Michaela’s Bio

Head of Women’s Ministry

Hometown: Powhatan, VA

Family: My husband Jon Speas, and I met in March of 2016 and were married in September 2017. We have one son Samuel Speas born in May 2021 who brings us and everyone around his so much joy with his happy and playful demeanor.

Education: Powhatan High School Class of 2012. Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics from The Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA class of 2016.

Background: I work full-time as a Bridge Inspection Engineer with Clark Nexsen. I grew up attending primarily Baptist churches where I loved being a part of youth programs, summer camps, choirs, and vacation bible school. During my senior year in college, I held the role of Cadet Chaplain which was a unique way for me to share and experience the gospel. Shortly after graduation, I moved to Roanoke where a year later I would marry my husband as he began his ministry in music at Orchard Hills in 2017. We are members, have dedicated our son, and have found our family in Christ here at Orchard Hills.

My passion at Orchard Hills Church: To support my husband in his ministry and to help facilitate connection within the women of Orchard Hills. We are one body in Christ filled with many different skills, talents, and roles from full time working mothers, stay at home moms, young married women, single women, and everything in between and my heart is to reach every women that walks through our doors so that they feel welcome, to know they are not alone, that it is okay to not look 'put together' all of the time, and that there is love and grace within the fellowship of women.

Something people don't know about me: My college roommate and I host a Podcast called How Then Shall We Live, where we discuss what it looks like to live out our faith as working Christian mothers in the 21st century.

Favorite Illustration of Biblical Truth: I love in the book of Matthew when Jesus hears the news of his cousin John the Baptist being put to death, chooses to put those feelings of grief and loss aside to show compassion to the crowds that quickly gathered around Him. He performs miracles of healing and of feeding over 5000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish. Only when this is done, is He able to go to a remote place by Himself to be with His Father and take a moment to grieve. In this, Jesus examples for us so well how to not only put others before ourselves, but also how important it is to spend time alone with our Heavenly Father in all things.