Dr. Melissa J. Oates is a faith-driven educator, evangelist, author, mentor, and transformational leader whose life and work are rooted in one mission: to help others heal, grow, and boldly walk in their God-given purpose. A native of Hickory, North Carolina, her journey has always been guided by faith, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to service. As a three-year drum major at Hickory High School, she learned early how to lead with confidence, discipline, and vision—skills that would later shape every dimension of her calling.

Her path has never been conventional. Married and a mother at nineteen, Dr. Oates navigated early adulthood with courage while pursuing her college education at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Balancing family life, academics, and faith required strength and maturity far beyond her years, but those experiences cultivated perseverance and deepened her spiritual foundation. She pursued studies in Business Education and Music before completing a degree in Marketing, blending creativity with strategy in a way that would define her professional journey.

Dr. Oates’ passion for education was reignited while teaching at her daughter’s early childhood center. That experience awakened a calling to shape young minds and cultivate environments where students feel seen, valued, and empowered. Over the years, she has served learners from infancy through young adulthood across North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Her roles have included Teacher Leader, Marketing and Personal Finance Educator, DECA Advisor, PBIS Coordinator, Curriculum Writer, Program Coordinator, and Athletic Coach. Her dedication to academic excellence and student empowerment was recognized in 2016 when she was named Wilmette Jenkins Teacher of the Year for Hickory Public Schools.

Committed to lifelong learning, Dr. Oates earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership in 2018. In 2024, she completed a Doctorate in Ministry with a concentration in Christian Counseling, equipping her to guide individuals not only academically, but spiritually and emotionally. Her work bridges education and ministry, offering holistic support that nurtures the mind, body, and soul.

Ministry has remained central to her identity. Licensed as a preacher in 2008, she has faithfully served in multiple leadership capacities, including Minister of Music, Youth Pastor, Evangelist Missionary, and Purity President within her jurisdiction. Currently serving at Full Gospel Tabernacle COGIC in Hinesville, Georgia, she leads with compassion and conviction, also serving as Director of Drama and Arts. Through creative expression, worship, and storytelling, she uses the arts as a vehicle for healing, restoration, and spiritual growth.

Writing has always been one of her deepest loves. From elementary school poetry and short stories to writing stage plays for her church as a teenager, storytelling has long been woven into her life. Today, as a published author, Dr. Oates writes with transparency and heart, exploring themes of faith, resilience, healing, family, and divine purpose. Her words are crafted to inspire hope and transformation, helping readers move from survival to wholeness and from brokenness to boldness.

Beyond the classroom and pulpit, Dr. Oates remains deeply engaged in community service. She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., where she has served in leadership roles including Chair of Public Relations and Chair of Adopt-a-School for the Z-HOPE initiative. She has also served as a board member for Young People of Integrity in Hickory, North Carolina. Mentorship, youth development, and community outreach are not simply commitments—they are expressions of her calling.

Above all, Dr. Melissa J. Oates is a woman of faith, a devoted wife to Elder Larry Oates Jr., and a loving mother to two beautiful children. Her life is anchored in the belief that healing is possible, purpose is intentional, and growth is continuous. She is passionate about helping individuals—especially teens and young adults—embrace their identity, establish healthy boundaries, overcome adversity, and step confidently into their next chapter.

This is more than a career. It is a calling. And through every role she carries—educator, evangelist, author, mentor, wife, mother—Dr. Oates continues to lead with authenticity, compassion, and unwavering faith, empowering others to live whole, live healed, and live on purpose.