Michelle McClendon McGhee was born in Waco, Texas and moved to Omaha, Nebraska as a young child.  She is the youngest of two children born to Elno & and the late Marshall McClendon. She accepted Christ at an early age and grew up being an active member of Cleaves Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Omaha. Rev. McGhee graduated in May 1984 from Central High School in Omaha and went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in June 1988. Shortly after college graduation, she began working as an Admissions Counselor and College Recruiter for the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Six years later, she was promoted to Director of New Student Orientation at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She served in this position for four years, while completing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in May of 1997.  

 

She met her husband The Rev. Dr. K. Llewellyn McGhee while working at the University, and they married in May 1991. Due to God’s call upon her husband’s life to full-time ministry, they left Omaha and relocated to St. Louis, where her husband founded a new church start in the United Methodist Church – The Village Church of St. Louis. During this time, she gave birth to their son, Christian Xavier McClendon McGhee.

 

Rev. McGhee finally accepted the call upon her life to preach and teach the Gospel in December of 1997 and served as the Associate Pastor of The Village Church of St. Louis. She entered Eden Theological Seminary in January 2001 and graduated with a Master’s of Divinity Degree in May of 2005.  She was then appointed by Bishop Robert Schnase to pastor The Village Church of St. Louis in Vinita Park and Christ Community in Jennings. She served The Village Church until 2017. Rev. McGhee also served as Adjunct Instructor of Preaching for three years at Eden Theological Seminary and taught classes on Spiritual Disciplines at select United Methodist churches. Among the ministries and activities started at Christ Community under her leadership are Joshua Nation Summer Leadership Youth Camp, Blessings & Glory Garden, Shalom Food Pantry, Men of Standard, Annual Community Christmas Party, Annual Jazz Concert, Connection Saturdays, and the Ambassador Newsletter.  On August 23, 2021, Rev. McGhee began studies for a doctorate degree at United Theological Seminary. She was a 2021 Pastor Appreciation Day Honoree and was featured in the September-October issue of By Faith Magazine.