We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marcus T Clyburn Sr.. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marcus T below.

Hi Marcus T , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Life is filled with many challenges. There are going to be things that come your way especially if you are doing what God has called you to do. I am a Christian and anytime you profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ there are many attacks that the enemy will use to try and detour you from the purpose God has for your life. Recently God had given me a dream. In this dream God called me to preach. If anyone know me they will tell you that I had no interest in pursuing this position, as it is a great responsibility. I told God if this is something that He wants me to do, He will have to show my Pastor. Reason being is because I knew that my Pastor was not on board. To my surprise God revealed it to my Pastor. Many times we are afraid to step out and do what God told us to do because we are afraid of what people will say. From the point I became an ordained minister and I am now ministering and sharing the gospel of Christ. This was a risk for me because I didn’t know if my Pastor would see the call but God revealed it to him. So I would say to anyone, make sure you stand on what God has called you to do. Even if it seems foolish to others. If God called you to something. Trust and believe that God knows what He is doing. People may laugh at you, mock you, discourage you, talk about you, misunderstand you and disrespect you. But my advice to you is trust God no matter what. If God is for you, there is no one that can be against you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Marcus and I am a Christian author, counselor and minister. It’s amazing to me that I am doing these things as I never believed that I was worthy of anything. I’ve never saw myself as special in any compacity. Coming from the environment in which I was raised it was seldom to see anything positive. I’ve seen a lot of young men including myself fall victim to our surroundings due to not having our fathers. Although I grew up in this environment I always wanted better for my life because I wanted to be a positive role model for those young men coming up behind me. My mother always told me that whenever I make it out of my environment to never forget where I came from and give back. This is why I founded the Marcus T Clyburn Foundation. This foundation mentors at risk teens by offering these teens with life coaching that consists of behavioral counseling. As well as academic counseling or simply just someone that they can talk to. This foundation has granted scholarships to high school seniors going off to college, as well as helping students get back on track academically. I am able to do this because I know first hand what its like to make bad decisions and suffering from those bad decisions. I was kicked out of college not once, but twice. My GPA in college was a o.286. Me hitting rock bottom I told God if He could fix my life I would give my heart to Him. God made it possible by allowing me to be reinstated back into college. He used great people; Ella Hargette, Bill Nash, Charlesa Hann, Denise Ross, Amanda Sudol, and Mrs. Bea Colson. All of whom contributed to my education due to me losing all funding due to my horrendous grades. Due to their contributions I was able to graduate with a college degree and I was able to go on and obtain my Masters degree. Because of their generosity I wanted to make the same impact on others that these people had on me. Which is why I wanted to create a foundation that will spark change in the lives of others.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that my identity was not found in this world. My identity was to be found in Christ. I had to learn that I could not allow culture to shape how I think and view life. Many times we let our environment, how we were raised, and societal expectations set the limits for our life. We tend to adapt to what’s around us. We allow culture to shape how we think, how we behave and ultimately how we view life. In doing so we become bound to the world’s system that was infiltrated and created by Satan. As a result we are held bondage to the culture of this world. ​Well you don’t have to continue to be bound, you can be set free. But in order for you to be set free from the enemy we have to detach from the expectations of society. We have to allow God to change our way of thinking so that we can be transformed into the people that God has called us to be. God didn’t create you to just fit in and be like everyone else. God created you to stand out, and to go beyond the societal culture and norm. You do not have to be an product of your environment. You can be a product that affects your environment. No matter what environment you were brought up in, you are able to go further than what you see. You are able to set a new standard of living. You may be in an environment where people are bound to the societal norms. However, there is good news for you! You don’t have to allow that to be how you live your life. But here’s the key: don’t let that become normal in your thinking. If you accept that mindset it will keep you from the purpose that God has for your life.
​As people of God the Bible tells us that we may be in this world but we are not of this world. You may be in a limited environment, but you don’t have to be of it. Don’t let that environment get in you. If you see the societal norms long enough, your mind can become conditioned to thinking, this is who I am. No, that’s where you are, but that’s not who you are. That may be what’s been normal, but through Jesus Christ you can be a generational curse breaker. You have the ability to break out and go further through the power of the Holy Ghost.
​Sometimes people that are bound to the culture will try to put you in a box. They’ll tell us such things such as, “You will never be anything. You will be just like your mama and daddy. You will never be good enough.” Because their thinking is limited, they will try to put their limitations on you. Well I am telling you now, you don’t have to accept those lies. You don’t have to accept the societal expectations. You were created for a purpose.
So don’t allow the enemy to get you off the path God has for your life. You don’t have to be bound to the world’s culture. Make it up in your mind right now that you are going to set the new standard. I pray that this book will bless you and encourage you to not fit in. I pray that this book will encourage you to not seek validation from the world, because the world will say that it is not cool being a Christian. The world will make you feel bad for being a Christian. Although this is the case, stand on the word of God. Rest and assure that if God is for you, there is nothing that can be against you. Always remember you are a child of God. Therefore you have not been called to fit in, but you have been called to be set apart.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There was a time as a teenager that I was suicidal. I attempted to take my life and was almost successful. Depression had took a tole on me and I wanted my life to end because I thought that death would be better. I felt like I had nothing to live for. I allowed the enemy to get the best of me. However God intervened and He stopped me from ending my life. God used a sweet soul to show me how much He really loved me. He used the most beautiful young lady I’ve ever seen to show me that I was somebody special. All my imperfections was embraced by this young lady. Because of this I fell completely in love with her. When I saw her I was reminded on how much God loved me. That young lady became my wife. I’m still in awe that God would create such a sweet soul just for me. I wanted to share that story because at times we feel as if we have no purpose in our lives. We don’t feel like anyone love us and our live doesn’t matter. But I want to let you know that the devil is a lie. Our purpose is found in the hands of God. If we seek Him for our purpose and not this world we will learn that we were created for a purpose. Your life is meaningful and you were created by the hands of God. As we know God doesn’t make mistakes. You are not a mistake. You were created for a purpose. The enemy doesn’t want you to find your purpose, he doesn’t want you to know that you are loved. But the Bible says that God has come to give us life, and have life more abundantly. In order to find your purpose and reap the benefits of being a child of God, I encourage you to give your heart to Jesus Christ. Allow Him to save you. Allow Jesus to transform your life. Jesus Christ loves you. He gave up His life so that you can have eternal life. The Bible says that while you were yet still a sinner Jesus died for you. Why not give your life to a man that gave up His life for you. Accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior was the best decision I ever made. He changed my mind, He changes my heart. He delivered me from sin and I was able to find my identity in Him. So I encourage you, don’t give up, give in. Give in to the kingdom of God by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is waiting on you I dare you to let Him in your heart. I promise you, you will come to know that Jesus is the answer to all your problems.

Contact Info:

• Website: MarcusTClyburnMinistries.com
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