Where Are They Now: GA Melanie Dearing

Forming the backbone of the eastern United States, the Appalachian Mountains stretch from the southern part of New York to northern Georgia and Alabama. The rich heritage and natural beauty of this region belies the hardships many of its residents’ experience, like poverty, drug abuse, and the lack of employment opportunities. While 89% claim to believe in God, 91% are unchurched. Hope is in short supply.

This is where former Girls in Action (GA) member Melanie Dearing has found her home and her ministry. She currently works part-time as a Send Relief Missions Coordinator with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and she also serves her local community through her church, which is a church plant. She said she has done ministry alongside her husband for almost 28 years, from Kentucky to Indiana to Haiti and back to Kentucky again. Together they have raised four children.

But for Melanie, it all began in GA. “The thrill of serving others through missions had my attention as a child even,” she recalls.

She says that one missions project, in particular, has become one of her favorite GA memories.

“My GA leader took us to visit an elderly couple that was lost. We made crafts for them, sang to them, recited Scripture, and they came to the saving knowledge of Christ because little girls would come visit them. I didn’t understand the impact then, but I absolutely do now.”

Forty years later, she says, “I still think of Mr. and Mrs. Coleman,” and of her leader, Ms. Lorena, “who took me to visit them and had handwritten me letters as an adult until her passing.”

Ms. Lorena was just one of the many women Melanie says poured into her life as she has grown, both physically and spiritually. “My friend bought me the first Bible I could read and understand. Women in the church walked alongside of me to grow me, disciple me, and discipline me, because I needed that, too,” she says.

“[Discipleship] has changed my life because someone did it for me. I have found that discipling others gives my life purpose and grows me too.”

She hopes children who are Christ followers, whether they are in missions discipleship or not, will understand that they are a missionary.

“At school, in dance class, on your team … you have the opportunity to tell others about Jesus,” she says. “You don’t have to wait until you are older! You can pray for the missionaries you read about and for those serving in your church and community.”

Melanie encourages leaders to learn and understand what the needs are in their community by talking with people who are engaged in ministry. “Don’t do a project and then find someone to benefit from it. Instead, find who you are serving first and go from what they request to know what you should do.”

Melanie also hopes leaders will look for opportunities to invite families to serve with their children.