Staff Bio

Melody Virchow
Executive Assistant

(763) 427-4543 Ext: 102

Your Home Town?
I was born at Mt. Sinai hospital in Minneapolis, MN but for the most part was raised in Coon Rapids, MN graduating from “Cardinal Country”, Coon Rapids High School. I am also very sentimentally attached to my grandmother’s home town of Wegdahl, MN a few miles down a country gravel road from Montevideo, MN. This is where I spent many, many summers growing up and this continues to be a very special place for me, a place I also call home.

Your Birthday?
July 31

Family Information:
I am celebrating 26 wonderful years of marriage this year. My husband Roger and I met when I was “sweet sixteen” and have been together ever since. We have been blessed with four wonderful sons, Robert, Daniel, Matthew, and Lucas. As of last year our family has grown, with Robert marrying Carolyn Hanmer, and Daniel marrying his high school sweetheart Danielle Peterson, we now have two lovely daughters in our family. We also have a one year old German Shepherd named Maiah, and a five year old cat named Buggy.

What was your first car?
I bought my first car from my older brother when I was 18. It was a sharp black 76 Dodge Charger with velvet power seats and windows. It was considered rather luxurious for a young driver at the time. I remember getting a loan for $1700 to make the purchase. That is hard to comprehend these days for a car that was only four years old.

Do you prefer skim or 2% milk?
My preference is always skim.

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
Curl up and read a good book, or snuggle up with my honey in front of the fireplace! If it is warm enough, go out and walk in the rain and look up toward the sky with eyes closed and feel the drops touching my face. It’s like receiving kisses from heaven.

What are your favorite bands?
My father has made entertainment his life long career so I grew up exposed to Country, Folk, and Rock-A-Billy music so I would have to say I am very partial to Sherwin Linton and the Cotton Kings. I enjoy quite a variety of music but tend to enjoy groups of harmony like the Statler Brother’s, and the Christian duo Sierra, among many other Christian artists like Michael W. Smith. At times I prefer to listen to jazz or orchestra music, or pop music from the 70’s and 80’s, depending on my mood.

What are some of your hobbies?
I love to be outside and watch the birds, and work in the garden. Working the soil, weeding, and planting is very therapeutic and it is then that I have my most intimate times with the Lord. I enjoy any opportunity to use my creativity in making things, whether I am baking, gardening, painting, or creating something on the computer. I also enjoy playing with our German Shepherd pup.

Did you have a nickname in elementary school? How did that come about?
With a name like Melody that never really happened. More often I was called Melanie by mistake.

Do you prefer tea or coffee or Mountain Dew?
Of the three choices I would have to definitely say coffee. I am not a tea drinker, and Mountain Dew would be the absolute worst soda choice available in my opinion. A root beer is good every once in awhile, but I am not a soda person at all.

What is your favorite time of day?
I would have to say evening. Since the children are all older and we aren’t constantly running to ball games, or performances and meetings several nights a week, I can devote my evenings to Roger and sit on the swing and watch the sun go down. It is a peaceful time in our lives and we actually do this often.

If you were not in ministry, what would you be doing right now?
This is a good question! I probably should have been a nurse as my grandma always thought since I am a rather gentle and quiet spirited person and always have a great concern for others.

It is my hope that Roger and I can one day work together again as we did in the past for several years. We are extremely compatible and bring out the best in each other. We are hoping, praying and dreaming this will happen again for us in the future if it is God’s will. Someday we would like to run our own B & B. (Bed & Breakfast)

Your favorite spot in the Twin Cities area?
My favorite spot is right at HOME. That probably is not the answer you wanted to hear but there simply is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Okay, if I have to pick something I would say Ticknor Hill, a wonderful Bed and Breakfast just off the river in Anoka, MN. This is a very special place for Roger and I.

What is your favorite vegetable?
I haven’t really thought about having a favorite vegetable before. I would probably have to say it is the potato. I love potatoes no matter how you make them. A favorite fruit would definitely be strawberries.

How did you come to know Christ?
I was raised in a Christian home and church was always a priority in my life, my parents significantly influencing me and setting the foundation of my spiritual walk. However, I did not come to an understanding of having a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ until I was 32 years old. Having received Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, and making Him Lord of my life at a Women’s Conference at Camp Shamineau, MN on September 9, 1994. It was on this day that I received the peace that passes all understanding with the confirming knowledge that I would spend eternity in heaven.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
There are so many Bible verses that are meaningful to me personally. To pick a favorite is difficult because they are forever changing. As God speaks to me through different scriptures, through different circumstances or times in my life, the verses change. This is how God grows our relationship with Him. I love the poetry of the Psalms, and I pursue living rightly by receiving wisdom, fearing the Lord through the Book of Proverbs. I love the Psalm from Chapter 25 verse 10 as worded from the Living Bible where the text says: When we obey him, every path He guides us on is fragrant with His loving kindness and His truth. I think of experiencing His fragrance and what an amazing thing it is to carry that with me by trusting and honoring the Lord and following His guidance and being obedient to His word.

Another special verse my husband and I share together that had been our focus through a very challenging time in our life is found in Proverbs Chapter 3 Verse 5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

Anything else that people should know about you?
I love people and I love my church family! I am extremely and truly blessed and right where God wants me to be.

On a different note: I hate wearing shoes and love to go barefoot whenever possible.