Say Hi to Bethany Marshall
This coffee lover and children's book writer is the Dream Team leader of the South Central West Section. She is the Family Life Pastor at Trans4mation Church in Altoona, Pa. Bethany Marshall exudes joy and laughter everywhere she goes. When you are with Bethany, it's impossible not to laugh. Give it five minutes.
She is passionate about the love of Jesus and sharing that love with others. She is passionate about His truth and speaking truth in love. The first thing on her Facebook page is 1 Corinthians 13:13, "…and the greatest of these is love." She is passionate about people knowing and receiving this love to be then able to live out who God has created them to be. She is full of God's love that pours out into everything she does. It follows her like the scent of a freshly brewed cup of coffee. You know, that strong, first, empowering yet comforting whiff in the morning. "Ephesians 3:17 says it the best, that we are rooted and firmly established in love," Bethany says.
She serves in the women, family life, youth, and prayer ministry. She says she loves women's ministry because she loves people. "There is beauty and strength that is undeniable when women are in unity. There is a force when women stand beside one another that is unmatched. Each woman is unique and created for a specific purpose."
Bethany accepted Christ when she was a little girl at six years old. Her father is a pastor and baptized her in Toccoa, Ga. Bethany's life has so many moments she can think back to that shaped her as a woman of God. God has refined her through deep conversations with friends, her prayer time sitting with Jesus, and through the fiery furnaces that tested her faith. One defining moment she remembers so distinctly began at an altar. She was kneeling at a worship service, face down before Jesus. She was just newly married. The Holy Spirit came upon her and filled her. Bethany says, "I believe it was for the new season we were going to be walking through that the Lord was shaping and preparing my heart."
God has taught Bethany repeatedly where her hope and value come from, from the Rock that cannot be shaken or destroyed. And her heart breaks for those that do not yet know their worth. The despair and hopelessness sprout from having no value or finding value in this world. This despair drives her pursuit and fire to share God's true hope with others.
Bethany is currently walking through a season of receiving God's true joy. She is waiting and trusting the Lord. She follows where the Lord leads and is excited about wherever that goes! Surrender is a very fertile field for the Lord to plant.
She distinctly remembers a simple piece of advice that has remained with her and challenged her from season to season: just be you. She believes that you can be fully yourself and all God made you when you fully understand that hope and value comes from Jesus Christ. It is unshaken. She wishes she knew and wants to share with women just beginning their calling in life how vital prayer and fasting are in our walk and journey with God. It's not only essential but non-negotiable, life-giving, and life-changing.
Bethany wrote two children's books thus far, including Pickles and Prayer and Pineapples and Praise. These teach kids how to praise and pray through all ages and all things! Bethany is the founder and director of the Daughters Conference that's purpose is to unite all daughters of all generations. She wants to be a resource for all women in parenting, support, mentorship, helping find resources and connections. Bethany is currently reading Friendship is Complicated because it is! But she makes relationships, friendships, and deep conversations a priority in her life.
Bethany writes for the PDW blog and speaks for Wednesdays in the Word posted on the PDW Facebook page. Here you can continue to get to know Bethany and her heart. One dream for her section is to develop a mentorship ministry focused on truth and knowing your God-given identity. She is expectant to see God move in her section through unity with churches in her community with all denominations.
One thing she wishes she could tell her younger self is, "Don't worry; you are going to marry the man of your dreams!" She has been married to that very man of her dreams, Micah Marshall, for 11 years now. Outside of church, she likes to spend time with Micah, thriving in his ministries, especially with youth. She loves to get together with friends, shop, drink coffee and read. One thing that surprises people about her is that she can drink coffee any time of the day. Her favorite restaurant is Jason's Deli - Salad Bar. Bethany is full of coffee, full of God's unconditional love, and overflowing with His bubbling, giddy, steadfast joy. You can't spend time with Bethany without leaving feeling a little more of God's love and a little more of God's joy.
The best way to contact her and connect is through Facebook Messenger or Email at bethanymarshall87@gmail.com. Start the conversation. She is a wealth of wisdom, and you are guaranteed to giggle.