Melanie and Peter have been married for 18 years and they are two daughters aged 12 and 7. Peter pastors a Pentecostal church in a city 2 hours drive south of Sydney, Australia. The church (Nowra City Church) has experienced substantial growth over the last few years and in February of last year, the church opened its new $2 million building. In addition to this, Peter was the state leader for the denomination that his church belonged to.
Peter and Melanie had a pretty good marriage. Melanie had been abused sexually as a child and this had caused them some issues throughout their married life and at the start of 2009, there was certainly some issues presenting in their relationship.
Peter and Melanie had a strong friendship with a couple called Ron and Janet. Ron and Peter were particularly close, playing sport together, and the two families would hang out every Friday night. The two families often went on holidays together and all four people served in key leadership positions within Nowra City Church.
So in early March 2009, just one day after Peter returned from a mission’s trip to Cambodia, he became aware of a lot of phone activity between Ron and Melanie, and when confronted, Melanie admitted there was an emotional attachment. Over the next 24 hours, Melanie admitted that her and Ron had committed adultery. This information was amazing devastating to Peter. One of his first actions was to go and visit his leadership coach and as he did that he felt God speak to him strongly to show Melanie extravagant grace. As he travelled back from Sydney, Peter bought Melanie flowers and communicated his forgiveness to her and his desire to rebuild the marriage.
Thus a journey of love and pain began, where at times it looked like pain would win, but 12 months down the track, love is winning.
Peter was asked to stand aside from ministry for a few months – an action that he found particularly difficult seeing as he had only preached three weeks in the building that he had spend 6 years planning and building. He was stood down from his leadership positions in the movement and in city. But he was determined that love would win this battle.
So 3 weeks after the exposure, while doing a prebooked Sydney Harbour Bridge bridgeclimb. Peter proposed to Melanie – right on top of the Bridge. And Melanie accepted. Peter decided to get remarried in San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. A beautiful service on the perfect day and perfect surrounds was conducted by a C3 Pastor.
12 Months on, Peter and Melanie are still journeying back to health, but love is winning. There is still pain and there is still tough days. But love and grace and forgiveness is more powerful than the pain and devastation of an affair.
Recently for Valentines day, Peter put up a website – www.peterlovesmelanie.com – check it out.