ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
Blending Teens
Marshall, 32, grew up in nearby Pittsburgh. His father, Jeff Marshall, pastored New Day Assembly of God in Upper St. Clair from 2001-17 and now serves as a secretary-treasurer for the Penn-Del Ministry Network. Marshall’s sister Katie Booher now co-pastors the same church with her husband, Seth Booher.
In his youth, Marshall knew he would one day work in ministry.
“I fell in love with youth ministry and want to help a generation that struggles to understand commitment,” says Marshall.
Marshall graduated from Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 2010, and married his wife, Bethany, the same year. In 2011, they moved to Altoona and founded Refuge Youth Network. What started out as a single youth program at New Life Worship Center grew as pastors from nearby churches reached out to Marshall for help with their own youth programs.
Pastor Jim Balzano of Trans4mation Church contacted Marshall in 2013 to discuss what the logistics of combining youth programs might look like.
“I noticed there was already crossover between different youth groups,” says Balzano, 55. “We managed to leverage our resources and the outcome has been much bigger than expected. Micah has a gift for the youth.”
As the current youth pastor of four churches, Marshall in leading Refuge Youth Network now works with over 500 students. Marshall ensures there is a ministry presence by spending one day a week at each church, and hosting activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, movie club, and basketball, giving the youth many opportunities to make new friends. Refuge Youth Network also organizes volunteer work, such as helping with the annual Tyron carnival.
In addition, Marshall mentors younger youth pastors when needed and helps Bethany, who works as a behavior health worker at Penn Lincoln School, with her volunteer women’s ministries efforts.
“I am focusing on sharing this concept of youth networking,” says Marshall. “If there are several churches in a community that cannot afford a youth pastor, I want to show them how they can pool their resources to afford one and have a steady presence for the youth.”
Marshall also has created a handbook to help youth ministries get started in such an effort.
What to Read Next
Remembrance and Pursuit: 97-Year Old Minister Reflects on Decades of Ministry
Having been ordained for over 75 years, Ed Berkey shares memories and truths as he reflects on his ministry journey.
This Week in AG History -- Sept. 6, 1947
An ordained Methodist minister, a somewhat skeptical Samuel S. Scull visited Los Angeles in 1907 to check out the reported Pentecostal outpouring -- his life would never be the same!
Help for the Invisible Heroes and Heroines of Tragedy
Professional first responders have training and oftentimes counselors they can rely on to help them debrief and recover following a traumatic incident, but what about the actual first responders?
This Week in AG History -- July 5, 1941
Ben Hardin, who became known as "Little Ben," was an early AG minister who spent his life following God's leading, including pastoring the famous Stone Church in Chicago, becoming Southern California district superintendent, and fulfilling many other roles in his 40 years of ministry.
