"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Melissa, her husband Mitch and their family began attending Hope in 2003.The first time they attended a service they knew Hope was their church.  Melissa notes, “We were traveling 45 minutes one-way to get to Hope and it was absolutely worth the effort.  We felt God’s spirit and His love – even though we really didn’t know that’s what they were! As we have grown and gotten to know God more, his love, delight in us and His faithfulness has expanded our understanding of His heart for each of us!”

Melissa joined the Adult Ministry team after several years of volunteering in Alpha, Women’s and Prayer Ministry. “As a volunteer, I wanted to serve wherever I felt God leading me.  Once we decided to move closer to Hope, we were able to connect and grow in even greater ways.  Centering our lives on Jesus and being involved at Hope have been life-giving gifts to our family. I am so thankful to those who ‘happened’ to invite us to Hope. Now I get to see God moving mightily.  Being on the front lines of where God is moving is like no other place.”  

Melissa has a background in the visual arts, training, coaching and sales. Besides growing up in Iowa, she and Mitch have also lived in Chicago and Montana.  When Melissa isn’t painting, reading or teaching you can find her gardening.