Melanie Wright (in Pink) with Christie Hernanadez, Sugey Garcia Hernandez and Catalina Lopez at the recent Hannah House annual fundraiser.

Melanie passionately empowers women and their families everyday.

“I tell people, I plan…I am actually an OCD planner, but LIFE happens, and we roll with whatever comes our way throughout the day. Each day is truly a beautiful gift and so unpredictable, but my family feels loved and stable. We rest in that.”

Melanie Wright – Executive Director Hannah House Ministries

By Joycelyne Fadojutimi

Melanie Wright was a June bride. She and beloved husband Alan tied the knot in 1995, and their love is as strong now as when they met in Abilene in 1994. The couple have four sons, two daughters and three granddaughters. Theirs was a Texas romance for the ages. She was attending Abilene Christian University, and he was working on a cutting horse ranch when their paths crossed for love and eternity. Their faith is the bond that binds them together…along with love.

“We met August 24, engaged on November 24, and married June 24 – ten months from the day we met,” she says. “After Jesus, Alan is my whole world, the air I breathe and my absolute favorite cowboy in the entire universe.”

She credits her mother and her grandmother “Mimi” for preparing her for a fulfilling, content life. Mimi was one who accomplished all her wifely duties while still finding time for typical Texas hospitality. She would serve in whatever capacity was needed, donating time, toil and money to whatever and for whoever needed it. The spiritual example she set inspires Melanie to this day.

“Each morning you could find Mimi on her couch with her Bible, her prayer notebook and cup of coffee,” she says. “I still have her prayer journals that I reflect on often.”

Her grandfather, “Poppy” was another beautiful person. A physician, he practiced in Austin, tending to a multitude. He never worried about whether or not his patients could afford to pay him. After he finished treating their daily litany of ailments, he would go home to his loved ones, tend to his livestock, and spend as much time as he could with his adored granddaughter, whose mother was yet another inspiration.

“My mom was a hard worker, always had energy and took us to church,” she says. “The church where I grew up, Northside Church of Christ in Austin, still holds so many beautiful memories for me.”

She and Alan stress to their many children and grandchildren the imponderable importance of God’s Word, encouraging their youngsters to dig deep in the search for spiritual truth. She long ago realized that with this, there is little need for letters before and after someone’s name. Her goals did not require higher education. She realized this after three years at Abilene Christian University.

“I remember vividly walking across campus one day when it hit me, ‘I just wanna be a wife and a mom, so why am I in college? So, I quit, got a job, got married and never looked back. The greatest titles for me are, ‘homemaker and momma.'”

But wait, that is not all.

These may be her main titles, but they are not the only ones. She is executive director of Hannah House Ministries. Prior to Hannah House, Ms. Wright worked for Alpine Christian Academy, AG Edwards Brokerage Firm, American State Bank, Talbots, Harold’s Clothing, and Jardine Foods. She held down all these positions before her eldest child turned six. At that point she realized ALL she wanted was to stay home, raise and nurture her family. What she has not turned away from is Hannah House. She, Alan, and their children have lived and worked there for eight years.

“The Good Lord led us here,” she says. “I have a passion to help women and children, and I guess He knew this is where we needed to be.”

Hannah House is a faith-based initiative concentrating on protecting life from the perils certain circumstances can have on women and young children. Its motto is, “Change the life of a mother and save the life of a child.” Women who avail themselves of this resource are provided with and taught how to identify and pursue the best possible courses of action for themselves and their little ones. The emphasis is empowering soon-to-be mothers (most of whom are pursuing adoption) to navigate the intimidating, complicated difficulties of unplanned pregnancies. Although she has never personally been down this path, Melanie follows it out of sheer compassion.

“Mother Teresa was one of my heroes, and I have always looked up to her,” she says. “As an adopted mom of two [children] I have empathy and compassion for both my children’s birth mothers.”

She tries to walk in the shoes of mothers who give up their babies for adoption, imagining what they must have endured before making their decision. She concentrates on helping just one lady at a time rather than “cattle herding” clients through processes. In this way she can assist from start to finish, helping them as well as the children, seeing them as a precious gift to be protected at all costs.

Volunteering has long been her passion – helping so many others while Alan fills the traditional role of provider, and she is loving it. As her children grew, she branched out in her selfless community service, giving time and efforts to Buckner, churches, foster care, and Legacy Closet. Back in the spring of 2011 her friend Missy told her about a local maternity home, and she sprang at the opportunity, so distinguishing herself through her hard, compassionate efforts she became a board member. After five years in this arrangement, she became a professional, receiving her first paycheck.

“The Lord paved the way, showed me patience, discernment, grace, maturity, gave me creative ideas to raise funds, and walks with us each day as something new or different comes our way,” she says. “We walk in faith and trust Him in each step we take.”

Working from home, Ms. Wright rises early daily, has coffee, and works out before writing in her journal and reading her Bible. After feeding her children breakfast, she starts daily homeschooling lessons for the little ones while the older kids head off to work. After sharing devotionals with them, she gets started on their lessons. She has been homeschooling for fourteen years. As soon as possible she checks in on her Hannah House ladies.

“I check in with our house mom, HH girls and make sure everyone is OK, and go over the week of appointments and schedules.”

It is a hectic, demanding schedule that is often interrupted by the special needs of pregnant young women. When somebody goes into labor the Hannah House, staff drops everything else and makes sure she gets to the hospital. She responds to emails, makes preparations for fundraisers, and sees to day-to-day ministry affairs, and there are always endless phone calls from women in crises.

“I tell people, I plan…I am actually an OCD planner, but LIFE happens, and we roll with whatever comes our way throughout the day,” she says.

Despite everything she has on her plate, Ms. Wright makes time for home and hearth. She has supper ready at 6:00pm, which is about when her cowboy Alan gets home. After church on Sundays there is a sumptuous lunch, and then this busy family rests.

“Each day is truly a beautiful gift and so unpredictable, but my family feels loved and stable,” she says. “We rest in that.”

Amen!