In high school, Melissa went on her first mission trip, where she was deeply moved by James 1:27: “true religion is to care for orphans and widows in their distress.” This verse shaped her lifelong heart for service, expressed both locally—through volunteering in an elderly care facility—and internationally in Ukraine, Russia, and Mexico. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, Melissa lived out this calling by serving in a foster care and adoption ministry in Tucson, Arizona her hometown.

In 2018, her family moved to Rockwall, Texas, where she began working in Dallas as an Event Specialist with experience in weddings, conferences, and large-scale events. Yet her deepest joy has been discipling women and couples through a 12-step ministry called ReGeneration, where she serves alongside her husband.

At CRI, Melissa brings both her experience and her heart for people to help advance the mission of bringing the light of Christ to the world’s poorest places. She is married to Peter, and they have two children—Eva, in high school, and Isaiah, who is attending college overseas.

Contact:

Melissa@childrensrelief.org

(800) 570-2217