Authors

Madlyn Marshall

by Stepping Into Victory

Stepping Into Victory Podcast

Meet co-author Madlyn Marshall. Madlyn’s entry in When Women Connect is Chapter 6 – From Manager to Mentor #whenwomenconnect #sivpodcast

Interview

Tell us about yourself.

I am originally from Seattle WA and was raised basically as an only child.  I came along late in my parent’s life, and being a loner, I would write in journals, and imagine doing something great in life, but not knowing what or how.  I moved to GA in 1995 and joined a small Baptist church, where I learned who I was in Christ, and discovered a purpose for my life. I also developed a heart for teaching biblical money management during my 13 years as the Chief Financial Officer for my local church.

I have worked in the field of Commercial Credit and Collections, General Accounting, and Business Management for over 30 years.  That experienced, coupled with my church experience, led to start a non-profit that would help people not only manager their finances, but gain an understanding of the source.  That was the beginning of G.R.A.C.E. Financial Ministry. GRACE is an acronym for “ God’s Resources Advancing Christian Evangelism” It is my intention for GRACE to make an impact in three distinct areas; Education, teaching biblical principles of money management.   Encouragement, writing creative fictional stories that show how God can and does work in our lives, and finally Restoration, establishing GRACE House, a high-end shelter primarily for woman and children who are escaping from abusive situations.

Who are the important women in your life? Why are they important to you?

Throughout my lifetime, I’ve had some awesome women pour into my life and encourage me to be the best I could be in what ever vocation I choose.  However, one of the most important woman in my life, was a co-worker I met after moving to Georgia. Esther was special because she was a Christian and exhibited a warm loving spirit even in the face of personal challenges.  She constantly invited me to visit her church, and told me she was praying for me, and it was in such a tender sweet non-intimating way. Esther is the godly woman who led me to Christ and mentored me during those early years of salvation.

After Esther, there were several others who showed me what being a true loving Christian woman looked like.  My manager at the time, Beth Copeland whom my essay is about, demonstrated a patience and a kindness that was foreign to me at the time.  My former pastor’s wife had a passion for encouragement and a strong desire to not only share the love of Christ but show the love of Christ in tangible ways.  These women lead by example, and personified Paul’s admonishment, “follow me as I follow Christ”.

What advice do you have for women who have been hurt by other women and are afraid to try new friendships?

My advice would be to first forgive the women who caused the hurt and pain.  This will free up your heart to be open to receive genuine love and friendship from other women.  I experienced this first hand. I didn’t have the best relationship with my mother, but God is a good God, He placed women in my life who inspired and encouraged me during my formative years.

Another lesson I’ve learned is some relationships are not meant to be lifetime relationships.  I’ve had friendships turn sour for no apparent reason, which caused me hurt and confusion. But once I began to understand the dynamics of relations; some are for a season in your life, and not meant to be for a lifetime, some relationships are for a reason, they are meant to teach you something or develop you in a specific area, and then there are some that are truly lifetime relationships.  These are the ones which grow and develops over time. These are the relationship where the women will walk with you through hard times and good times. Your prayer partners, your confidants. The trick is knowing which type of relationship it is and allowing the ones that are meant only for a season or reason to fade after they’ve served their purpose.

What advice do you have for making new friends or connections?

Being an introvert, I’m not as outgoing as some women I know, so I must purposefully try to interact with other women.  I’ve partnered with other non-profits and met some awesome women of God. But I had to do it on purpose, meaning I’ve had to and continue to come out of my comfort zone and try.  I don’t expect every interaction to result in a new friend or connection, but I learn something from each interaction that makes me a better woman.

Briefly describe your chapter in When Women Connect.

As I mentioned early my manager when I first arrived in Georgia was Beth Copeland.  She was a very caring manager and demonstrated her faith on a daily basis. She left the company and went on to start her non-profit, Putting God Back into Business.  Prior to her leaving the company she’d taken a role as a trainer to corporate executives. What they may or may not have known, the principles Beth used to conduct the training was based on Nehemiah and was later put into her book How to Lead People Without Losing Your Mind!  

Beth went on to start another non-profit, Georgia Christian Business Network, to offer Christian business owners a venue to network, share best practices and encourage one another.  It was at that time, years later Beth and I reconnected, and she became my business coach. My chapter prayerfully captures the impact she has had on my life, in my career, and future goals for the ministry.  

Share one of your favorite quotes or bible verses.

Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me that no matter what my situation or circumstances, I am to be content and know that God will never leave nor forsake me.  

Find Madlyn online at:

I can be reached on;

About the Co-Author

Madlyn Marshall is the Founder of G.R.A.C.E. Financial Ministry, Inc.  G.R.A.C.E. is an acronym for “God’s Resources Advancing Christian Evangelism”. G.R.A.C.E. Financial Ministry provides debt counseling, money management, along with the tools for credit restoration using biblical principles.  Madlyn has a heart for outreach, serving the community and actively works with non-profit organizations that assist individuals who are temporarily displaced and suffering hardships due to unemployment or underemployed.

Madlyn has worked in the fields of Consumer Credit, Commercial Collections and General Accounting for over 35 years and served over 13 years as the Chief Financial Officer for a local North Georgia church; where her passion for biblical money management began.

Madlyn is an author of several short stories and poems published under her own company, G.R.A.C.E. Publishing Inc.  The publishing company was established to publish biblical studies, focused on money management, and fictional inspirational writing. It is the goal of G.R.A.C.E. Financial Ministry to make an impact in three distinct areas:

  • Education with G.R.A.C.E.  Financial Ministry
  • Encouragement with G.R.A.C.E.  Publishing
  • Restoration with G.R.A.C.E.  House

Madlyn also volunteers her years of experience to help other organizations such as Every Woman Works, by facilitating financial education workshops for the women in the program as they re-enter the job market.  She also conducts budgeting workshops for the residents at the Nicholas House a residential shelter located in downtown Atlanta to equip the residents there to prepare to re-entry to living on their own and avoid the pitfalls that may have caused their financial crisis situation.

Madlyn is a recipient of the 2013 National Coalition of Women in Ministry Esther Award out of Memphis, TN, is a member of the Georgia Christian Business Network out of Lawrenceville GA, and is on the Board of Directors for Words of Comfort Ministries, Inc out of Snellville GA.

Books by Madlyn Marshall:

When Women Connect