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. 

     She is engaged to be married to Michael Petek in May 2009 and she hopes to be moved to Bardstown by the first of May 2008.