This is part of our ongoing series introducing the leaders, teachers, and staff who make St. Paul a special place.

Melinda Price serves as treasurer on St. Paul’s Mission and Ministry Board, bringing decades of business acumen and a heart for faithful stewardship to one of the church’s most critical leadership roles.

Born and raised in Merced County, Melinda comes from a farming family that grew peaches and almonds. Like most children in the area, she and her siblings worked on the family farm. She even learned to drive on a tractor! This agricultural upbringing instilled in her a strong work ethic and an enduring love for working the land.

Today, Melinda and her husband, Jerry, have built a beautiful legacy together over their decades of marriage: six children, 17 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren who bring joy to their lives.

For 33 years, Melinda has worked as a Realtor^®, a profession she deeply loves and credits for bringing her to St. Paul. Pastor Lange reached out to Melinda when he moved to Merced and sought to buy a home. Though the Prices didn’t attend church at the time, they were immediately drawn to Pastor Lange and his family.

“His light was shining!” Melinda recalls. “We had been talking about finding a church and asked if we could visit St. Paul. We showed up the following Sunday…and have very rarely missed attending a service in all these years.”

As board treasurer, Melinda has embraced a steep learning curve with characteristic humility. “I am extremely uncomfortable discussing church finances!” she admits with a laugh. “That is probably a significant weakness for a treasurer!”

Yet her discomfort hasn’t diminished her commitment. “While it has been a huge learning curve for me, I enjoy being part of a team that cares very deeply for God’s church,” she says. “I feel blessed to serve with the other Board members who are so selfless and dedicated to St. Paul’s.”

What she values most is the relationships she’s built. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone on the Board and all the leadership team better. They are an amazing group of servants.”

Melinda finds particular comfort in Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse has carried her through difficult times.

“We may not realize it at the time we are suffering…but he always has a good purpose,” she explains. “I know when I am struggling that ultimately, there will be good to come from it in some way. I cling to that understanding in faith…or do the best I can at the time.”

When not serving the church or working with clients, Melinda indulges her passions for reading and gardening. She loves historical fiction and classic literature, but her greatest joy comes from working outside. She and Jerry maintain their full acre of property themselves, and Melinda always keeps a huge vegetable garden. “I am happiest when I have my hands in dirt…that is the farmer in me.”

In years past, Melinda was quite an athlete. She and Jerry used to ride hundreds of miles a week on their bicycles, often completing 100-mile century rides in a single day. “Oh, those were the days!” she laughs.

When asked about St. Paul’s greatest strengths, Melinda doesn’t hesitate: “Our love for each other! We have so many veteran Christian examples at our church who can share their wisdom and faith with young people and are willing to do so. And the children are our harvest field and future.”

She gives thanks for parents who appreciate the value of what the school offers and are willing to invest in their children’s spiritual education.

Melinda’s Favorite St. Paul Traditions

“Lent and Advent services are very special for me.  A favorite memory was when we had a traditional Seder supper service for Maundy Thursday one year. It was such a special evening with the traditional prayers, the ceremonial handwashing, the scripture with every traditional element of the meal — and such a humble observance when the Pastor washed the feet of the elders. It was very moving and meaningful, and a blessing shared with my St. Paul brothers and sisters that I will never forget.”

Melinda’s Prayer Request

“Pray that I grow a stronger faith, that God will provide for our financial and material needs at the church and school, and that our Board makes wise stewardship decisions for the church and school.”

St. Paul School and Preschool is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA). For more information about our Christ-centered education, contact the school office at 209-383-3302.