The Current

Advocacy News + Updates

On the Government Relations & Advocacy (GRA) team at IJM, we are always interested in getting to know you and talking about how you can get involved in the fight to end slavery, but we realize that it might be nice for you to get to know our team, too! So, we’ll be doing a little blog series, featuring Q&A with each member of the GRA department. This will be your backstage pass to our legislative and advocacy programs, and an opportunity to learn more about the men and women who make up the team.

How it will work: Clara Campbell, GRA's Online Campaigns Manager, will interview each of the members of the team. There will be a mix of serious and fun questions, and ideally, after reading each post, you'll feel like you have a better idea who we are.

Meet Melanie Beilfuss, Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Government Relations & Advocacy.

Q: Tell me about your role at IJM. What do you do?

A: At IJM, I provide executive level support to Holly Burkhalter, and I manage our advocacy signature-collecting postcard campaign.

Q: Where are you from?

A: Lakeside, AZ

Q: How did you come to IJM? What were you doing before?

A: I started working in government, then I left to do a year-long backpacking missions trip. When I came back, I wanted to put the two together, marrying the injustices I saw with a passion for government.

Q: What is one IJM client story that you really connected with? And why?

A: Michael. It was one of the first times at IJM that I really saw the impossible happen because of persistent prayer. When we started praying about Michael’s case, I was sitting there thinking that there was no way the miracle we needed would ever happen. But then, it did! The next time I was asked to pray for a miracle, I had more faith to do so. (Read Michael's story.)

Q: When you’re not at work, what are you doing? What is your “relax” activity?

A: Baking! I love my kitchen. My favorite thing to bake is really any recipe from Joy the Baker; one I recommend is her Peach Cobbler Cinnamon Rolls – they are amazing, melt-in-your-mouth amazing!

Q: Name one adventurous thing you want to do, and one mundane thing that actually freaks you out.

A: 1. Adventurous: I really want to hike the Grand Canyon!

2. Mundane: I hate getting shots! I cried as a 20-something getting a flu shot.

Q: You’re leaving IJM soon – what will you miss the most?

A: My team! The community at IJM is irreplaceable. Besides the people, I’m also going to miss the spiritual rhythms.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: My husband, Jonathan. He is the most faithful, loving, fun, and ridiculously smart person I know – and he’s hot!

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Bonus: Get to know more about Melanie by watching this Google Hangout: IJM's Secret Weapon - Executive Assistants & Admin Staff.

Melanie Beilfuss, right

*Melanie Beilfuss, far right, welcomes attendees to an IJM event.

 

Read the first post in this series: Meet Tim Gehring, Policy and Research Manager!