I was born November 26, 1955 in Springfield, Missouri and was raised in a Baptist Preacher's home. My parents are Gerald and Judy Cheney currently of Bossier City, Louisiana. When I was four years old, my parents moved the family from Jacksonville, Florida to Tampa, Florida to start the West Gate Baptist Church. This is the church where I was saved on June 24, 1962. I remember my dad leaving the platform and coming to where I was at the altar. He knelt down beside me, opened up his Bible and led me to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and forgive me of all my sin. I was a broken-hearted little boy, realizing that because of my sin, Jesus died! Mother wept tears of joy as she came and stood with me after the church's morning invitation to Christ. I shall never forget that day. I remember it as vividly as if it took place only yesterday even though it took place forty-five years ago. I also remember that when I cried out to God in prayer that day, the weight of sin was lifted off of me. I can't explain it; I don't understand all of it, but I do know that God's salvation was extended to me as I received Jesus Christ as my only hope for Heaven. Praise His holy and precious name!
I was born-again at the age of six, and after becoming a teenager, I started to serve the Lord in the church bus ministry. I also served Him by singing in a trio with my mother and younger brother, Steven. Mother taught us how to sing harmony with her. We sang together all through my growing up years. I had a God given gift for music and that is what I pursued. God called me into full-time Christian service when I was fourteen years old.
While serving in the United States Navy, stationed on Okinawa, Japan for three and a half years, I met and married my wife, Debbie there in the Maranatha Baptist Church. Debbie was playing the piano for the church and of course I was a singer. I often say, "God sent me around the world to find her." Her dad was in the United States Air Force stationed there and she decided that before going to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri she would go to Okinawa for one year with her parents. God was putting both of us together and I thank Him for His leading and direction in this.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Navy in December 1978 I came to work for the Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church in Stephens City, Virginia. I was the Minister of Music there for three and a half years. I then moved to Springhill, Louisiana to help my dad and mother in a restaurant venture. While there, my two brothers and I started a men's trio ministry, singing together and travelling in the south central states of Lousiana, Arkansas, Texas, etc. After the group disbanded my wife and I moved to Whittier, California to help a church and its pastor there. From there God moved me to Stamps, Arkansas to serve the Lord in an evangelistic singing ministry. While there, I was contacted by Dr. Clarence Sexton who was pastoring the Madison Avenue Baptist Church in Paterson, New Jersey. My wife and I then moved to Paterson where I became the Minister of Music. After leaving there in 1987, Debbie and I moved to Winchester, Virginia, where we have been ever since.
I have been in a full-time music and evangelistic preaching ministry to the present date. We are members of the Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church in Stephens City, Virginia, pastored by Brother Eric Farel, which is my sending church. I just turned fifty years old on November 26, 2005 and am looking forward to serving the Lord Jesus until I hear the trumpet sound! May God bless you all, and please continue praying for us!
Your friend in Jesus Christ,
Marc Cheney
