From Our Hearts
Hi! We’re Amy Carroll and Melanie Chitwood–speakers, authors, and coaches on a journey to become a more effective communicators. Just like you!
As women in ministry, we recognize both the blessings and the challenges of our calling. Often, one of the struggles women face in ministry is doing it alone. When I (Amy) founded Next Step Speaker Services over 6 years ago, it was because I recognized the power of being part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries team. I’m blessed to have extra sets of eyes and ears to help me with message evaluation, marketing development, and ministry organization. Having a team is a huge asset, and Melanie and I desire is to be part of your team!
We delight to see God working in many different ministries, and we want to come alongside women to sharpen their skills. Putting our years of experience to work to equip you for growth is what we love to do more than anything.
There are two ways Melanie and I would love to serve you.
- You’re invited to subscribe to our blog weekly for FREE weekly speaker tips by entering your email in the box to the right.
- Click here to fill out our Request Information Form to schedule a FREE consulation call for any questions you have about our coaching services and to sign up for coaching.
About Amy
Amy Carroll, founder and director of Next Step, spent years in the classroom before beginning her 12-year speaking career. Her love for teaching as well as her speaking experiences fuel her desire to pass on what she’s learned to other speakers
Amy’s knack for breaking big ideas into small, understandable parts contribute to her appeal as a speaker and author for Proverbs 31 Ministries. She also has experience in women’s ministry which gives her insight into the needs of women and their leaders. Amy was the women’s ministry director at her church in Burlington for three years before moving to Holly Springs, NC where she served for three years on the women’s council at her church. Teaching is in her blood, and she delights in leading a Sunday school class for women of all ages. Her belief in the power of collaborative learning keeps her on a constant quest for learning and sharing.
Amy is the author of Breaking Up with Perfect and contributing author to several other books. She loves interacting with the Proverbs 31 Ministries community through her monthly Encouragement for Today devotions.
Amy, her husband Barry, and their boys love laughing, sunning on North Carolina beaches, and filling their home with music. Amy is a voracious reader who has to be self-disciplined about housework and cooking in the midst of a book so that her children won’t suffer neglect. Her favorite food is anything someone else cooked. You can get to know Amy better on her blog www.amycarroll.org.
About Melanie
Melanie Chitwood spent ten years teaching high school English, where her red pen got quite a workout. Next she taught women’s Bible studies at her local home church. Finally, she joined Proverbs 31 Ministries as a writer and speaker, a place where she could best use her gifts of writing, studying God’s word and encouraging other women in their faith.
During her years at Proverbs 31 Ministries her first book, What a Husband Needs from His Wife, was published with Harvest House Publishers and was soon followed by What a Wife Needs from Her Husband. As a first time author she was surprised and thankful for the success of these books, selling approximately 60,000 books.
In addition Melanie was a monthly contributor to Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today Devotions. She also began helping other writers by editing their works and developing their writing ideas.
Melanie’s favorite role is being wife to her husband Scott, a pilot and business owner, and mom to two sons who are each a foot taller than she is. Her dogs Lucy and Stella motivate her to get off the couch, where she’s often reading a good novel and eating chocolate chip cookies, and on to the walking trails of Charlotte, NC.
