BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Although Gina Jennings (now Gina Lynnes) is no longer magazine editor and is now a successful freelance and ghostwriter herself, the two have remained best friends. In fact, Melanie and Gina have worked in conjunction with KCM’s editorial staff on several major projects, including Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s "From Faith to Faith" devotional; the book "A Journey of Faith, The First 30 Years;" and "Real People, Real Needs, Real Victories," which was compiled from articles Melanie originally wrote for "BVOV." Melanie’s success as a writer has also allowed her to venture into other areas of mainstream media. In addition to the more than 50 books she has written—four of them with Gina—she recently co-authored her first TV documentary, which is now in preproduction. She is currently working on developing a screenplay. “I'm not a person who enjoys the limelight,” says Melanie, “which is why I never minded being a ghostwriter. I didn't want to write my own books because I didn't want to do television and radio interviews. “In 1995, my parents came to visit me for Thanksgiving. As they were leaving, I heard the Lord say, 'This is the last time your father will be in your house. He's going home next year. Until then, make use of the time and go visit every four to six weeks.' I kept the road hot between Oklahoma City and Lubbock the next year,” Melanie said. “During those long hours of driving, I kept getting downloads from heaven. The Lord showed me things in my life and what they meant spiritually. I'd grab a napkin and jot notes as I drove. “I had a file folder where I stored the napkins. In the summer of 1996, I was attending the Southwest Believers’ Convention when I got a call that my dad had gone home to be with the Lord. It was several years later when I got out that file folder and spread all those crumpled napkins across my desk. I was incredulous as I realized that each napkin was the outline for a chapter in a book. “That book, "A Healing Touch: The Power of Prayer," is the book of my heart. It deals with many things I experienced in my nursing career. Whitaker House published it, and Gina was with me when they released it at a Christian Booksellers Association meeting in Denver. By the time it was released in the U.S., Whitaker House already had it in 17 countries.” When the publisher and owner of Whitaker House asked Melanie to consider writing a series of books on God’s Anointing, she agreed under one condition—that Gina be her co-author. Together, they wrote four books: "God’s Power for Healing," "God’s Power for Protection," "God’s Power for Children" and "God’s Power for Lost Loved Ones." Multiply Yourself! About five years ago, Melanie began hearing the same two words from the Lord over and over: 'Multiply yourself!' “I knew the Lord was telling me to help bring up a new generation of what I had heard someone refer to as ‘Holy Ghost Writers,’” Melanie said. “One of the things I wanted new writers to know was what Gina had taught me early in my career: ‘Never go to the computer until you've been to the throne room. If you want your words to make an impact, write when you're dripping with the oil of God's Anointing.’ “I also wanted Christian writers to know that even though we hear from the Holy Ghost, it must be filtered through our talents and skill, which means we must study our craft. I've been writing for 31 years and I still attend writing conferences and read books on the subject, always trying to hone my craft.” In response to that admonition to multiply herself, Melanie collaborated with two local writers to start a writers’ conference called Write Well, Sell Well OKC. The annual conference is held in October, and brings together some of the top authors, agents and editors in the nation. In addition, they started a weekend writers’ intensive which takes place each year in May, said Melanie. “For this, we only take about eight students and work with them on fiction or nonfiction projects, and book proposals.” Melanie also leads a writers’ critique group in her home once a month. As Melanie sees it, none of this would have happened had she not connected with Gina, and with KCM. But she also knows it was part of God’s plan for her latter years. “He’s changed my life,” Melanie says of Kenneth Copeland and the opportunity she’s been given to write for him. “When you spend so much time working on his projects, drawing from his sermons, his radio and TV broadcasts, and reading old magazine articles—when you pore over the teachings of someone like that long enough, it imprints you. That DNA gets imprinted in who you are. I have had the privilege of having my name associated with Kenneth and Gloria Copeland for all these years. What an honor.” On occasion, Melanie Arnold Hemry will pull out that little blue notebook just to remind herself of God’s faithfulness to fulfill the desire of a 12-year-old child—a desire she’s lived with since seventh grade. She studies the checklist, and gives thanks for the many things that have come to pass over the years. And though the notion that she would someday write for Marilyn Hickey remains unchecked, Melanie has no regrets. It’s the fulfillment of that one request, the answer that has gone around the globe and reached far beyond anything she could have ever asked or imagined, that brings a continuous smile to her face. Melanie Hemry is helping put the faith message into print! V * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Join Melanie Partner with KCM today! KCM.ORG/PARTNERNOW 1-800-600-7395 (U.S. only) BVOV : 17

• Cover