Making the pitch
CHARLOTTE — The air was electric in a back room at Brewers at 4001 Yancey on Aug. 13 as people laughed and cheered in response to an onstage sales pitch that was entirely different from the expected.
The “most compelling investment opportunity in Charlotte” wasn’t the latest stock offering, but a single man who works in the financial industry.
He and other single young adult Catholics were the ones being pitched at “SacredSpark Live: Pitch a Catholic Single,” a singles event hosted by the SacredSpark online dating platform.
Friends and family members delivered presentations to introduce local Catholic singles to a larger audience.
It was the live version of the unique approach taken by SacredSpark, a Catholic dating app launched in 2025 that allows singles to bring their own wingman or wingwoman into the online dating world. (Borrowed from aviation and made famous in the movie “Top Gun,” the term applies to a trusted person who helps an individual meet a prospective romantic partner.)
SacredSpark is the brainchild of Catholic influencer Emily Wilson-Hussem and her husband, Daniel Hussem. The app’s unique approach came from a series of wildly successful matchmaking posts Emily made on her popular Instagram page that eventually led to 12 marriages and 20 engagements. That success led the couple to think that the format could help Catholic young adults feeling lost in the dating world.
Enter SacredSpark, which instead of the well known “look and swipe” format of most online dating sites offers the chance for others to get involved and “pitch” their single friends and relatives.
“We wanted to bring back the personal and human approach to dating,” Daniel said. “When you look at a traditional dating app, it’s very superficial, like another form of digital consumption. SacredSpark brings back the tradition of matchmaking and invites the community back into the dating space. Singles are often left to their own devices, and this allows others to help people connect.”
The Charlotte event drew 225 people and was the first of what the organizers hope will be a national series of live events to help Catholic singles meet in person, away from screens. Attendees didn’t have to commit to getting onstage to meet potential dates. The evening also featured two “meet-and-mingle” sessions so that everyone had a chance to interact with new people.
There were 22 pitches, which included three-minute standard pitches and several one-minute “lightning” sessions. Wingmen and women came prepared with presentations that included photos, bios and lists of “green flags” that made the person a good catch.
The singles, who ranged in age from early 20s to early 40s walked up a glittery runner and took the stage to personally chosen walk-up music that ranged from instrumentals to country music. Then their wingpeople launched their pitches.
Every pitch had an angle, whether themed after the person’s career, personality or a special interest. Tongue-in-cheek humor ran throughout. One wingman asked the audience to note that his friend “doesn’t skip leg day” at the gym.
Some people came with incentives. One wingwoman prepared a “date basket” similar to a picnic basket for her friend and any prospective date to enjoy. A woman whose baking skills were highlighted brought a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies.
One man who pitched his twin brother got a quick two-for-one angle in during the pitch – also single, he flashed his own vital statistics on the screen.
All of the pitches highlighted the person’s faith and desire for a Christ-filled relationship.
Some wingmen and wingwomen battled their own nerves.
“I was terrified, but I transfer fear energy,” said John Yancey, who pitched his friend Kyle Herold, whom he met through a local Bible study. “When I found out he was going to take part in this, I said I would love to help out a buddy. I think he’s a great catch for somebody. I’d love for him to meet someone through this and end up getting married, but also it’s worth it if he just meets some interesting people.”
Shanley Howrigan, 31, a business developer who attends St. Gabriel Church, took part because she wanted to try something new.
“It was nervewracking for sure to get up there, but once I was onstage I felt fine – I felt I had nothing to lose,” she said. “This is definitely a new way of doing dating, a way to get below the surface level.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
More online
At www.sacredspark.app: Lean more about the app