BIOGRAPHY
OF
DR. JOSEPH L. MARSHALL
Pastor, Academician, Administrator, Public Theologian and Patriarch
Dr. Joseph L. Marshall was born on January 23, 1971, in Pensacola, Florida. On August 28, 1989, he joined the U. S. Navy serving 23 years with the highlight of his career as the Assistant Administrative Officer for the U. S. Navy Blue Angels from 1996 to1999. During his career he received 15 service ribbons, including five Navy achievement medals and selections as Volunteer of the Year and Sailor of the Year awards.
Dr. Marshall was licensed on February 23, 1993, at First Community Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi and ordained on January 8, 1995 at the Englewood Missionary Baptist Church, Pensacola, Florida. It was at Englewood Baptist Church where he began to nurture the pastoral calling and the desire to be theologically trained. Having served as Sunday School Teacher, Christian Education Instructor/Director, Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor, and Interim Pastor; Pastor Marshall embarked on the journey of professional ministry.
The Pastor – Dr. Marshall served eight years as Pastor of New Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Under his anointed leadership the attendance grew from thirteen members to 257 active members. New Providence experienced phenomenal growth numerically, financially, and spiritually. Currently, Dr. Marshall serves as Pastor of St. John Divine Missionary Baptist Church, one of the largest African-American congregations in Pensacola, Florida. The church has flourished under his leadership adding 300 new and active members in the first three years of his pastoral ministry.
The Administrator – Dr. Marshall provides leadership and management to the following organizations: First - Vice Moderator of First West Florida District Association, President Baptist Ministers' Union of Pensacola and Vicinity, Mayoral appointment to serve as council member of revitalization for The City of Pensacola, Board of Directors Florida General Baptist Convention, and served seven years as the Assistant Director General for the State of Florida where he worked directly with the President of the Florida General Baptist Congress of Christian Education.
The Academician – Dr. Marshall is scholastically well credentialed having received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Christian Life School of Theology (Columbus, Georgia), Bachelor of Science Social Science from (Troy University), Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Faith Evangelical Seminary (Tacoma, Washington), Master of Divinity from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia) and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice University and Seminary (Atlanta, Georgia) received on May 14, 2010. Dr. Marshall research and dissertation was Understanding The Leadership Potential Within African American Men: The Church and Home. He is a proud graduate of the Navy's Advanced School of Business Administration and has completed prior studies at Virginia Union University, and WHW School of Ministry where he has extensively studied expository preaching for eight years comprising Greek, Hebrew, Jewish manners and Customs, along with Syntax and Context.
The Public Theologian – Dr. Marshall has an express interest in the plight of African-American males and their absence in church and society and travels extensively as a lecturer on this topic; he is in popular demand as an anointed and gifted preacher and public speaker. Dr. Marshall is a member of the local Advisory Counsel of One Church, One Child of Florida, and the NAACP. He continues to write and has aspirations for publishing.
The Patriarch – Joseph is married to the lovely Terri Farrow-Marshall and the father of three children: Jocelyn, Joseph, and Jordyn. Dr. Marshall is an active member of Pensacola Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and is the first from the chapter to preach at a Provincial meeting. Dr. Marshall is humble, respectful and lives by the following philosophical statement: Though grateful for all that God has done, I am humble and submissive, understanding that all I have achieved is nothing unless my relationship with God is maintained and cultivated with continued passion and purpose.
