Melissa Willis
Hello! My name is Melissa Willis and I am the founder of Women of Verve. I am a daughter of the king, wife to my handsome husband Troy, mother to my 5 amazing adult kids: Jordan, Brett, Austin, Jarissa and Collie, and now I get the joy of being MiMi to six magnificent grandchildren: Lynlee, Hunter, Calder, Charleigh, Greyson and Sonny (which will be here in just a few months)! In addition to our own children, we have also welcomed two son-in-laws and two daughter-in-laws to our fold.
Next to my love for my husband and family, my God-given passion and purpose is walking alongside women as they grow in Christ and fully step into His calling. I work full time as a professional bookkeeper and love capturing the special moments and milestones in people’s lives through professional photography. The deepest desire of my heart continues to be helping other women grow in their faith and thrive as they jump all in when working hard for the kingdom.
I’ve served in full time vocational ministry through local churches I’ve attended as a pastoral care, prayer and baptism coordinator, and it was during that season I sensed the Lord calling me to prepare to become a women’s ministry leader. In 2019, after leaving my full time job in vocational ministry, God began to breathe on my dreams of leading women’s retreats. I partnered with a friend and invited a handful of women close to me out to Mo Ranch for a weekend in June 2019. Our aim – simple – we wanted to see what God would do among us. That was our very first Verve Retreat.
The rest as they say is history! We are approaching our Fifth Annual Retreat in April 2023, host regular monthly gatherings for encouragement, fellowship and worship – just a place to connect and go deeper with God and each other – and we also host Bible study several times a year between retreats. Our team is “home grown” meaning we get to raise up leaders we’ve built relationships with through the retreats and see them launch toward their full potential in Christ. It’s been a wild and faith-building ride, and I’ve found God with me each step of the way, surrounding me with amazing leaders and women He was calling to not only partner with me in ministry, but also to surpass me in so many ways. It’s my joy to watch them fly.
At the end of the day, when it is all said and done, my greatest goal in life remains to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” when I stand before my eternal God and King.
