My name is Richard Marshall from Cheshire in the North-West of the United Kingdom. I am not married but am very close to my family, which I consider a great blessing from God. I am called to church planting and ministry training at the Christian Leaders Institute (Learn more about online Bible courses, Click Here).
My Youth
I grew up in a Christian family. I attended the local Methodist church and was an active member of the church’s Sunday school. However, as I entered my teenage years, I allowed worldly influences to distract me from church attendance. At age 16, a close family member died suddenly, and this loss affected me greatly. She was a good, godly woman of faith. I could not understand how the God of love could take her away. As a result, I left the church and spent the next period living in the world.
Challenges and Salvation in Christ
I completed my university education and qualified as a High School teacher. This was a very stressful job, and all I was focused on was progressing my career. Further, I became very materialistic and judgmental in the process.
In 2013, my whole life came crashing down around me. First, someone made a serious accusation against me. Although later they found it to be a false accusation, the damage was done. Next, I had a severe mental breakdown which resulted in me suffering from acute depression and severe anxiety. I could not return to the job that I loved and felt I had lost my identity. Then, I entered a spiral of bad decision-making and an unhealthy lifestyle, the consequences of which were financial loss and ultimately homelessness.
At this point, I felt the only option available to me was to end my life. However, a phone call from a loved one when I was about to take my life changed everything. I realized that there must have been a reason why the phone call came at that exact moment. So I turned to God and asked Him if He was there. That was the moment that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes. I saw myself as I really was, a sinner who was broken, guilty, and in need of a Saviour. Then I saw the amazing power of God’s glory. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, and I acknowledged Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.
Called to Church Planting and Ministry Training at CLI
Since then, my life has been transformed. I moved to a new area and am financially stable once again with a permanent place to live. My faith has grown exponentially as I have studied God’s Word and turned to Him daily in prayer. I am a local church member and feel fulfilled when I lead Bible Studies and prayer meetings.
The Holy Spirit has given me the gift of teaching, and I feel called into a teaching ministry. I also feel called to church planting. Therefore, I am at Christian Leaders Institute for the ministry training I need to succeed in the church planting team. I have a real heart for sharing the Gospel with the people in my local community, in which there are a lot of social needs and a real urgent need for Jesus! I believe God has brought me to this place for a purpose, and I have surrendered my all to obey His sovereign will for my life.
