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Melinda Priest
LEAD PASTOR
I was a junior in high school when God called me to be a minister of the Gospel. I knew that my life was to be dedicated to sharing the love of God with everyone that God placed in my sphere of influence. Our family has been privileged to serve in Chesterfield, VA, Anderson, IN, and, for the past 8.5 years, Holland, MI. We have been proud to serve in the Nazarene and Wesleyan denominations, which are theological “sisters.” In 2016, I graduated from Wesley Seminary with an MDIV and a specialty in Multiplication. This is an emphasis on multiplying leaders, church plants, etc. While attending seminary, I visited many church plants and heard stories from many planters. As I listened to these different leaders, I started to ask myself: “What kind of risk am I willing to take with Him?” I remember the Lord saying to me, “Why not you, Melinda?” I did not know what that meant at the time, but I sensed God was calling me to something more. MEET THE PRIEST FAMILY ABOUT AWAKEN CITY
Priest Family
LEADERSHIP
Who knew that a boy from Richmond, VA and a girl from Bourbonnais, IL would meet on a blind date in Boston! While attending Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA, Melinda’s older sister heard Jason sing in a chapel service and told her mom she had just heard Melinda’s future husband sing. While visiting her sister for a weekend, she set the couple up on a blind date and the rest is history.

A few years after Jason graduated, Melinda graduated from Olivet Nazarene University. Melinda and Jason were married soon after and have been happily married for twenty-three years. The couple has lived and ministered in Richmond, VA, Anderson, IN , and Holland, MI. Jason worked for twenty years as a computer technician, and has served as a worship leader and small group leader. Melinda has been a music teacher, song writer, conference speaker/teacher, and a worship and care pastor. She is also an ordained Wesleyan pastor and has a Master of Divinity from Wesley Seminary with a specialty in Multiplication.

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