Football laid the foundation for A n investment in people

P ootball has proved to be the A foundation for the building of discipline and character in a young missionary's heart

Roy Marshall,asenior from Petersburg, W.Va.,always hadthe incentive toplay footballwhen hewas younger

"My parents finally letme tryout my junior year ofhigh school," Marshallsaid "Imade the team and started theseason. Attheendofthe season I was named all-state linebacker for our school

"My senior year set the pace for sports inmy lifeand Ifound out the realimportance ofbeing physicallyin shape," he said "That year Iwasvoted most valuable player andagainallstatelinebacker while Iserved as captain ofour team.

Being involved insports taught me two things,discipline and how to get respect from my peers," Marshall said "I found out people respected athletes who were honest and Ihad the opportunity of being a spiritual leader to them."

But high school slipped away quickly and Marshall found himself at Liberty Baptist College wondering what was more important—playing football or serving God?

Having caught the burden tominister tothe Indians from hisfather, who was a Navy lieutenant and traveled the midwest frequently,Marshall saw the Indian society as "proud people who have been discouraged."

"I felt the need to understand the relationship between the white people and theIndians," he said "They're a people who need assurance not only of safety and protection,buta people who need theassurance of God."

Marshall, who also heads up the weightlifting andprison ministriesof Men ofArmour,is theyouth pastor at Longwood Avenue Baptist Church in Bedford He plans toaccept thechallenge ofbuilding a church inPetersburg,W.Va.,tobe themother church beginning a ministry totheIndians

"Investing my lifeinpeople," Marshall said, "is doing the impossible with God incontrol."

-Pam Morris •

Roy Marshall, after capturing the young audience's attention, explains God'splan of salvation. Marshall played football forfour years at LBC.