Shalom Dear Friends,
Let me introduce myself to you all. My name is Marshall Seaborn and my early life was lived in our nation’s capital, the city of Washington, D.C., where also I was born, grew up, went to school and eventually graduated from High School. On a side note, I also managed to get into a little trouble along the way as is typical for many inner-city kids like myself. Thanks to the Lord’s providential care, I was spared any involvement with the local authorities or our wonderful American legal system.
My parents separated early in my life and my mom and grandparents were left, at least for short while, to raise my 6 siblings and myself. In the space of 6 years, beginning in Junior High School we lost both our grandparents and our mom. This was for me, the real genesis of my life.
My grandmother had always piled us into her car every Sunday morning and taken us to New Hope Freewill Baptist Church in Southeast D.C. for services. On Wednesday nights some of us would go with her to the prayer service. I really liked it. Songs were sung, the preacher would preach and afterwards there was sweet potato pie and grape soda (a real sweet deal).
After my mom passed, I dreamt every night for about a year, that she left but had come back to life. In the dream, I would become very happy (I loved my mom very much). These dreams made me wonder “what happens when a person dies?” It wasn’t long after that when I was about 13 years old that I was introduced by a friend to two ladies from her old neighborhood who were “Spirit-filled” believers in Jesus. We visited their home and begin to talk about the Bible and suddenly I remembered these stories, that they were telling me. These were the same stories told to me, as a child, by my mother. Then I remembered promises I made to my mom as she would read these stories like “I’ll never use drugs”, “I won’t steal”, “I’ll be good”, etc... (I had broken them all).
As Bobbie (one of the lady’s name) was telling me these stories that night, all of sudden, it became extremely hot in the apartment. It’s hard to describe, but it was like I was in another place at the same time. I was overcome by a presence of peace. I thought I was lying down resting, but I was sitting upright in a chair. I told her what was going on, and she said that I was in the presence of God. I didn’t want to leave, it felt so peaceful and then it was over.
They invited me to visit their church and so I did. I can’t remember exactly when but not long after visiting, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and became a tongue talking charismatic (now Torah observant and Hebrew speaking).
Fast forward 45 years. I met someone who was a Messianic believer who introduced me to the idea of the dietary laws for believers today. I decided to study and pray and see if what he was saying was true. One day while reading Mt. 7, I could, for the first time, see and understand what Yeshua meant when he said “…in that day many will come to me and say Lord, Lord, … and I will say to them depart from me I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness.” That day my life pivoted toward the path he was directing me to. It was also around this time, circa 2013, that I first found Izzy’s Hebrew Quest videos on the Internet and registered. Later I encounter others like, Karaite Nehemia Gordon and associate Keith Johnson of BFA International who have teachings about the Name of G-d.
From the age of 13 when I agreed to follow “Jesus”, I determined that wherever he would lead me; I would follow. In fact, in our marriage vows, I made a covenant to lead wherever he would lead us. The Lord brought to me my heart’s desire and lovely wife, Deborah, now of 37 years. He gave us 3 children; Joannah, Martina and Jonathan (who’s now a non-verbal adult with autism) whom we have raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
In the early days of my walk with the Lord, I fell in love with the Scripture which I wanted to read it in the original language. After 40 years, almost to the year, I legitimately began the process of speaking and reading the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint and NT are next). I carried Hebrew flashcards, and an Interlinear Hebrew/Greek Bible around for 40+ years never really understanding it, except a word here and there. But now I can read and speak Hebrew, Biblical and Modern.
I’ve been walking with the Lord now 49 years and in many ways my walk is just beginning. I’m finally beginning to understand what it means to follow Yeshua in a Hebrew way and I hope to walk this walk in community with all of you from the “Holy Language” Tribe.
Oh, by the way, I managed to get a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Alabama, learned to design computer hardware and write software. I play and love golf, and have made my first trip to Israel with BFA International (in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic—Interesting stories to tell about that).
I want to say so much more but this “introduction” is already way too long. We’ll talk later.
Love you all and Shalom,
Marshall
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