AUTHOR BIO

Merelyn did her first term of post-secondary study at the University of Calgary, where she completed two years toward a degree in piano performance.

Her second term of post-secondary education was at Mount Royal College (now University), where she graduated with a diploma in Interior Design, receiving the MRC gold medal in her graduating year.  After  graduating, she did free-lance design work out of her home.  This afforded her the opportunity to be available for her kids during their school years while keeping her hand in design work.

She and her husband received training to teach couples how to communicate effectively and how to resolve conflict within their marriage.  Together they took these worthy tools throughout Canada and when required, they coached couples privately to equip them with tools to work through difficult issues on their own.  These were fulfilling years for her and her husband, and where Merelyn’s passion for women began to emerge.

When Focus on the Family hired her husband to work as a fundraiser, Merelyn accompanied him on his travels through the prairies and together they would encourage couples, pray with them and resource them wherever needed.  God’s leading and presence were particularly poignant during these years.

Another ministry opportunity that presented itself to Merelyn and her husband was to serve the Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada as National Supervisors.  Together they oversaw the well-being of pastors Canada-wide.  They considered it a rare privilege to undertake this ministry, to meet with local pastor couples, pray with them and for them, to care for them and to encourage them in whatever ways would be meaningful to them.

The following few years took a direction Merelyn and her husband least expected.  They were asked by the Foursquare denomination to be the lead pastors in their local church.  This season in ministry was full of contrasts.  While the weight of ministry was heavy, the privilege of watching God at work in the lives of his people was inspiring.  Navigating the challenges of ministry was intense, but God’s love proved to be powerful, and his faithfulness ever present to guide them each step of the way.  As co-pastors, they shared all aspects of ministry from planning to preaching, then after three years of serving in this way, God moved them on.  The learning gained during this time was invaluable.

This season in ministry inspired Merelyn to enter her third term of post-secondary schooling–her MDIV.  This learning experience was lifechanging.  Her appetite for learning was insatiable—particularly around the topic of women.  She graduated with an honors designation and stepped right back into church ministry, this time with a special focus on women.  The women she served were amazing.  After serving them for seven years, God called her to her next ministry challenge—to write this book.