ourstory

I'm originally from Kansas, but lived in Wales for 7 years while growing up because my parents, J.A. and Pam Richards, are missionaries there. I came to Springfield, Missouri in 1996 to attend Baptist Bible College, where I graduated in May of 2000. I met Sarah while doing a youth internship at her church in Des Moines in the summer of 1999. That summer we found that we had a lot in common, especially in the area of music, and became good friends. God led Sarah to Bolivar, Missouri that fall to attend Southwest Baptist University, and we started dating soon after. One year later, almost to the day, I asked Sarah to be my wife, and she said yes (the details of how I proposed are found below). I am so thankful for the gift that God has given me and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life growing to love her more each day. I love you Sarah Jayne.

I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. My parents, Tom and Nelva Hagman, and I started attending Capitol City Baptist Church when I was a sophomore in high school. I graduated in May of 1999, and met Jason the following summer when he did his internship with the youth group there. We became good friends as we prepared to lead worship at summer camp. Jason led our worship band and helped me a lot with the piano parts for the songs. Three days before he left Capitol City, Jason surprised me with a goodbye gift of a collectors' edition Barbie doll (I collect them)--but was it really a goodbye gift?! Well, it was a very sad day when Jason departed from Des Moines to return to BBC for his senior year. Fortunately, God had already led me to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, to study music. Living only about 45 minutes from each other, Jason and I quickly became a couple. And the rest is history. I thank God every day for the wonderful gift He has given me in Jason. You mean the world to me, Babe. I love you.

Sarah and I picked out the ring together, but she didn't know that I had bought it. In fact, we were still looking at other rings after I had already purchased the one I thought she liked the best. I kept thinking, "Please don't find another one you like better." I planned a big weekend for our one year of dating 'anniversary' and Sarah thought that anything special I had planned was because of that. Saturday we went to Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun in Kansas City and then drove down to stay with my grandparents in Southeast Kansas. Sunday we spent with relatives (one of Sarah's cousins and his family live only 6 miles from my granparents). Monday we drove back to Missouri and went to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, after a brief stop in Bolivar where I secretly loaded up the trunk with the picnic basket and my guitar. After our little picnic we toured the castle ruins and walked all around the park. Later that afternoon we sat down on a blanket underneath a tree and I pulled out the guitar I had bought 3 weeks earlier. I sang Sarah a song that I had wrote for her called "Just Look in My Eyes." The last few lines go like this: "So what else could I say, to let you know just how I feel? I've tried so hard just to help you see.....But there is one more thing, that I could say to you: Sarah, will you marry me?" With both of us crying and me shaking like a leaf, I slid the ring on her finger (it never looks more beautiful than it does on her hand). Well, that's the story of us. But do you want to know what the most exciting thing is? That's just the beginning...

After months of prayer Sarah and I have accepted the position as Youth Pastor at Capitol City Baptist Church. We just recently moved to Des Moines and are trying to get settled in. After the summer Sarah will be transferring to Iowa State University where she will continue working towards her music degree. We are excited about the opportunity of ministering at Capitol City and know that God will use us as we seek to honor Him in all we do. Please pray for us as we finalize wedding plans and search for a place to live here in Iowa.