Melissa Ransom has been attending Unity of the Midlands since 2010. She first became a member of Unity of the Midlands in 2013 and renewed her membership in 2018. Melissa Ransom graduated from Claflin University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. She has worked full time in the financial technology industry since 2010. In 2018, she became an ordained Minister with the International Metaphysical Ministry. Melissa is the self-published author of the All Spirit Bookstore Spiritual Cozy Mystery series. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, reading cozy mystery books and spiritual books, bowling, and karaoke. She lives in Columbia, SC with her partner and their two children.
Platform Assistants
The Platform Assistant opens the Sunday Service at 11 am by welcoming those in the church and those who join online via Facebook. They light the Christ candle, lifting it up and reminding everyone of the symbolic Christ light within each of us. This is followed by inviting any new people to introduce themselves.
The Assistant then invites participants into prayer (of the Assistant’s choice) This can be improvised or a short reading, verse, etc. relating to a theme, i.e. Black History month, Mother’s Day, the Daily Word, etc. Congregation members are encouraged to “relax,” “settle in,” “close their eyes” and contemplate the speaker’s words.
The Platform Assistant welcomes the children up to be prayed over, leads the reading of the Principles, Mission, Vision and Values. The Assistant reads the daily word and introduces Reverend Dan or a guest speaker.
Meet our Platform Assistants
Halina Schafer has been a part of Unity since the early ‘90s and Unity has opened Halina's world to every possibility. Helping others is something she strives for, daily. Halina has enjoyed being a part of the Platform Assistants, Greeters and Book Study groups for Unity of the Midlands since moving to the Columbia, SC area with her partner, John, in 2014. Along with writing and reading, her passions are gardening, yoga, travel, investing and more. There are no limits!
Allison Leo moved to South Carolina in 2021 with her husband and 3 boys. They began attending Unity of the Midlands in April 2022. Allison homeschooled her boys for 2 years before moving to Columbia so their kids could attend PACE Academy. Allison joined the Platform Assistant Team in August of 2023.