Guest Bio: Storytelling is Melissa Harrison’s passion. She has been a TV news anchor and reporter for over 20 years at television and radio stations around the country, including WNBC-TV in New York City, WFAA-TV, and CBS Radio in Dallas. While she is most passionate about telling other people’s stories, she never imagined that she would one day find herself on “the other side” of the headline until she received a shocking phone call. Melissa was 25 years old and hosting a dinner party when a detective called to tell her that her mom had been murdered. To make matters worse, she discovered that the crime had been committed by someone she knew and loved dearly. In an instant, her world changed forever. After experiencing what it was like to have her personal life and deepest hurt portrayed in the media, she is writing a book about her story in the hopes that it will encourage anyone who is experiencing pain and loss to know that they can make it through—and that it will serve as a reminder for journalists of the great privilege and responsibility they have reporting on other people’s stories of tragedy and pain. She now uses her storytelling and leadership skills to connect people and resources to organizations that empower journalists and business leaders to make a positive impact on the world. One of her greatest passions is connecting and supporting women leaders by creating community and space for them to be fully seen and known. Through women’s events, executive cohorts, retreats, and conferences, she helps women in leadership experience healing and renewed purpose through the transforming power of community. 

Show Summary: Have you ever received a phone call that forever altered the course of your life? Melissa Harrison was beginning her career as a journalist when she got a call that her mother had been murdered. In an instant, everything changed. Melissa withdrew from her faith and poured herself into her career. Join hosts Elisa Morgan and Eryn Eddy Adkins as they visit this time in Melissa’s life and walk through the earth-shattering news. You don’t want to miss part one of this God Hears Her conversation. 

Notes and Quotes:  

“When there was suffering, horrific suffering in my story, that was when I really started to question God’s goodness. Is He really omnipresent, and if so, where was He? How do I trust Him?” —Melissa Harrison 

“There were a lot of questions that I was very scared to ask. I didn’t really know how to process an anger with God or to process my questions to God. Am I allowed to question God? Is it okay to do so?" —Melissa Harrison 

“You love somebody so much and you wish you could save them from themselves and the mistakes that they’ve made.” —Melissa Harrison 

Verses:  

Jeremiah 29:11 

Romans 8:28