How We Met

From Brian

I met Malisa Canto last summer in Boston when Malisa came to speak to our students in Boston. I immediately recognized two things: this girl loves Jesus and loves other people. Actually 3 things: she's beautiful too. After she left, one of our students, Tara, came to my room and said, "So Brian Malisa Canto, huh... I saw you looking at her. I saw her looking at you?" That looking turned to some great dates at our national staff conference in Colorado. At the end of that time, I said, Malisa, I don't know what the next step is. You're going to Seattle, I'm going to Boston. But whatever the next step is, I want to take it. She did too, and so that began a long distance relationship that involved a lot of cell-phone minutes and frequent-flier miles.

Malisa is wonderful. She loves the Lord. From that love flows deep care for other people. She loves sharing the gospel with women on campus; she has incredible gifts of leadership; she's tender, funny, compassionate, and loving. Of course, she's stunningly beautiful too! She laughs at my jokes, challenges me with the truth of Gods word, and makes me want to be a better man.

From Malisa

When I went to Boston last summer to speak to the students of the Boston Summer Project about evangelism, I had no idea that God had a great story that he was about to unfold in my life.

I met Brian Ellis while I was in Boston. Brian is also on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and so we saw each other again six weeks later at our National Staff Conference in Colorado. Brian asked me if I wanted to go hiking with his staff team on our day off. I said, Yes, but asked if I could bring a friend.

The next morning my best friend Tammy and I headed across the parking lot to meet up for a day of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. We all had a great time. On the car ride back into town Brian and I were laughing so hard that our faces hurt. A few more dates and I could see that this man first and foremost loved Jesus and lived a life that honored him. Secondly, his heart for ministry to college students was so similar to my passion and heart I could hardly believe it. Finally, I was so impressed with how easy and fun it was to spend time with him.

Fast-forward several months. I spent Thanksgiving in Boston meeting Brian's parents, Brian spent Christmas in Washington D.C. meeting my parents and that brings us up to April where Brian was visiting me in Seattle. That's when he asked me to marry him. I said yes.