 2006, my oldest sister married a good friend of the Faw family. Not long after the wedding my family became members at the church Matt’s parents founded and still pastor. Yet, for one reason or another, it would still be years before our encounters were anything more than an awkward “How’s it going?” over Christmas breaks and such. Matt was a student at Appalachian State at the time, and I was all over the place with YWAM (Youth with a Mission). Little did we know that mutual friends were already whispering about what a great couple we would make.

I had been home for a year when he finally moved back, and we both agree that it was dislike at first. After talking for a while, he decided I was a “Miss Goody two-shoes,” and I thought he was disinterested in everything important in life. The people around us knew better. His mother wanted him to make friends at the church, so every Sunday she would put her arm around my shoulder, ask if I had said “hi” to him yet and drag me over for an awkward conversation! It didn’t help that all of our friends saw more than we did and gently pushed and dropped hints now and then. It wasn’t long before we both realized that our first impressions were wrong, but I still wasn’t interested. I had recently been hurt, so I was not looking for a relationship. Thankfully Matt was gracious and didn’t give up at first. I definitely cared for him, but was very scared to give my heart away. The day we started dating, I cried! Poor guy had no idea until much later. That didn’t last long though. We started dating in early September, but by Thanksgiving, I knew that I loved him. That February he proposed in the mountains behind a waterfall, Robin Hood style. We were married June 19, 2011 at the Castle McCulloch near Greensboro and have been married for over a year now! You may say it was all too fast, but we both knew who we were in the Lord and in ourselves. We were confident in our identity of self. We have been so blessed in our marriage and plan on living happily married ‘til death do us part.

Alissa MacDonald Faw, daughter of Scott and Christy MacDonald, has lived in the Charlotte area for thirteen years. She was homeschooled from third grade until high school graduation and then spent several years traveling and studying dance with YWAM. Alissa is currently working with Samaritan’s Purse.
Matthew Faw, son of McLean and Denise Faw, was raised and homeschooled in Charlotte. He graduated from Appalachian State University in 2009. Matthew is currently working as a content and marketing specialist for AC Controls in Charlotte. He is also the founder of an eSports company.