It is with great joy to greet you for the first time as your Lead Pastor. MFMC has been an inextricable part of my calling to pastoral ministry. I plan to share more of God’s faithfulness and redemptive work in my life and in this church during our 50th Celebration Sunday on August 12. I hope you, too, will share on that exciting day! We’ll open the mic or you can simply fill out the insert in this Info Packet before the end of July.
The past few weeks have been quite momentous for me, and you all have been the most supportive and celebratory church family ever! On May 12th I graduated with my Master’s in Spiritual Formation and Leadership from SAU. (I have 4 weeks left of my final class!) On May 24th, Kevin and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. On June 14th, I was ordained as an Elder (Minister) in the Free Methodist Church. And on June 17th, I gave birth to our second daughter, Junia Elizabeth. (Her name comes from Romans 16:7. Paul writes, “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” Elizabeth means “consecrated to God.”)
Never in a million years would would have dreamed up this life for myself and yet now that I’m living it, I feel more fully alive than I knew possible. God truly has plans beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). Monroe has become our home. Living in the parsonage has become a way to live life in community with others. Leading this church is my heartbeat. And you all are “my people.” ♥
I am thankful for a God who is relentless in mercy and steadfast in faithfulness to see me to this place. I am thankful for a husband who endlessly empowers me and advocates for me, even to myself sometimes. I am thankful for a church family who supports me so thoroughly and follows through the fumbles and foibles. I am thankful for a degree that has completely changed my life and ministry and worldview. I am thankful for our FM denomination and conference leaders who see fit to ordain women and to appoint me to senior leadership. May the Spirit of God be my steadfast guide.
In the coming weeks and months I ask for your grace and your prayers. I believe this leadership transition will be smooth for God has brought it beautifully to this place. I ask each of you to lead one another, to pray for one another and visit each other, and to take this summer of Ordinary Time to be slow and intentional to connect with God and with each other. That’s what I’ll be doing too.
-Pastor Melanie
