History maker and pioneer who’s still going strong
For more than four decades evangelist Marilyn Harry has seen God work powerfully through her ministry. She told Chris Rolfe her story
From the moment Marilyn Harry became the first woman to be accepted as an Elim minister for half a century, it was clear she was a pioneer.
This was 1982, and Marilyn was embarking on an evangelistic calling through which God has moved powerfully ever since – with countless salvations, healings and miracles, along with the training and equipping of a multitude of evangelists.
Marilyn’s ministry story begun in the 1970s, shortly after she came to faith aged 19.
“The night I was saved I had a sense I was going to preach the gospel, which is amazing, really, because I had no idea what that meant!” she says. Working as a midwife for the next decade, her faith grew as she began to experience God’s miraculous healing power.
“One night a newborn baby girl had died in the maternity department,” she says. “She was confirmed dead by the doctor and it was my responsibility to wash her and give her to her mum and dad to hold.
“I went to lift this lifeless baby and she came alive in my arms. It was a medically recorded miracle.”
In 1982, Marilyn graduated from Elim’s Bible College (now Regents Theological College). She continued to witness God’s power while working as assistant minister to evangelist Paul Epton in Birk- enhead. Here, she experienced for herself the value of mentoring and training. “Paul moved in signs and wonders and we saw wonderful miracles,” she says. “Every time he preached, people were saved and it really encouraged me.”
Eighteen months later, when her father died suddenly, Marilyn returned to the Rhondda Valley. With a deep love for her Welsh homeland, she began her evangelistic work there.
Alongside a team of co-workers, she travelled extensively throughout the UK with a 500-seat tent and saw thousands of salvations and miracles.
Training others in this ministry came naturally and Marilyn enjoyed seeing gifts develop in those she mentored.
“For years while we were on mission with the tent we’d meet for prayer and 2training in the mornings, then take people out on the streets in the afternoons and run gospel healing services in the evenings.”
This developed into the Harvest Time schools of evangelism led by Nigel and Maria Phipps, Geoff and Jane Blease, Derrick and Anne Wilks and David and Jan Holdaway, through which hundreds were trained and equipped.
Today, at the Love Wales mission Centre in Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent, the ministry training and equipping continues at the Revival Ministry School.
Here, more than 50 students learn in-person or online from gifted Bible teachers David and Jan Holdaway and receive lots of opportunities to take part in mission.
The Love Wales centre – a former pub and restaurant set in five acres of grounds – is also a busy community hub. It welcomed more than 1,500 unchurched people of all ages through its doors in 2023, giving all a chance to hear the gospel through its community café, Healing House, Revival Ministry School, gospel services, prayer and frequent outreaches.
At the centre, Marilyn has met and spotted the potential of many of her mentees as they have taken part in the ministry school or volunteered at the café and fun days.
“Some people are natural evangelists. Others are looking for help on how to share the message of Jesus and it’s a joy to help them on their way.” Much of this is done through friendship, she says. But she adds that leading by example and taking people on mission are also great ways to teach and equip.
“I took eight people to Uganda in September, a number of whom had never been on mission overseas before. It’s a life-changing and faith-building experience. I look for people who could preach or minister to others then train them and give them opportunities to use their gifts. You see Jesus do remarkable things on mission.”
Marilyn has her sights set on mission closer to home too, with an ambitious outreach plan for Wales this summer. Those she is mentoring will be central to making it happen. “There will be lots of strategic evangelism through missions, led by people I’m training.”
As she ministers in Wales and overseas, Marilyn is more than happy to let others take the platform and loves seeing those she is mentoring gain confidence.
“Giving people opportunities is hugely important and sometimes we need to step aside to bring people up. I get as much pleasure seeing others evangelising as I get from doing it myself, and some of the people I’ve trained over the years are far better preachers than me!”
The impact Marilyn has had on us
Geoff and Jane Blease, Love Wales leaders
Our first experience of Marilyn’s ministry was in 1984 at the JIM Challenge event. This was a demonstration of her passion for God and her powerful communication of the gospel message – with signs and wonders following. We were struck by the sense of the presence of God as she ministered and nothing has changed all these years later!
Since then, we have discovered Marilyn to be one of the most anointed, dynamic and inspiring evangelists. She personifies the love of God, imparts faith and demonstrates the kingdom of God in her preaching, with souls saved, miraculous healings and deliverances. Everyone who hears her is encouraged and drawn closer to Jesus.
We have been privileged to work with Marilyn over the years, leading a School of Evangelism linked to her Harvest Time ministry in the 90s, latterly joining the core team of her Love Wales ministry. Marilyn exemplifies what it is to be a follower of Christ – a true disciple and a discipler of others for the glory of God.
Elaine Roberts, associate principal, Every Nation Bible School UK
Mentoring is about seeing something in someone that they don’t see in themselves, then encouraging them to go forward in it. That’s what Marilyn did for me.
I met her in 2000 on a tent mission and spent time with her as she prayed for people. At the end she told me, “Elaine, you’ve got it.” I asked what she meant and she said, “You’re an evangelist. Start your own evangelis- tic ministry and take the gospel to the church and the world.”
What she said was confirmed: at the Elim Conference at Prestatyn in 2001 a friend told me she’d dreamed that I started my own evangelistic ministry. Then during prayer ministry, Paul Epton told me “You need to start your own evangelistic ministry.”I felt God tell me I needed to do a tent mission the following year. Marilyn encouraged me, so I booked it in faith. Everything I’ve done since then has come from that moment.
Marilyn is a history-maker because of her pioneering spirit.
Trudy Makepeace, Elim minister
I first met Marilyn when I was managing a rehab centre in South Wales . She was visiting someone there and told me the Lord immediately gave her a love for me. I went with her on mission to Rwanda. It was incredible witnessing Marilyn’s ministry there; seeing many people coming to Jesus, so many miracles and how she led and shared with her team.
Her ministry has always inspired me because it’s been marked by humility and the power of the Holy Spirit. I see God break out in power in her meetings or when she prays for people – just like you read about in the Bible.
Marilyn’s warmth, love and humanity drew me to her like a magnet. I’ve also picked up her style that when I’m equipping or teaching I always want to worship, pray, teach, then activate rather than simply preach.
Sarah Weaver, Elim Minister in Training
I started working with Mari- lyn three years ago when I applied to become a Minister in Training and she agreed to be my mentor. It’s been a massive privilege to sit at her feet and learn from her. Every six weeks I stay with her and she asks where I’m at. I tell her what I’m doing and she guides me as she shares her own stories. They are wonderful conversations with a woman who is full of wisdom.
She’s called out the evangelist in me and spoken about me training others. She’s also called out things in my character. She said once, “Sarah I have a baton to pass on, but I’m running at the same time.”
At 72 years of age, Marilyn is still going strong for Jesus. The things she does give me confidence to step out and go for God.
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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