Pastor Marilyn Smith has spent the past twenty nine years laboring in the Kingdom of God because of the love of Jesus Christ. She, along with her husband, Charles, founded Labor of Love Ministries USA, which is a member of Labor of Love USA Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International. The ministry is a dynamic fellowship located in the East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania area of the Pocono Mountains where the Lord sent them to take the city for Jesus Christ in 1983. With a sure foundation from 1 Corinthians 14:12, "As much as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to excel to build up the body of Christ," Pastor Marilyn and Pastor Charles dared to believe God and trust Him for the region God sent them to in the mountains.
With a simple strategy and plan to win the lost for Jesus Christ, by the late eighties the ministry hosted over 40 Contemporary Christian concerts. Thousands of souls were saved. Accordingly, their ministry has grown, flourished and continues to bloom known for the spectacular worship ministry and presence of the Lord. Rich in teaching the Word, Labor of Love Ministries is touching the lives of its community through pursuing their mission found in Malachi 4:6, "Turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, and hearts of the children to their fathers."
In 1992, their oldest daughter, Dawn Marie, at the age of 17 was tragically killed in an automobile accident. This catapulted the vision to build a concert hall using the arts to reach this generation for Christ.
Today, the ministry also hosts a summer basketball league which is a safe haven to the youth in the city entitled, "Turning the Hearts". Of course, Pastor Marilyn would be challenged personally to attest to the very mission of
the ministry. This woman of God knows what it is to be praying mother to see the promises of God fulfilled in each and every one of her promised seed. Pastor Marilyn found herself crying out to God for the
lives of her own children. Today, Pastor Marilyn and Pastor Charles is blessed to have seven children, some of whom have tremendous testimonies of deliverance from drugs and alcohol. The same anointing of God
has fallen upon their children and four grandchildren.
So Pastor Marilyn stands today as a bold intercessor and leader of a mighty ministry where her children are quite instrumental in affecting the region for Jesus. Their young adult ministry, known as the Awakening, is led by Pastor Marilyn's daughter Robin. The ministry which teaches people that you can be normal and love God and be pure in this crazy world, has expanded to a local university and alternative high school. Her daughter Kimberly is a local and international missionary who also assists with the basketball program. Son, Jason and daughter, Robin, together stand as leaders of the Praise and Worship ministry. Pastor Marilyn and Pastor Charles also serve as the Chaplain team for the SARPD (the City's police Department), and Pastor Charles and Robin travel all over this nation as the Chaplain/Pastor for the NBA and lower league Basketball players and their families.
Pastor Marilyn is touchable, reachable and loves to serve the Lord. She considers it an honor to have over 20 years of apostolic ministry in the Philippines. Also, she has recently finished authoring her first book, " Abraham's Promise" a book which reveals the love Jesus has for us and illustrates through the book of Ruth, the shadows and types that symbolize future events in the nation of Israel.
