Scars Into Stars

STAR 88.3 is a Christian Radio Station in Fort Wayne that serves Kosciusko County on the dial at 90.9. Melissa Montana is the CEO/President/GM of this company that strives “To use media to offer hope that helps to change lives through the love of Jesus.” She recently shared at Warsaw Rotary about her life and the path she has taken in media. A successful business woman, she garnered support in the Fort Wayne area to purchase STAR 88.3/WLAB when it came up for sale a few years ago. It is an incredible success story sharing the Good News of Jesus through radio. When you first meet her you would think that she has it all together. I learned quickly into the presentation that she has had many rough patches along the way. At eight years old she was almost killed by a truck that hit her while crossing a street. Once a well known personality at a major radio station in Atlanta her husband’s work took them to “the Fort”. She struggled with the transition and fitting into a midwestern community and a smaller market. She then faced giving up on a “perfect marriage” and the reality of divorce when her husband walked away. One day the owners of 88.3 announced they were going to sell. Facing looking for new employment she sought God for wisdom and felt led to bring a team together to purchase STAR forming a new company. Melissa was quick to tell us that we should never be defined by our pain and failure. “See pain and setbacks as learning experiences. Pick yourself up, even if you are at the bottom and move ahead,” she shared. In 2 Corinthians 4 it says, “We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.” (The Message) A person may be down but they are never out of God’s grace and mercy. Don’t let your failures and mistakes define you. God can turn your Scars into STARS...a promise from Him through Jesus for all of us!