Making Business a Ministry with Melody Winston - Episode 23

Let’s be honest—nobody volunteers for the difficult seasons: abrupt family losses, feeling the weight of legacy, rebuilding after heartbreak, or being pushed into roles before we feel ready. On this episode of the Purpose Finder podcast, I sit down with Melody Winston—executive director, entrepreneur, daughter of pioneering leaders, and a woman for whom faith and resiliency are daily practices, not just hashtags.

Melody invites us into her real story, not just her résumé: moving cross-country in the shadow of her family’s achievements, grieving the sudden loss of her grandfather and uncle in a plane crash, and weathering a challenging divorce while raising four children. Melody doesn’t gloss over the hard parts—she shares what it meant to lean on faith when her mental strength faltered, the quiet courage of starting over, and the determination to serve her community even when she felt least qualified.

What stands out most in our conversation isn’t just her perseverance, but the way she says ‘yes’ to stretching—to learning new things (like overseeing property management and launching a grocery store in a food desert) far outside her comfort zone. Melody’s lessons are clear: excellence isn’t about perfection, but consistency and believing in possibilities, even when you don't have all the answers yet. She brings home the message that legacy isn’t a burden—it's an invitation to serve, to uplift, and to lead by example, especially for those coming after us.

Timestamps:

00:00 Purpose Finder Podcast: Find Your Why

09:12 Faith and Family Resilience

16:35 Grocery Access Mission

23:05 Legacy Flight Academy's Impact on Youth

26:26 Excellence Through Legacy and Mentorship

35:17 Preserving Spiritual Legacy Challenges

37:38 Unified Leadership and Legacy Building

46:21 Finding Balance in Ministry Life

47:49 Balancing Identity and Anonymity

58:25 Community Commitment to Fresh Meals

01:02:10 Join the Purpose Finder Community

#CharisaMunroe #ThePurposeFinderPodcast #PurposeInPractice #LiveOnPurpose #FaithDriven #PurposeWork #CallingOverComfort #SpiritualLeadership #GodCenteredLiving #LegacyLeadership #FaithInBusiness #KingdomLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #WomenWhoLead #TrailblazingWomen #ResilientLeadership #BlackOwnedBusiness #ServingWithPurpose #CommunityBuilders #ImpactOverImpression #LiftAsYouClimb #MarketplaceMinistry #BusinessAsMinistry

About the Guest

Melody Winston, senior executive of Living Fresh Market, didn’t originally plan to enter the supermarket business—it happened by chance.

In October 2021, Living Word Christian Center (founded by her father, Dr. Bill Winston) seized the opportunity to purchase a 71,000-square-foot grocery store in Forest Park, Illinois, after its former owner exited. The goal: to serve the community with access to fresh, high-quality food.

Since its launch in June 2022, Living Fresh has become the largest Black-owned supermarket in the U.S., offering fresh produce, seafood, meat, and global products. Under Melody’s leadership, it has also become a launchpad for diverse vendors and significantly improved access to nutritious food in the area.

Melody was born on a military base in North Carolina, daughter of Dr. Bill Winston and Carolyn Williams, and a descendant of Clarabelle Williams, who founded the first Black-owned medical clinic in the U.S.

She began her career in real estate, later owning Golden Eagle Construction and managing commercial assets. Today, she is Executive Director of Corporate Property Assets and Director of Real Estate & Construction for Living Word Christian Center and its affiliated properties in Illinois and Alabama.

In 2012, she co-founded Legacy Flight Academy, introducing youth from underrepresented communities to aviation. She also formerly served as VP of Golden Eagle Aviation, a firm specializing in jet charters and maintenance.

Living Fresh Market www.livingfreshmarket.com

Visit her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062609804802

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