Melinda's hometown is Kendallville, Indiana, 29 miles north of Fort Wayne.  She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana and her Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana.  She graduated seminary in December 2007 and was ordained January 20, 2008 at the Hazelwood Christian Church in Muncie, Indiana. 

      Churches that she has served include Hazelwood Christian Church; Speedway Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN; and Hobbs Christian Church, Hobbs, IN as their sole pastor during her last 2 years at seminary. 

      During her seminary she served the Community North Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, in the role of Clinical Pastoral Education, ministering to the ill and their families.  Her time at CTS landed her in the job of Assistant at the Congregational Resource Center giving her in-depth familiarity of the great many curriculums that are available for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Bible Studies. 

      Currently, Melinda is involved in many ministries at First Christian.  She is deeply involved in the Christian Education programs at the church, such as overseeing the Sunday School program and the Youth Groups, and she participates regularly in leading worship services.  These duties were the result of becoming the "First" Associate Minister at First Christian Church in May 2008.

      Melinda lives in Bardstown. She is engaged to Michael Petek, a high school and middle school director in Jessamine County, Kentucky.