Pastor Ben Marshall recently joined our church staff in May 2007. He and his family relocated from Terre Haute, IN, in order to join us. Ben felt called to the ministry in his sophomore year in high school. He realized that he would not be happy doing anything else. He attended ISU for one year, then transferred to Central Bible College in Springfield, MO, where he earned his BA in Biblical Studies. He is Licensed to Preach with the Assemblies of God.

He and his wife, Jen, met at a church sponsored event, after which they dated for seven years. They have been married since July 2001, and have a son named Tyson and a daughter named Ava. From a young age, Jen knew that she was to be a pastor's wife. She supports Ben by praying for him, encouraging him, and giving him ideas. She reminds him what is important, and helps to keep him focused. They have both served as volunteers for a variety of ministries at the church he grew up in, including Sunday School Teachers, Nursery Workers, Youth Leaders, and Prison Ministry.

Ben is a quiet, reflective person, though he's outgoing to an extent. He likes the outdoors, especially camping, hiking, and canoeing. He likes football, volleyball, and paintball. His favorite thing to do is spend time with his family. He describes himself as a simple person with big dreams. Jen likes the outdoors as well. Some of the things she likes to do are jewelry making, shopping, and cooking.

Ben's heart is to see the church as a whole, thrive. He realizes that a big part of it is youth -- teens, college, and career. He has a heart for the lost, and wants to see the church grow due to new converts, not transfer growth. He loves to break the stereotypes that people have of Christians. He believes living the Christian life doesn't have to be routine and mundane. It can be fun, and exciting. He loves working with youth because they are open and willing to try new and different things, not to mention they're pretty forgiving. If he could teach the youth only one thing, it would be for them to not just be ordinary, but to be open to the Holy Spirit.