Question: Where are you originally from?
Answer: Washington, DC and Landover, MD. Currently, I make my home in Atlanta, GA.
Question: How many siblings do you have?
Answer: I have one sister - Dr. Carla A. Stokes. I also claim two brothers who are very dear to me.
Elder Daniel Russell, Jr. and Dedrick Russell. I have two wonderful sisters-in-law Judy Russell and Valerie Russell
respectively and one niece, Deja (Dedrick and Valerie are her parents). I love them all!
Question: Are you and Carla twins?
Answer: In the past few years, we've been asked this question quite a lot.
I'm surprised because I really don't think we look alike. No, Carla and I are not
twins. We actually are quite a few years apart in age. The older we get, the more
we look alike. Ok, so now that I'm looking at Carla's picture to the right of this statement...
and...well...maybe we do look a little like twins (LOL), but nope, she's just my LITTLE sister!
Question: How did Marcia Stokes Ministries get started?
Answer: In 2001, I experienced a very emotional, personal and heavy spiritual attack. Since I thought the attack was intended to destroy me, I decided to seek the Face of God for the best way to respond. He met me in prayer as never before. I leaned on the LORD so heavily that when the attack ended, I found myself with an extremely effective prayer life. God impressed on my heart a need to share with others what I had learned - praying works! I had been a part of an in-house church prayer ministry for years but I never experienced effective, fervent prayer like this before. The LORD catapulted me toward my destiny by prompting me start Marcia Stokes Ministries. I wanted to name it something other than my name but He would not allow it. The ministry began as a women's ministry and our focus was on prayer. Over a short period of time, our ministry changed to a prayer ministry with focus on the world (international prayer). We connected with folks in other countries, doors opened for prayer, hearts were knitted together and the rest, as they say, is history. We have been growing, yearly, ever since we started. Our intention is to birth out Intercessors - globally.
Question: Other than Jesus Christ, who has been most influential in your life?
Answer: That's a challenging question. My parents (Deacon James Stokes and Dr. Almeta Stokes) have been very influential in my life (and they continue to be). They taught me about the LORD from the beginning of my life.
My Mom use to make my sister and me say Scriptures and pray
in the car while she drove us to school. My Dad taught me about
business and helped me establish my first business when I was
in the 7th grade (a hair braiding business). My grandmother,
Mrs. Annie Horne Sturdivant Bush, influenced everything about
my lifestyle. She was the classiest lady I ever met. She taught
me how to dress well and look good even when I was flat broke.
Then, on top of that, she taught me how to be consistent
in my relationship with God. I lived with her on and off until I was
about 19. During those years, I use to watch and listen to her
pray by the window EVERY morning. She would just stand there
and talk to God like she talked to me. It always intrigued
me. When I was very young, she used to let me get on my
knees with her at night as she knelt beside the bed and prayed.
Sometimes, she prayed so long...well...you know what happened! LOL
She truly planted a seed called "prayer" into my life
early on --- and it's still blossoming.
Others who have influenced me in life include my sister Carla (she's so faithful and loyal!!!), my spiritual parents (Pastor Emeritus Jake Butler and Sister Harriett Butler), my god-mother (First Lady Nickey Valentine Barber), Pastor Harold and Rev. Kellie Hayes (they birthed me out in ministry and then released me to move to Atlanta to do what God called me to do), Pastor Marlin Harris (he taught me how to exegete a text), Dr. Bennie E. Calloway, III (he taught me how to do ministry by providing me an excellent example to follow and he showed me how to preach to 10 like you preach to a 1,000 - I can hear him now..."PREACH DAUGHTER!"), Bishop Eddie Long (he made me believe I could do anything including a buy a house...and I did!!!), Pastor Wendell Green (my very first pastor and the one who encouraged me as a child as I recited my Easter poem!), all the saints from Gospel Spreading Church of God (my home church in DC) and so many others.
My pastor, Keith D. Brooks, has influenced my life significantly during the past several years. He is a pastor who is serious about his walk with the LORD AND serious about helping others as they walk with the LORD. He loves his congregation and it's reciprocal. He has major influence in the city of Atlanta and he is a recording artist He's the kind of pastor who visits the sick and shows up to student games. When I'm getting ready to travel for ministry, he takes time to pray for and with me and sometimes, he even goes with us on the road (check out the pictures from the 2005 DC Prayer Breakfast)! Oh yeah, he's also taught me how to live HOLY! I've grown so much under his pastorship.
Question: When not ministering, what do you do?
Answer: I travel a LOT! I love to travel. I travel for professional reasons, for personal reasons and for ministerial reasons. I just love to travel. When I'm not traveling, I enjoy reading (especially biographies), attending plays and concerts and socializing with friends. My greatest joys are to be at the beach and at the spa!
Question: Who is your favorite musical artist?
Answer: Hands Down - CeCe Winans! I love the way she worships and I love the way she sings!
Question: Who is your webmaster?
Answer: Oh - this is my favorite question. Right now - Marcia Stokes is my webmaster! Yep, that's right. I'm the one behind the website updates. It's fun and easy!
Question: Who creates the ministry e-mail blasts and promotional flyers?
Answer: Well, I leave that to the professionals. I work with three graphic artists. I'm happy to share their info with anyone who's interested - they are ALL good.
Question: Who took your pictures?
Answer: My good friend and outstanding Atlanta based photographer -
She has a private studio and I find her to be easy to work with, quite professional
and extremely affordable. She makes everybody look GOOD! Contact her soon!
