Religion

The Trinity United Methodist Men’s Group is sponsoring an evening with Melissa Gaona of Ignition Ministries Friday, May 5, in the church fellowship hall.

Gaona, who is well-known in this area of the state as an afternoon news anchor on WDBJ-7, will share the story of her faith and how God had been at work in her life.

She grew up in Texas around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a rough home life, she found herself exposed to drugs, alcohol, violence and no respect for authority. Counselors told her she would never amount to anything. She managed to barely graduate high school but had no plan and no money for college. Then she found God and her life was forever changed.

While juggling a career in television, home life and ministry, Gaona also works part-time for the nonprofit The Lampstand, Virginia’s only safe home dedicated to serving girls who have experienced exploitation and trafficking.

Her talk is preceded by a spaghetti dinner in the fellowship hall at 6 p.m. The talk will begin at 7. The dinner and presentation are both offered free of charge, but donations will be accepted for ignition ministries and Lampstand Safehome.