Drew Marshall
Encyclopedia
Drew Marshall is the host of The Drew Marshall Show, a spiritual talkback radio show. His show airs live on CJYE based in Oakville, Ontario
.
, Ontario by his adoptive parents Grant and Leone Marshall. He grew up living above the family business Marshall Funeral Home. Struggling through his early years, kicked out of four schools and dropping out of high school at age 17, Drew left Ontario and ran away to California. Marshall worked off an on for four years at Hume Lake, California before returning to Ontario where he became the program director at Teen Ranch Canada. He then pursued a career in football
and tried out for the NFL as well as the Toronto Argonauts
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
and the Ottawa Rough Riders
. Marshall also trained for a career as a fire fighter.
In 1997 Marshall and his wife moved to Australia. Marshall joined the pastoral team at a church where he was responsible for the development of a contemporary, post-modern style of service, and the provision of practical pastoral counselling. Marshall stayed at Glenbrook Baptist Church for five years before deciding to leave the ministry and move back to Canada.
Although Marshall never completed high school, he later went on to study at Humber College
, Sheridan College
, Tyndale University College & Seminary and Morling College
in Sydney, Australia. His areas of study range from Theology & Counseling to Anatomy & Physiology.
. Since then, he has interviewed numerous celebrities including B.B. King, Kathie Lee Gifford
, Chuck Norris
, Tim Conway
, Alice Cooper
, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
, Randy Travis
, Candace Cameron and James Brown
.
Marshall's show deals with subjects and people on the fringe of Christian culture and will interview people who do not identify as Christian such, as the High Priest of the Wiccan (Wicca
) Church of Canada, ex-porn stars/producers and the leader of Canada's Mormon
polygamist colony.
A segment on his show that has quickly become a listener favorite, which he began in 2008, is the "YO DUMMY" segment which he does every few weeks. This consists of Drew and a regular guest performing a roast in order to ridicule some member of the evangelical right. More often than not, the person is not actually in the studio. However occasionally they were, as in the case with Benny Hinn and Pat Robertson.
Marshall was interviewed by 100 Huntley Street
, Canada's longest running Christian television show on January 29, 2007, but was taken off the air and deleted from Huntley's web archives due to the controversy some of his comments created. He'd stated to the hosts, Ronald and Kathy Mainse, "You guys are the 'Ken & Barbie' of Christian television...the sign of a good church is how many ugly people there are." He also stated that he likes to, "find those with holy hand-grenades up their butts and pull the pin," and expressed his displeasure with, "Cheesy Jesus TV, where straight guys design the sets." Marshall retains a friendly relationship with the hosts of Huntley Street.
In June 2007, Marshall advertised in the Toronto Star
newspaper that he would pay someone $500.00 to go to church with him. Inspired by the book, Jim and Casper Go to Church, and Hemant Mehta's book, I Sold My Soul on eBay
, Marshall was looking to create dialogue about how outsiders view the church. Two university students, "Sabrina the Pagan" and "Taylor the Agnostic," were chosen to survey five Churches in Southern Ontario: Orangeville
Baptist, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
, The Prayer Palace, the Sanctuary, in Toronto, and The Meeting House
. During this experiment both Sabrina and Taylor wrote about their experiences at the different churches on Marshall's blog, entitled, Hoof Hearted. This began an interactive dialogue between the listeners of the show and the two paid outsiders.
In January 2008, Marshall hosted the world's first Preacher Idol Contest. He asked people to "step out of the pew and into the pulpit". Individuals were asked to send in 10-minute videos of themselves, preaching to non-churched people. The videos were placed on YouTube and GodTube
for audiences to view and vote on. The top three finalists of Preacher Idol were offered $2,000.00 in theological training and books and the opportunity to preach at one of Southern Ontario's mainstream churches. Marshall ran into problems again when the majority of the churches he contacted were not willing to have the finalists preach at their churches, or even tell their congregations about the contest. The Churches did not like the use of the word "Idol" and did not approve of preaching as a contest.
September 2009 Marshall embarked on his next contest So You Think God Wants You To Sing (STYGWYTS). In July 2010 Marshall made it public that he was no longer sure there was a God. During an interview with noted Christian Apologist Ravi Zacharias
, Marshall revealed that he was having a crisis of faith. He has chosen to continue with his spiritual talk show in hopes of opening up a dialogue surrounding doubt and faith. He has created DROOGLE http://drewmarshall.ca/droogle/ a web page devoted to 'Drew's search for God', as a forum for open and honest discussions on faith and the existence of God. It is possible that this is the only case of a Christian radio host admitting to a crisis of faith and not stepping down or losing their job. Marshall said he will be continuing his search publicly until December 18, 2010. He is hoping for "an encounter with God" for Christmas.
Following on the heels of his declaration of a ‘Crisis of Faith’ in late November 2010, Marshall was asked to join the cast of ‘Journey to Christmas’ a documentary about five individuals travelling though Israel during the Christmas season and following the same path Joseph and Mary would have taken. ‘Journey to Christmas’ will be a four part series airing November/December 2011. Marshall decided to join the cast. Finding himself even more disillusioned with religion after seeing the circus of holy monuments set up for worship in Israel, Marshall came home from his trip with no ‘God Encounter’ and posted on his Facebook page, “I will no longer share my personal beliefs until my beliefs are radically altered by the Almighty. It is finished”. Marshall resumed his show in January 2011.
Marshall's radio show broadcasts live to Southern Ontario
and over 100 countries online via live streaming and audio archives.
Oakville, Ontario
Oakville is a town in Halton Region, on Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Greater Toronto Area. As of the 2006 census the population was 165,613.-History:In 1793, Dundas Street was surveyed for a military road...
.
Biography
Drew Marshall was raised in Richmond HillRichmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
, Ontario by his adoptive parents Grant and Leone Marshall. He grew up living above the family business Marshall Funeral Home. Struggling through his early years, kicked out of four schools and dropping out of high school at age 17, Drew left Ontario and ran away to California. Marshall worked off an on for four years at Hume Lake, California before returning to Ontario where he became the program director at Teen Ranch Canada. He then pursued a career in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and tried out for the NFL as well as the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
and the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
. Marshall also trained for a career as a fire fighter.
In 1997 Marshall and his wife moved to Australia. Marshall joined the pastoral team at a church where he was responsible for the development of a contemporary, post-modern style of service, and the provision of practical pastoral counselling. Marshall stayed at Glenbrook Baptist Church for five years before deciding to leave the ministry and move back to Canada.
Although Marshall never completed high school, he later went on to study at Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
, Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
, Tyndale University College & Seminary and Morling College
Morling College
Morling College is a Baptist theological college in Macquarie Park, New South Wales. It is an approved teaching institution of the Australian College of Theology and is a member of the South Pacific Association of Bible Colleges. It was established in 1916, and moved to its present location in 1961...
in Sydney, Australia. His areas of study range from Theology & Counseling to Anatomy & Physiology.
Radio
After moving back to Canada in 2003, Marshall successfully proposed a spiritually-oriented talk radio programme to CJYE (AM)CJYE (AM)
CJYE is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 1250 AM in Oakville, Ontario. The station airs a Christian music and talk format branded as Joy 1250....
. Since then, he has interviewed numerous celebrities including B.B. King, Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
, Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
, Tim Conway
Tim Conway
Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway is an American comedian and actor, primarily known for his roles in sitcoms, films and television. Conway is best known for his role as the inept second-in-command officer, Ensign Charles Parker, to Lt...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
, Candace Cameron and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
.
Marshall's show deals with subjects and people on the fringe of Christian culture and will interview people who do not identify as Christian such, as the High Priest of the Wiccan (Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
) Church of Canada, ex-porn stars/producers and the leader of Canada's Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
polygamist colony.
A segment on his show that has quickly become a listener favorite, which he began in 2008, is the "YO DUMMY" segment which he does every few weeks. This consists of Drew and a regular guest performing a roast in order to ridicule some member of the evangelical right. More often than not, the person is not actually in the studio. However occasionally they were, as in the case with Benny Hinn and Pat Robertson.
Marshall was interviewed by 100 Huntley Street
100 Huntley Street
100 Huntley Street is a Christian daily talk show and the flagship program of Crossroads Christian Communications based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Created in 1976 by Rev. David Mainse, it first aired on June 15, 1977 from its first studios located at 100 Huntley Street in the St...
, Canada's longest running Christian television show on January 29, 2007, but was taken off the air and deleted from Huntley's web archives due to the controversy some of his comments created. He'd stated to the hosts, Ronald and Kathy Mainse, "You guys are the 'Ken & Barbie' of Christian television...the sign of a good church is how many ugly people there are." He also stated that he likes to, "find those with holy hand-grenades up their butts and pull the pin," and expressed his displeasure with, "Cheesy Jesus TV, where straight guys design the sets." Marshall retains a friendly relationship with the hosts of Huntley Street.
In June 2007, Marshall advertised in the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
newspaper that he would pay someone $500.00 to go to church with him. Inspired by the book, Jim and Casper Go to Church, and Hemant Mehta's book, I Sold My Soul on eBay
I Sold My Soul on eBay
I Sold My Soul on eBay is a non-fiction book by Hemant Mehta, an atheist and blogger, who describes his visits to a variety of Christian churches. These visits initially occurred as a result of an eBay auction Mehta created where he offered to visit the worship services of the winning bidder's...
, Marshall was looking to create dialogue about how outsiders view the church. Two university students, "Sabrina the Pagan" and "Taylor the Agnostic," were chosen to survey five Churches in Southern Ontario: Orangeville
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
Baptist, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational neocharismatic Christian church in Toronto, Canada. It is affiliated with Catch The Fire and with Partners in Harvest group of churches...
, The Prayer Palace, the Sanctuary, in Toronto, and The Meeting House
The Meeting House
The Meeting House is a Canadian church located in the Toronto suburb of Oakville, Ontario. It was founded in 1985 by Craig and Laura Sider, and was originally known as "Upper Oaks Community Church".-History:...
. During this experiment both Sabrina and Taylor wrote about their experiences at the different churches on Marshall's blog, entitled, Hoof Hearted. This began an interactive dialogue between the listeners of the show and the two paid outsiders.
In January 2008, Marshall hosted the world's first Preacher Idol Contest. He asked people to "step out of the pew and into the pulpit". Individuals were asked to send in 10-minute videos of themselves, preaching to non-churched people. The videos were placed on YouTube and GodTube
Godtube
GodTube is an online video sharing platform which strives to have Christian content. It is owned by Salem Web Network, the Internet division of Salem Communications...
for audiences to view and vote on. The top three finalists of Preacher Idol were offered $2,000.00 in theological training and books and the opportunity to preach at one of Southern Ontario's mainstream churches. Marshall ran into problems again when the majority of the churches he contacted were not willing to have the finalists preach at their churches, or even tell their congregations about the contest. The Churches did not like the use of the word "Idol" and did not approve of preaching as a contest.
September 2009 Marshall embarked on his next contest So You Think God Wants You To Sing (STYGWYTS). In July 2010 Marshall made it public that he was no longer sure there was a God. During an interview with noted Christian Apologist Ravi Zacharias
Ravi Zacharias
Frederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias is an Indian-born, Canadian-American evangelical Christian apologist. Zacharias is the author of numerous Christian books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner Can Man Live Without God? and bestsellers Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver...
, Marshall revealed that he was having a crisis of faith. He has chosen to continue with his spiritual talk show in hopes of opening up a dialogue surrounding doubt and faith. He has created DROOGLE http://drewmarshall.ca/droogle/ a web page devoted to 'Drew's search for God', as a forum for open and honest discussions on faith and the existence of God. It is possible that this is the only case of a Christian radio host admitting to a crisis of faith and not stepping down or losing their job. Marshall said he will be continuing his search publicly until December 18, 2010. He is hoping for "an encounter with God" for Christmas.
Following on the heels of his declaration of a ‘Crisis of Faith’ in late November 2010, Marshall was asked to join the cast of ‘Journey to Christmas’ a documentary about five individuals travelling though Israel during the Christmas season and following the same path Joseph and Mary would have taken. ‘Journey to Christmas’ will be a four part series airing November/December 2011. Marshall decided to join the cast. Finding himself even more disillusioned with religion after seeing the circus of holy monuments set up for worship in Israel, Marshall came home from his trip with no ‘God Encounter’ and posted on his Facebook page, “I will no longer share my personal beliefs until my beliefs are radically altered by the Almighty. It is finished”. Marshall resumed his show in January 2011.
Marshall's radio show broadcasts live to Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
and over 100 countries online via live streaming and audio archives.
Celebrity interviewees
- Kevin SorboKevin SorboKevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
- Kathie Lee GiffordKathie Lee GiffordKathie Lee Gifford is an American television host, singer, songwriter and actress, best known for her 15-year run on the talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, which she co-hosted with Regis Philbin...
- James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
- Wynonna JuddWynonna JuddWynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
- Gary Burghoff
- Larry KingLarry KingLawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
- Alice CooperAlice CooperAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
- Amy GrantAmy GrantAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
- Stephen BaldwinStephen BaldwinStephen Andrew Baldwin is an American actor, director, producer and author. One of the Baldwin brothers, he is known for his roles as William F. Cody in the western show The Young Riders and as Stuart in the movie Threesome...
- BB King
- Patch AdamsPatch AdamsHunter Doherty "Patch" Adams, M.D. is an American physician, social activist, citizen diplomat and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971...
- John SchneiderJohn Schneider (television actor)John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
- Dyan CannonDyan CannonDyan Cannon is an American film and television actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer.-Early life:...
- Chuck NorrisChuck NorrisCarlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
- Jane SeymourJane SeymourJane Seymour was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of...
- John Ratzenburger
- Randy TravisRandy TravisRandy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
- Jennifer O'NeillJennifer O'Neill-Early life:O'Neill was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the daughter of a famous Spanish-Irish dental supply import/export businessman, Oscar D' O'Neill and his English wife. As a teenager, O'Neill worked as a fashion model and appeared in television commercials and on magazine covers before moving...
- Don CherryDon CherryDon Cherry may refer to:* Don Cherry hockey player, coach, and commentator* Don Cherry , trumpeter* Don Cherry...
- Tim ConwayTim ConwayThomas Daniel "Tim" Conway is an American comedian and actor, primarily known for his roles in sitcoms, films and television. Conway is best known for his role as the inept second-in-command officer, Ensign Charles Parker, to Lt...
- Deepak ChopraDeepak ChopraDeepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
- Kirk CameronKirk CameronKirk Thomas Cameron is an American actor best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the television situation comedy Growing Pains , as well as several other television and film appearances as a child actor...
- Crystal GayleCrystal GayleCrystal Gayle is an American country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, she accumulated 18 number one country hits during the 1970s and 1980s...
- Naomi JuddNaomi JuddNaomi Judd is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.-Personal life:She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a...
- Paul BrandtPaul BrandtPaul Rennée Belobersycky is a Canadian country music artist, known professionally as Paul Brandt. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break...
- Aaron NevilleAaron NevilleAaron Neville is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He has had four top-20 hits in the United States along with four platinum-certified albums...
- Deborah NorvilleDeborah NorvilleDeborah Norville is an American television broadcaster and journalist. Since 1995 she has been host of the syndicated American television program Inside Edition...
- Jane RussellJane RussellJane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
- Dionne WarwickDionne WarwickDionne Warwick is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health....
- Marie OsmondMarie OsmondOlive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
- Kristin ChenowethKristin ChenowethKristin Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, with credits in musical theatre, film and television. She is best known on Broadway for her performance as Sally Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , for which she won a Tony Award, and for originating the role of Glinda in the musical...
- Brett WilsonBrett WilsonBrett Wilson of Australia, is the first delegate from his country to win the Manhunt International competition in 2000.The Melbourne native and computer graduate won over a field of 33 contestants in Singapore. He also received the Mr. Sex Appeal Award, and was second place in the Mr. Macho...
- Jesse VenturaJesse VenturaJames George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
Television, radio & speaking engagements
- Cast Member on Journey To Christmas, Documentary Filmed In Israel. Film released Christmas 2011.
- Featured in The Devil We Know, Documentary 2011.
- Test The Nation On CBC (January 24, 2010)
- Guest at The Global ComedyFest in Vancouver (September 26, 2010)
- 100 Huntley Street (January 29, 2007.)
- Q107.1 Calgary, The God Guy
- Listen Up TV (June 19, 2007.)
- Good News Sports (www.goodnewssports.ca)
- Tal Prince Live (Sirius Radio 161) April 6, 2008.
- Canadian Church Press, May 1, 2008."Christian Radio Host Tells Media Not to 'Tame' God"
- Canadian Association of Broadcaster's Annual Conference, Vancouver – Guest Panelist "The Societal Impact of Talk Radio"
- Write Canada's Annual Writer's Conference – Guest Faculty "Authors...You can write but can you survive an interview?"
- Youth For Christ Regional Conference 2008.
- Master of Ceremonies for Kingfest outdoor music festival.