Jake and Melanie Auton ’24
Posted on: December 2, 2025
Sacrificing career goals to share the gospel.
Jake and Melanie Auton (’24) would admit that they would not have pictured themselves serving the Lord in New York City after graduating college.
“If you would have asked me during my freshman year of North Greenville where I was going to be when I graduated, I can personally guarantee you that I would not have said this city,” Jake said. “God had to do a work in my stubborn heart to change what I thought I wanted.”
Jake, who is currently serving with Grafitti 2 Ministries in the Bronx as a Journeyman through Send Relief, said he began contemplating the call to ministry during his senior year.
“I waited until I was about to graduate before I started to think that my career wasn’t the most important thing,” Jake, who graduated with a degree in Business and Christian Ministry, said. “I would encourage others to sacrifice their career goals a lot earlier than I did.”
The connection with Graffiti 2 was one Jake was able to make during a summer internship. Graffiti 2 operates an afterschool program in the Bronx. They also provide social services to members of the community with various needs, including finding a job, learning English, or navigating the immigration system.
“I’m often on the streets working with those battling addictions and struggling with homelessness. My wife, Melanie, is in different homes of families who aren’t believers serving them as a nanny. We’re both working to share the gospel, it just looks a little different.”
Melanie, who was an English major at NGU, did not know what ministry would look like for her.
“I always knew I wanted to serve in ministry in some capacity, but I didn’t know what that looked like. The Lord has opened doors for me here and I have loved it,” she said. “
Jake said ministry in New York City has come with its fair share of challenges.
“It’s hard to see people so open in their brokenness,” he said. “It’s challenging to witness someone struggling and be able to remain patient through the slow process of building a relationship and finding opportunities to share the gospel. On Easter Sunday there was a fire in an apartment near the church, and we’ve been working to help those that have lost their home, their food, their clothes.
“The longterm relationships we build with people as we help meet immediate needs have been encouraging,” Jake added. “We have proven to them that we care about them, and seeing them come back over and over again is a bridge for us to share the gospel.”
Melanie, who has a goal of one day writing a book, said the Lord has been teaching her a lot through this time in New York.
“Being in this ministry context is teaching me a lot of things that I didn’t know. I’m able to experience and navigate the real-life issues that people are dealing with, and it’s going to prepare to continue to serve in the future,” she said. “People are hardwired to love stories. Each person’s life is so different and can be a source of encouragement to others. Being in New York, this is a part of my story now. I can use this experience of how God is working in our lives to reach others. I’m grateful for that.”
Jake encouraged graduates to understand that success may not always look like what you picture in your mind.
“Success is not one thing specifically,” he said. “Dr. (John) Duncan would always tell us that the goal of getting our degree should not just be to get a job and live. We should be making an impact for God’s kingdom in the role that we’re in. That was something I really appreciated about his leadership, and I’ve tried to apply that mindset.
“North Greenville prepared me for a wide range of things,” he said. “I felt confident finishing my degree and realizing that I had the ability to go into marketing or full-time ministry. It takes the pressure off, because if the path I’m following works out, NGU prepared me for it. If the Lord leads me somewhere else, NGU prepared me for that as well. If God can use me here in this context, he can use anyone, anywhere.”
Melanie said no matter what happens, God is in control.
“Don’t worry and trust God with the plan that he’s already set for you,” she said. “I have often worried about what the future looks like, and he has shown me again and again that he has everything under control and I am where I am for a reason. We have to trust him to know what’s best for us.”
