Pastor Marv, was born and raised in NE Ohio and has had a magnificent, God-directed journey leading to an undying service to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Marked from birth, there were pastors in every generation on his father’s side of the family dating back to the early 19th century.

The expeditition began with being raised during the tumultuous ‘60s and ‘70s, witnessing what was deemed contradictory to his Christian upbringing.  His journey led him to investigate and research a variety of world views including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Taoism, Rosacrucians & Rastafarian to name a few. 

Very much in the world at the time, Pastor Marv chased after the secular lifestyle trying to fill a God sized void in his life before giving himself to the Lord in December of 1988.  However, he learned the hard way that there was much more to becoming a Christian than receiving “fire insurance” when he found himself on the wrong side of the law.  

It was during this period that Pastor Marv finally made a serious heart felt and complete life changing commitment to serve the Lord with every fiber of his being.

Pastor Marv was licensed in the State of Ohio in 1993 & was ordained in 2003. He attended University of Akron and graduated from The Ohio State University.  For the past fifteen years he has studied advanced biblical teachings under Dr. Ray Wolfe, Professor of Hebrew/Greek Studies and former Dean of Moody Bible Institute Night School.

Pastor Marv & his wife Mary Michel founded Bridging The Gap Ministries and had their first service January 7, 2007 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  Prior to starting their ministry, Pastor Marv served as Youth Pastor & Associate Pastor at The Father’s House (formerly Grace Fellowship) in Norton, Ohio.