Teen and Parent Testimonials
"Hi! I’m one of the girls who attended Vera Bella this year! I want to thank you so, so much for doing this for us! You have no idea how much it has helped me. You revived my weak Faith and I am SO much more confident in myself!! From day one, I’ve been in love with this program…I absolutely LOVED attending the formation sessions and the different outings you planned for us :) Thank you so much, Melanie! You have inspired me to go out and teach others about our beautiful religion and to not be afraid of who I am! And it means a lot that you take time out of your own personal life and dedicate it to us girls! Every word you spoke through that mic has toughed my heart and I will treasure every second I spent with the Vera Bella team! Again, I am so grateful to you! This program is the best program I have ever joined :) God bless you, Melanie!" -Sarah 2014
"Thank you for organizing the Catholic Teen Apologetics Bootcamp this summer. The two days were so impactful to my daughters. They were greatly inspired by the speakers and learned how to gracefully impact others with their Catholic faith and beliefs. We discussed the presentations the entire drive home and for hours after. Their conviction in their faith was strengthened. Thank you for all your work!" -Mother of a Bootcamp Participant
"Thank you so much to you and your team for putting on a fantastic camp for teens the last couple of days! Although I must admit that my son was hesitant to go, I sent him anyway because I thought it would be good for him. His experience with other youth programs has left him disappointed due to lack of substance. People seem to think that teens only want to have fun. Than you for offering a program that doesn’t talk down to teens. You assume a level of intelligence and challenge them to take our culture head-on. This is what our teens need. He came home talking about all of the things he learned. His only criticism was really more of a compliment. He said that he wished it had been five half days rather than two full days. He would have liked to have had a chance to mull over the topics that were covered. He felt that it was so much packed into two days that he couldn’t remember it all. Yet, when I asked questions about the talks, he did seem to take in quite a bit. We hope that you will offer this camp again next summer." -Mother of a Bootcamp Participant
“Hi Melanie! I got a question to you I’m young Catholic girl from Poland. I am truly encouraged by your talk from Steubenville West ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OErlWLtcYSk ). I would love to translate this talk into Polish (just by making Polish subtitles to it) and upload on Youtube for my friends. Is it ok for you? I mean, I will put below the video links to your official page and facebook page, but first I would like to ask you, if I can. I’m sure it can be great inspiration for many young girls in my country. Let me know what do you think about it.” -Natalia 2013
“Thank you for everything you gave us in that talk yesterday; you really ignited in me a spark for Matthew and I am going to start a bible study here. And tonight we shall have our first one, so thank you so much! Hearing what you and all the others you hang out with do was something so cool and amazing to me, and something I long to be apart of. So once again, thank you so much!” -Alex 2013
“Great Talk today at Magnificat–thanks for your wonderful words of inspiration. Cannot wait to read your book. All the blessings to you and your family.” -Veronica 2013
“I was running on my treadmill tonight and decided that instead of listening to music I was going to listen to a faithfully inspirational talk. I stumbled across one of your Steubenville talks, and I just have to say thank you. Two years ago I decided to really get back into my faith, but after some time I started to get comfortable and fall away a little bit again. Recently, because of certain events (I won’t get into what happened simply because it would take too long,) I experienced one of those eye-opening revelations from God that made me realize that I wasn’t on the right track. I struggle with chastity, not physically anymore, but with modesty and lust. I’ve been debating about going to my senior prom, because I know that there are going to be a lot of temptations that night (not only impurity, but also gossip, etc.) So after listening to your talk I decided to do one of two things: from now until prom I will pray to God asking for Him to give me a holy date who I would be able to avoid sin with (because if I go with my girlfriends I know I’m just going to end up gossiping,) or if God does not give me a holy date because He does not want me at prom, I will skip it and get dressed up to spend the night in Eucharistic adoration on a date with Jesus, praying for my classmates that they do not fall into sin. I kind of hope He does not give me a date because really I think I’d rather spend that night with my Prince, Jesus Christ! (But sometimes God has plans, so if He does want me at prom, His will be done!) Thank you sosososososo much!” -Katie 2013
“I went to Steubenville in 2012. I loved the conference so much. By the grace of God I found the Steubenville app, and read your article “Radical modesty: a love story”. That’s the best article I’ve ever read. If anyone has trouble being pure its me. I’ve been very disrespectful to women, and I’m sorry for that. This article is a great inspiration for me, thank you. Though I don’t know God’s will for me yet, I am open to marriage and the priesthood. Please pray for me. I am having a really hard time in my life right now with women and girls around me not dressing modestly. One of my best friends was wearing bad clothing the other day, and I almost cried. I am very concerned for her, and my sisters. Please pray especially for them, to wear modest clothing. When I saw her, I had(Had to!) to sprint to my parish and ask mother Mary for their modesty. I really love them and want to see them in heaven, God willing I get there. Please pray for me!” -Jo 2013
“Hi Melanie :) my name is Olivia. I attended the Steubenville west conference in Arizona and it was the absolute best experience of my life. I have never felt more welcomed and loved in my life. anyway I would like to thank you so much for all your love and support when you talked to us girls on Saturday :) you made me feel like I really matter, and that I can make my life into anything I shape it. You talk showed me that God is always by my side, and I can’t thank you enough for that. I hope that you come to Steubenville next year and enlighten new teenagers, just as you enlightened me.” -Olivia 2012
“I went to Steubenville Rochester you were speaking to us girls about Virtue of Life. I want to say Thank you because without you I wouldn’t be standing here to today without so much heart and passion. I have lost so many people in one year that you help me to find who I need to be. I was that depressed girl, and lonely girl. I know you had those day when you got home from the hospital were you died and came back and you prayed to God. You had a dream that Mary was holding you. The night that my group got to our hotel rooms and fell to sleep, I felt Mary doing the same thing to me. I cried when I woke up because I could feel her holding me, but the thing is she still is. I just wanted to say thank you for changing my output in life into a better one with Jesus.” -Kayla, Minnesota 2012
“I was at the Steubenville West retreat. You’re girl talk about relationships and the right guy really opened my eyes. Everything you said I couldn’t help but think about my relationship and how wrong and torn it was. I prayed all weekend for guidance and help to break up with him and get strength to be brave and stick to my gut. I got home and told him how amazing the retreat was and everything I experienced and it just wasn’t getting through his head, so I told him I wasn’t happy anymore and I broke up with him. I was with him almost a year and I am so hurt and broken but I know God has a plan for me and someone better. I never could have done it without you, I saw God this week. “-Alisa, Arizona 2012
“I’m the oldest of 5 and my sister was just at one of the conferences you spoke at. The other day I asked my 17 year old sister, “If you had to choose one thing you think God really spoke to you about, what would it be? What would be your one big takeaway?” She told me she really liked the talk on modesty & chastity given by a woman named Melanie Pritchard. My mouth dropped because exactly 4 years ago at the same conference, during a talk on modesty & chastity given by a woman named Melanie Pritchard, I accepted Jesus’s sacrifice as my own and began my walk with the Lord .
"Your testimony of God’s conviction in your life was extremely moving. I was at a point in my life when I thought my choices had made me unforgivable and irredeemable. Growing up, church was an occasional thing and though I loved God, I never really understood His grace. In high school, I made choices I knew were separating me from God but continued in my worldliness in a sad attempt to find acceptance and affirmation. I thought that was it for me and going back to God was not an option. Somehow I ended up on this conference where I got to hear you speak. God had been working on my heart to draw me closer to Himself, but I just didn’t believe He wanted me. In your talk you said, “It’s never too late to make the change, to be pure” and I was skeptical. I had such an immense guilt because of my impurity and “some woman who has no idea what I’ve done” could not just say that it wasn’t too late. You said, “God never looks to your past to determine your future” and I was changed for good :) What Jesus did is way bigger than anything I could do. I’ve repeated your phrase probably a hundred times sharing my own testimony. I once heard a speaker say that he liked compliments after he spoke but the ones that meant the most are the ones given 6 months + after, because that means it truly impacted a person’s life. I meant to write before but maybe it’s God’s timing that I’m just getting to it now.
When I walked into the conference that day, I was unsure of God’s love, oblivious to His grace towards me, and I had no idea of my own value as a daughter of the almighty King. 4 years later, I have grown in faith slowly but steadily. I’ve made my own decision to devote my life to labor for God’s Kingdom. I’ve accepted a position with a Christian organization where I will be working for their ministry. I’m so excited to continue speaking God’s truth into women’s lives for my JOB for the next 2 years! Thanks so much for the way you continue to allow God to use your life.” -Alejandra, Arizona, 2012
“After reading your story, I felt like I could learn so much from you and your journey. The chapters “Sharing my thoughts” and “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” have really helped me put my trust back into the Lord. (I already feel like I want to read them again!)You have inspired me to renew my relationship with God…something that I felt died, along with myself, when Jordan died. And you have helped me to see life from different eyes, as if today is your last, with purity and joy. For all this, I thank you. And I thank God for giving your the courage to share your story!” -Katie, Colorado, 2012
“I lost faith and fell into a cycle of heavy drinking. I have been partying since I was 14. I was mad and angry at my family and I used alcohol to forget. I was up to a pint of gin and about 4 beers on a weekend night. It made me feel better, made me feel like things were ok. When I wasn’t drinking I looked at myself as a failure. I never measured up to my sisters achievements. I never measured up to my parents expectations. I’ve hated myself for a long time. I’ve been lonely for way too long, because when you can’t be yourself around anyone you know, you begin to not even know yourself. Your talk helped me realize that there is hope as I go to college. There is hope that I will find people who will accept me as I am. There is hope that things will get better. There is HOPE in FAITH. Thank you.” -Maddie, Missouri 2011
“I was in Springfield, MO for Steubenville this weekend and I just wanted to thank you. Your story was so inspiring and made me realize how precious life is! And after I attended your Women’s Workshop I felt empowered, and proud of being a girl. And I’ve never really considered chastity until your talk and realized it is possible and it will only help in finding a man worth being with and will only deepen your relationship. Honestly after your talk listening to songs and watching movies that degrade sex just disgusts me. I don’t even look at guys the same way! You made it all make sense! Luckily I’m only 14 and haven’t gotten the chance to do something I regret yet and now I won’t thanks to you. And you and your friend’s story about what happened after losing sight of God was so helpful! I can’t express how great you made me feel! And my friends said the same thing. I just had to thank you for giving me a new way of looking at things! I wish you and your family the best.” -Courtney, Missouri 2011
“I just have to say God is completely amazing. Thank you so much for speaking this past weekend. I have to tell you this story just because I totally saw God in you this weekend. About a year ago, my friend asked me to pray his friend Melanie. And as all friends do, I did as I was asked. For quite a few days I prayed. This weekend, I saw your name and I told someone that name sounded familiar but couldn’t figure out why. Then you ate breakfast with us and when we left, I told the others I feel like I know that lady for some reason and I just don’t know why. Then I was in a different session, when one of the girls texted me and said she talked about some of this stuff at breakfast but not about her dying and her daughter. I literally almost fell off the seat. Because then I knew who you were. You were a complete sister in Christ. I prayed for you but never knew you. So later I was trying to be all ears when you were speaking but I just kept praising God for you your entire talk and that what u say moves the women to know Christ the way you know Christ. I know I was one of millions praying now, but those days I prayed I didn’t know that, I was praying for a friend’s friend. So to see you, living prayer, is just simply amazing. Words cannot describe. However, what makes it even cooler is when all of the speaking team and prayer ministers got together yesterday evening and just prayed our hearts out. After seeing God in that room and feeling His love, I realized that not only was there a person I had prayed for in the room that I didn’t personally know, we were now praying together. It’s amazing, simply amazing! So thank you for faithfully coming this weekend to touch so many lives. May God bless you and your family today and every day!” Kelly, Missouri 2011
“I saw you this weekend at Steubenville Mid-America and you are such an inspiration!” -Christy, Missouri 2011
“The first time I heard Melanie Pritchard speak, I was immediately drawn in by not only her captivating presence, but also by the heartfelt compassion she possessed for her cause. Over the course of the past three years, I have been blessed to continue experiencing both Melanie’s large-scale seminars and training sessions, along with her smaller virtue sessions. It is clearly evident to me that no matter the amount of people or topic of discussion, Melanie has a gift of impacting and inspiring her audience. Her love of Christ is contagiously radiant and her dedication to spreading His message is invincible.” -Gabriela Rodiles, Senior Xavier College Prep