This week I’ve chosen to profile a servant who, although new to Good Shepherd, provides key support to our Office staff in many ways. Michele Roland is a person who “blooms where she is planted.” To Michele, we say thank you for your cheerful and very useful presence each week as a volunteer in our church home. -- Pastor Dave

Ministry Support Leader Michele DeLuca tells us her story and describes her involvement:

Michele and daughter Allie Roland started attending Good Shepherd in 2010. They joined the church in February this year, but Michele didn’t wait until they joined to jump right in. She started volunteering in our church Office and has had her hands in many projects. Michele’s duties include but aren’t limited to assembling the photo displays of new members, processing special mailings to the congregation, and filing of church records.

Michele recently took over the task of clearing out and restocking the children’s worship bags – a key task, if you’ve ever brought an active child to worship here. Michele brings her smile, her optimism and her willing nature to the Office at least once each week.

Michele was raised Lutheran in Ohio and Alabama. She attended many different churches with her family as they traveled around the world, following her father’s career as a chemical engineer and a patented inventor. She lost her father Ronald Bell in 1981 after returning to the states and her mother Patricia just a couple years ago but still has a sister Cheryl, who lives in Pennsylvania.

Michele has been all over the world, and developed a love of photography as she traveled. Living first in Athens, Greece before moving to Saudi Arabia, Michele’s family visited 22 countries during vacations.

After returning to the States in her teens, Michele lived in Pennsylvania, attending Penn State University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, getting her degree in Photography. In addition to photography, one of her early hobbies was the study of Hapkido, a Korean martial arts. She got her a First Dan Degree Black Belt and taught martial arts for several years. During her years teaching martial arts in Texas and Nevada, she met her future husband, Denny, a police officer. Michele has since divorced and lives in Germantown with Allie.

Her daughter Alexandra (Allie for short) “is a blessing that I thank God for every day,” Michele said. “The Lord has given me the best gift of a beautiful, loving child.” You don’t have to be around them long to observe that mother and daughter share the same cheery personality and a strong family resemblance. Michele’s glad that Allie has made so many friends in GSLC’s Sunday School and Youth program.

Allie, 13, enjoys fun outings and fellowship with all ages here, and she’s even helped out in our AV Booth on Sunday mornings as part of her Sunday School service. Allie’s in our Grade 8 Confirmation Class, and is set to become a full member of Good Shepherd next Spring.

“My pastor from my former church in Pennsylvania found Good Shepherd for me and from the first day I found it incredibly welcoming and loving,” Michele commented. “I love volunteering here and working on the children’s bags; this church has brought me closer to God.”

We are blessed to have Michele and Allie worshiping and serving here with us. Both are always willing to help out – so look for them and say “Hello” when they both will be helping with Vacation Bible School classes, crafts and photography next month.

Michele in Action at Good Shepherd

• Making Worship Bags for Kids
• Daughter Allie
• Michele in Greece as a Teenager
• Allie at Six Flags