Melinda’s passion for empowering young leaders, love for teaching, and delight in discovering innovative ministry solutions has shaped her journey serving children and families in multiple contexts. After eight years as a public school teacher, she served as the children’s and family pastor for a large church in Beaverton, Oregon, where she loved developing staff and volunteer teams, as well as empowering parents as primary faith influencers. While serving in Beaverton, she was blessed to lead multiple mission teams to India and Nepal to train school teachers and ministry leaders.

In 2018, she and her hubby moved to the incredible outdoor adventure haven of Boise, Idaho, where she helped a mid-sized church reinvigorate its children’s and family ministry and navigate the challenges of ministering during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reflecting her passion for teaching and strategic innovation, she holds a B.S. in Elementary Ed. from the University of Oregon (go Ducks!), and a 2016 MS in Strategic Leadership from LIfe Pacific University. When she’s not encouraging ministry leaders, she’s likely hiking, paddling a kayak on a nearby lake, or enjoying biking of all sorts with her hubby in Idaho’s amazing outdoors.