Check Out Melinda Lankford’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Lankford.

Hi Melinda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
From the Mountains to the Beach…

Although she grew up in Montana and Wyoming, Melinda came to California for college and has lived in the Long Beach community for most of the past 30 years and now considers Long Beach “her hometown”.

Melinda began working with The Salvation Army 15 years ago, first with the Divisional Headquarters that oversees all of Southern California, then for 7 years she had the pleasure of serving in her local community as the Long Beach Red Shield Director of Programs & Development. During Melinda’s years at the Long Beach Red Shield Community Center, she was able to develop programming for youth, seniors, and families through community collaborations, while also obtaining funding to sustain those programs. Recently, she has been promoted back to Divisional Headquarters for The Salvation Army where she now serves as the Divisional Director of Communications & Marketing and has the wonderful job of “telling the stories” of all those that The Salvation Army gets to help and serve.

Melinda has been married 30 years to Chris, Lead Pastor at Long Beach Alliance Church. Chris and Melinda have two daughters, Jessalyn (25) who is currently working with non-minor dependents (former foster kids) as a Case Manager with Aspiranet, and Makayla (22) is a Senior at Biola University and plans to teach Kindergarten.

A graduate herself of Biola University with a BA in Business Administration, Melinda focused her education on nonprofits and has loved working with various nonprofit organizations through the years.

Although her favorite pastime is connecting those who care with those in need, she also thrives when encouraging other women in their spiritual lives, and loves cycling with her Long Beach Lightning Velo club. This July she won the championship of the Tour de Lightning Velo by riding 635 miles in 23 days while working full time. “One advantage of living in Long Beach instead of back in Montana or Wyoming is the GREAT cycling weather. 350 days of the year the weather is almost perfect to be out on my bike, heading to Newport on PCH!”

Melinda loves to meet new people in the community who share her heart for serving others and seeing all the good that can be done when people come together to make it happen.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There is so much need, we pass it every day as we see those walking down the street or living on the riverbed. Realizing that I can’t help every person today, I have to remember that I can make a difference in one person or one family today with the work I do through The Salvation Army. I have to focus on the difference I can make, not the need that is greater than you or me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Nonprofit work for The Salvation Army

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
My inability to be able to “change the world” and help people at the rate I’d like to, makes me more dependent on a loving God who can make a much bigger impact than I can ever make. I choose to join Him in His work instead of trying to make a difference on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://socal.salvationarmy.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salarmysocal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalArmySocal/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-lankford-b5566a55/