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My name is Melissa Berkebile
and this is my story...
The first time I heard the idea of accepting Jesus Christ into my life was in 1979. My Aunt wrote the date in my very first Children's Bible that I still have today. Even though I was only six years old at the time, I did have a six year old's understanding of what my Aunt was explaining to me. I don't remember talking much about having a "relationship" with God, but I do remember memorizing prayers, the apostles, holy days, and mostly fearing God. I liked the idea of God in my life, and relying on Him, because things at home were difficult and it was a good idea having someone to rely on. As a teenager, my parents divorced and I became distracted by other things in my life. Unfortunately, I felt distant from God and I suppose I gave up on Him.
Things improved as I got older. I married my best friend and the most wonderful man in the world, Tom. We moved to Chicago, had great jobs and good friends. I grew closer to my parents and the two of them became friends. Though things were going well, I felt I was always searching for something. I suffered from depression from time to time and often felt empty. Tom felt that way too. There in Chicago, we began to look for a church home and hoped to find God again. Our search basically fizzled. Soon after, we decided it was time to return to Pittsburgh. We missed our parents and were thinking of starting our own family.
Before moving back, we visited our parents during the Christmas season of the year 2000. My mom invited us to the Christmas Eve Service here at Orchard Hill. I was so touched by the music and the pastors words, I found myself crying during the service. I had this hole in my heart and recognized it was the lack of God in my life. I felt as though the pastor was speaking directly to me when he described people feeling sad and lonely during the holiday season and how that could be changed by talking to God and entering into a "relationship" with Jesus Christ. I realized it wasn't about religion or traditions, but about a relationship with a living God. Over the next year, my mom sent tapes of the services to us in Chicago. I was learning about a very different God than what I had previously thought. This God was approachable, not someone to be feared, and I learned from Dr. Terry Thomas that God had a sense of humor! Those tapes made my commute to and from work not only bearable, but almost enjoyable…almost.
We began attending Orchard Hill after moving to Pittsburgh in October of 2001. The following month, our beautiful daughter Emily was born. I was so thankful for the wonderful people upstairs who took such great care of Emily while we enjoyed services as new members. I've been amazed how Orchard Hill focuses on children and teaching them how much they matter to God. I love to sit behind all the students here on Wednesday nights and watch them participate in the service. It's exciting to have my daughter grow up in this biblical community knowing she can count on God in a way I didn't as a child. I began serving in KidsQuest last year and tonight is my first night singing with the music team. I feel welcome, privileged to serve, and reconnected with God. Though I sometimes feel inadequate, and not quite a model, I'm grateful for God's work in my life. I feel I'm finally able to hand my problems and control of my life completely over to God. I still doubt myself at moments and question if I'm doing a good job as a mom, a wife, and a Christian - but I take great comfort in knowing I can talk to God and He'll always be there to help me through everything that crosses my path. My name is Melissa Berkebile…and this is my story.
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