Now Melanie is to face a new challenge as she takes on the job of leading the Crosslinks Ireland Mission Team. Dublin-born Melanie says: "My passion is world mission, especially teaching the Bible in overseas countries. Whether we are sending doctors or nurses or engineers, they also need to have the ability to teach the Bible and teach others to teach the Bible well."

Strength

Building on the strength of Crosslinks' youth work in Ireland, she will have oversight of two youth workers and an extensive involvement in parishes and supporters' groups, with the aim of promoting involvement in world mission through Crosslinks. She adds: "My new job is exciting me beyond belief. Ultimately, the gospel is the motivating factor, and encouraging young people to come to know the Lord, and youth workers to enable that to happen."

With an MA in pastoral theology and leadership, Melanie is an ordained deacon and has been serving as a curate in Bangor, Northern Ireland. The Holy Spirit has equipped her with several gifts which should stand her in good stead, particularly in regard to youth ministry; where it can help to be a performer.

She has a classically trained singing voice and has taught drama and dance. Indeed, she has been the director of the Dun Laoghaire Music and Dramatic Society, and has produced several musicals. She also administers Soul Truth, a youth Bible-teaching ministry.

Warm

On top of this, Melanie has a warm and outgoing personality, a good sense of humour and is self-motivated. But it is not only the young she has a ministry towards; for a large part of her MA course was concerned with bereavement and family counselling.

Her strengths include clear thinking and inspired preaching and teaching. She is regularly invited to other churches to preach; and has been a public speaker from an early age through involvement in the model United Nations movement.

This same concern for world peace led her to take part in a study trip to Israel; where she looked at relationships between Israelis and Palestinians, and between Christians and Jews. She explains: "In my limited experience of conflict, I have sought to bring about a peaceful solution to difficult situations through respecting everyone and listening carefully to and mediating between the parties involved."

Evangelical

Mission interest in Northern Ireland has encouraged Melanie: "Evangelical parishes are definitely interested; but there still needs to be some development in giving, and taking responsibility as parishes to nurture, encourage and support missions. I would like to see part of my role as enabling people to take responsibility as world Christians." And how? "Through preaching the word, because it's in the Bible."

Strategic

She believes youth work and training for Bible study will be strategic ways into working in the Republic of Ireland. She says: "Where there is a need, we can seek to meet it. Then we can introduce ourselves. There is a desperate need for the gospel there. People are drifting away. Men who should be teaching The Bible are drifting further and further away. It is heartbreaking."

She sees her main weakness as a tendency to overwork to her own detriment, and would value prayer for this.

Let's give the last word to Melanie: "The children's work has flourished and developed greatly during my time in the parish. I have enjoyed providing pastoral care to all parishioners, but have been particularly blessed to have a significant ministry among the female members of the congregation.
"My greatest satisfaction is seeing many of our children, teenagers and adults come to know Jesus as their Saviour and witnessing the development of individual relationships with God through the teaching of His word." 

Crosslinks magazine November 2002 index