Reverend Marks with his favorite book.

Rev. Carl Marks of Arnoldsburg will celebrate 55 years as a preacher on Wednesday, Mar. 11.

He was born in Braxton County, the son of James Curt and Lucy Marks, and had 11 siblings.

When he was six, the family moved to Upper Nicut in Calhoun. He went to Frozen Run School until the seventh grade. At 16, he stayed with his aunt and uncle, Rev. Doy and Madeline King, and helped them on their farm.

During a revival at Fairview Methodist Church, Lower Nicut, Marks was saved. He felt in his heart that his calling was to become a preacher, even though he was afraid to tell anyone.

When he attended a revival at Gip Community Church, the preacher, Roy Hardway, told the congregation that “something” is blocking this revival. Carl prayed and thought about what Hardway had said all night.

He knew he was the reason for the unsuccessful revival, since he had never told anyone what his true calling was. The next evening, he stood up and told the church that he was called to preach. The “church broke loose” and through the next week, 13 people were saved.

On Mar. 11, 1954, now 17, he preached his first sermon at the Gip church. He prayed, “Why would God want an old country boy like me?” He remembers reading scripture, but doesn’t remember a word he said after that, since he was so nervous.

Marks recalls that his uncle Rev. Doy King, Rev. Kenneth Cruickshanks and Pastor Billy Schoolcraft were inspirations. Rev. Glendon McKee was supportive of Carl when he returned to high school and during Carl’s ministries.

Marks became an ordained minister in 1972 in the same church he preaches at to this day, Walnut Grove Community Church, Barnes Run.

Carl and his wife Barbara have been married for 27 years and have 10 children combined. Along with other family members, he sings in the Marks Family gospel group.

 
Barbara and Carl Marks