Meet Melissa Chavez | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Chavez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve been trained to always become the solution and not the problem. If you see a need, fill it. This is from where In the Vine Connects was birthed. As a single 32-year-old woman then, I found myself fishing in ponds that weren’t yielding the catch I wanted, so to speak. I realized that there needed to be a space where Christian singles could connect without the fear of awkwardness or compromising their morals or desires.

Let’s face it, though many of us want that “reach for the same product at the grocery store and accidentally touch hands” kind of encounter, chances are you will come to meet someone more purposefully.

So, after going through some semi-horrific instances, I decided to create that space for others. From there, I heard that my friend, Shekinah Enos had a similar vision and asked if she would embark on this journey with me.

As the Bible says, there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors, we recognized the value in having various perspectives as we did not want an echo chamber, so we asked two other ladies, Denize Verduzco and Yesenia Garkanian to join the business. I ran the idea by a mentor/coach, Linda Enos, and boom, In the Vine Dating (named at the time) came to fruition. My heart at the time was to simply serve and to be an answer. I can humbly say that that is what we’ve been able to accomplish.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The thing I am most proud of when it comes to this business is the unity that it has created among four different personalities and the range of the community we have with our listeners and supporters.

Shekinah, Yesenia, and Denize all have their own families, projects, or business aside from being involved with In the Vine Connects so I wanted to make sure I honored their own endeavors and give space for them to be highlighted along with this vision.

As a result, we’ve been able to highlight different people in our community similarly, but in a smaller scope, as Shoutout LA does. This is why we are excited about this interview because we recognize that there are extraordinary stories within the ones we do ordinary life with.

It hasn’t always been easy, however. This year in particular we all faced losses and tremendous shifts in our personal lives. It would’ve been justifiable to give up and give in and count our losses, but instead, we covered one another with grace, love, and prayer, thus resulting in finishing season three of our podcast and successfully launching our fourth.

With this in mind, what I would like the world to know about our brand and story is that the only reason we exist is to reveal God’s heart of love toward people. Each one of the ladies has a burning desire to see people walk in their God-given destiny, and that in itself is what helps us press through the challenges.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a great question! I love to experience great views and to eat so the majority of things would definitely be based around that.

In the Vine is based out of Lancaster, CA., so with this in mind, on a Monday, I would take them to Monday Bitez at Sergeant Steve Owen’s Memorial Park. It’s such a great time to be with family, enjoy the outdoors, and eat some delicious food.

From there, we have some other great eateries that I truly enjoy, such as Baracoa Cuban restaurant. They have the best coffee drink called Cortadito. 10/10. Highly recommend.

From there, I’d drive them to one of the various spots we have around the city by the aqueduct and catch the sunset, or go on a light walk at our Woodland Reserve park.

The Lancaster BLVD holds a Farmer’s Market with local vendors and with Christmas approaching, it’ll be very festive and cute. Coincidentally, one of the city’s staples is on the BLVD as well, La Papillon. They have the best top-notch buffet there during brunch/lunch. It’s also the perfect place for a date night!

For breakfast, I’d likely take them to Jack’s Place in Leona Valley with a nice view of the mountains.

I’d make sure we catch up by grabbing a nice cup of tea or coffee at Generations Coffee which gives back to the community by providing job experience to teens.

Lastly, we’d end the week by going to Greater Works Christian Church and enjoying a nice time of fellowship.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To be completely real, in my early 20s, I was fully headed down the path of destruction. I grew up in church but I had never encountered God. I did however have that experience right when I was minutes away from being arrested. That’s when I heard His voice and it changed my life forever. After my faith in Jesus, I have to absolutely honor my mentor and pastor, Linda Enos, and her husband, Robert Enos.

She and Robert are the leaders of Greater Works Christian Church in Lancaster, CA. Linda has been with me in the trenches of my life. I will never forget the moment I sat across her, wanting to give up, and among other things, she said, “You are intelligent.” I’d never heard those words spoken to me. My life changed. I went on to get two college degrees, own a home, and start two businesses. I’ve known her for about 11 years this October, 2024 and her relentless love for God and people has revealed the heart of God in my life for years. Robert Enos has done the same, but differently. He has been a constant coach, support, and strong consistent role in my life that strengthens me to defeat whatever obstacles are placed in my way.

The church itself is filled with our biggest supporters and encouragers.

Definitely could not do it without the village I’ve been placed in.

Website: https://Inthevine.org

Instagram: IntheVine.Connects

Youtube: IntheVine.Connects

Image Credits
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