Rev. Melissa Ebken - Reverend, Author, Coach

Send us Fan MailMelissa shares her journey from being the first female utility helicopter pilot mechanic to what's lead her to lead multiple small-town congregations in rural Illinois. Jason and Melissa talk about what makes someone a hero and Melissa shares her superpower of being with people in their darkest times."Don't wait until it's perfect, just take the next step."Melissa was called into ministry, much to her surprise, after becoming a biologist and serving for ten years in the IL Army National Guard as a utility helicopter mechanic, the first woman to do so. Having lived in the Midwest, Melissa has a deep appreciation for farmers and the lessons of the Gospel dramatized by the sowing, tending, and harvesting year after year. “God’s glory and God’s story are all around us if we take the time to see. Lessons of life and death, struggle and celebration, heartbreak and harvest - life always wins.” Melissa’s passion in ministry is to live and worship alongside the people who live and work in rural communities. She has served the Illiopolis Christian Church (DOC) since July 2, 2001. On January 1, 2012 Melissa began serving both Illiopolis and Niantic Christian Churches (DOC) and continues in ministry there today. Melissa is at home in the difficult spaces of peoples’ lives, willing to listen and to walk with those who struggle and suffer. She is a trained coach and has consulted with churches in conflict. Not your stereotypical minister, Melissa embraces the Gospel with joy and laughter as she seeks to help those around her grow in faith and understanding, always striving to leave people better than they came. An agent of wholeness, Melissa works to invite others into a space where they can understand how ridiculously loved and valued they are by the Holy.https://www.lightlifeandloveministries.comhttps://www.facebook.com/lightlifeandloveministrieshttps://www.instagram.com/me_lightlifeandlove/https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-ebken-37792a17a/https://www.facebook.com/ICCdochttps://www.facebook.com/NianticCCTwitter @CoachingSolidEnjoying the podcast? Please tell your friends, give us a shoutout and a follow on social media, and take a moment to leave us a review at https://lovethepodcast.com/talkingtocoolpeople.Find the show at all of the cool spots below.WebsiteFacebookInstagramIf something from this or any episode has sparked your interest and you’d like to connect about it, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from our listeners!If you are interested in being a guest on the show, please visit jasonfrazell.com/podcast and click on the “Learn More” button at the bottom of the page.Free ResourceGet better-quality, faster results from your teams with these coaching methodologies here.Connect with Jason If you enjoyed listening, then please take a second to rate the show on iTunes. Every podcaster will tell you that iTunes reviews drive listeners to our shows, so please let me know what you think and make sure you subscribe using your favorite podcast player. It means a lot to me and the guests.https://www.jasonfrazell.comhttps://www.jasonfrazell.com/podcastshttps://www.instagram.com/jasontfrazellhttps://www.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfrazell/