About Me

Hello! I’m Malissa.

Yep, my name is spelled with an “A” and nope, I don’t have a middle name. Thanks mom and dad! I appreciate the uniqueness as an adult more than I did as a kid looking for pencils and keychains with my name on them.

I am a city girl. I’ve lived in Chicago since 2007 and I love this city more than I can express. Whenever I leave, even if it’s for an exciting trip, I feel a wave of sadness come over me and I can’t wait to see my beloved skyline again. Traveling to new places and exploring international cities is however, a most favorite hobby. It combines my love learning, fascination with geography, interest in history, and joy of meeting new people.

I grew up in Sylvania, a perfectly lovely suburb of Toledo Ohio, and graduated from Wittenberg University. From 7th grade on I planned to be a Marine Biologist - ignore the fact that I picked a college in the middle of Ohio. The Lord had other plans though, and for that I am truly grateful. My life was changed through my involvement with Cru in college and I joined the staff of the Cru Campus Ministry in 1997.

That decision took me to Detroit for the next 10 years where I learned how to adult (still learning), owned my first condo (not sure I’ll ever do that again), and fell in love with a truly great city. In 2007 I had the opportunity to move to Chicago and give leadership to our campus ministry there.

A new chapter in my life and ministry began in 2015 when the Lord moved my heart in greater ways toward the recent graduates and twenty-somethings navigating life and work in the city. After 18 years in college ministry I watched thousands of students graduate and struggle to transition into the workplace and flourish during this time in their lives. I joined the City Ministry of Cru to engage with people during this important stage of life.

Since 2017 I have partnered with my church (Holy Trinity) to give leadership to the ministry of Faith & Work Chicago. Our desire is to come alongside men and women helping them live out the fullness of the gospel in their life and work. I'm deeply convinced that the gospel transforms not only individuals but whole communities, industries, and nations in and through our everyday work. And I count it a privilege to serve men and women in Chicago as we seek to glorify Christ in every living room and board room, every classroom and courtroom and every stock room and cubical across this great city.

I finished my Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2022 and love the opportunity to learn more about our great God and His plans to redeem all of creation to Himself.

After stumbling through forty-some years, I think I’m starting to understand more of who God has made me to be - the things I love, the things I’m good at, the things I’m NOT good at, and how I might better love people and worship the Lord in my short time on this earth. This website is a space for me to explore all of those things a little more - theology, writing, traveling, books, faith, work, and this great city I call home.

I hope you’ll find something here that resonates with you too. Drop me a note, I’d love to connect!