Marsha Elliott gave her heart to the Lord at the age of 19, experiencing God’s unmatched love and guidance through every season of her life. Despite her own weaknesses, she has found God to be ever patient and faithful. As she says, “there’s been times I have been unfaithful to Him, but He has always been faithful to me.”

For over a decade, Marsha supported her husband, Pastor James, as he led More Than Conqueror’s Ministry. Alongside her ministry involvement, Marsha built a fulfilling career with the New York City Department of Education, where she served for 30 years. Her journey began as a social worker, supporting students who faced traumatic experiences. Through her work, she found joy in loving these children and sharing God’s love, believing firmly that love never fails.

Marsha’s career progressed as she took on leadership roles, becoming an assistant principal and later a principal at elementary and middle schools in the South Bronx. Her final position before retiring in December 2020 was in the central office of the NYC Department of Education, where she helped train administrators, teachers, and staff to create safe and supportive school environments.

Marsha prayed for opportunities to mentor young women, and God answered her prayers in numerous ways. Among these opportunities is serving as a fieldwork supervisor for Brooklyn College students in the master’s program for educational leadership.

Currently, as president of Pure Heart’s Ministry Foundation (PHMF), Marsha and her husband James are actively mentoring Pastor Patrick Mukhwuana in Kenya. Together, they support his mission to develop the James1:27 Ministry, which serves, strengthens, and ministers to orphans and widows in Nakuru, Kenya.

Marsha and Pastor James hold a deep conviction that, in the Lord, the best is always yet to come.

As a child, James Elliott was known for his mischievous behavior and constant curiosity. He often found himself getting into trouble, whether it was by starting fires or mixing Yoohoo with medicine from the cabinet and offering it to unsuspecting relatives. His playful and adventurous spirit led him to identify most with the cartoon character Curious George.

James credits his transformation to the guidance of his “ol school mama” and his faith in Jesus. His mother took a firm stance, declaring herself his disciplinarian, which kept him on the right path. At the age of 15, James experienced a spiritual awakening and was saved, marking the most important turning point in his life.

After dedicating his life to Jesus, James pursued his calling by enrolling at Nyack College. He furthered his spiritual leadership training at R.W. Schambach’s East Texas Bible College in Tyler, Texas, preparing himself for a life of ministry.

James and his wife Marsha have shared 37 years of marriage and are blessed with three children, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. James faithfully served as a pastor for over ten years in Queens, New York, impacting many lives during his tenure.

Now affectionately known as Pastor James, he currently leads the Pure Heart Ministry Foundation alongside Marsha. Their work includes ministering and visiting Africa, where they witnessed firsthand the overwhelming poverty affecting widows and orphans. This experience deeply moved them to help meet the urgent needs of these vulnerable groups and to empower them to become self-sufficient.