Melanie Little Home Church: Oakton United Methodist Church Lamar, Missouri

For as long as I could remember, I have loved the East Coast. I can remember being intrigued by New York City and loving the history of Boston. But growing up in a small Missouri town of 5,000 people was not my idea of where I wanted to be when I grew up. After graduating high school, I traveled to Lincoln, Illinois, to attend Lincoln Christian College. My first aspiration was to become a counselor, but when God changed my heart on a mission trip, I knew I was called to work with youth.

The mission trip I was a part of was new and exciting … and in New England. I was selected to go on a trip to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, to help the ministry that was already started on the small island. The main emphasis on the week was spending time with the local youth who captured my heart. They were so hungry for people who had Christ, and I loved sharing Him with them. That was when I knew God wanted me in New England. After two years of praying as to how I could get back here, God opened the door for me to do a residency after graduating from Lincoln Christian College. I jumped at the invitation, and now I am a full-time resident at Londonderry Christian Church in Londonderry, NH. I'm working in many different areas and seeing God work not only in the lives of the people out here, but in my life as well. New England is such an unreached part of the nation that is hidden well through the cover of the Catholic Church.

One thing I would like to accomplish out here as a youth minister is to show youth that Jesus loves them, and wants to have a personal relationship with them. With all that is happening in the media, and kids wanting attention in all the wrong areas through gangs, sex, alcohol, drugs and many other things, it is part of my passion to reach the lost in this area and show them the love of Jesus so they can find freedom in His grace like He has shown me.

As of now, I am working with the youth of the church to help build a stronger youth program, and also with the women's ministry and worship team. But ministry does not stop there. God has opened many doors through a part-time job I have, to tell people of the love of Christ. (It's amazing what people will ask and tell you when they find out you are in the ministry.) One thing I have learned is that ministry is not a 9-to-5 job. If we are truly living a Christian life that is Christ-centered, the ministry goes on for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although there are times when the work is tiring, and there are times when I would like to stay at home to get an extra hour of sleep instead of going to a meeting, I find that God is my strength when I am weak. Those are also the times when God shows me that the work I am a part of is making a difference to a kid in the youth group, when I overhear them telling a friend how fun Sunday School was, or they tell me that what we are learning about are the answers to some of the questions they are afraid to ask in front of their friends. God is amazing, and He is blessing my time out here. My prayer is that I have found my place in the world (until God's further leading) and that I will make a difference in God's kingdom through the work I am so blessed to be a part of.

Thank you for taking the time to read just a short tidbit about the work I am a part of here in New England. God is doing amazing things here that everyone can be a part of through prayer. Please pray that the people of this area will be open to hearing the Gospel, and that those who hear it will be willing to listen to the call. If you have any questions about this ministry, please email me! I would love to hear how God is working all over the country and the world.

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